A HAPPY FOOL FOR CHRIST=Saint Philip NERI=and me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A HAPPY FOOL=FOR CHRIST

(Saint Philip Neri=and me)

 

Today May 26^th=We CELEBRATE the feast=Of a great Saint=Who many KNOW

As a humorist and a jokester=He lived with UNBOUND cheerfulness and wisdom=

“Let Israel BE GLAD in their maker=Let the children of Zion=Rejoice in their king”         Psalm 149:2

 

He lived from 1515 to 1595=and was ONE of the great SAINTS=of the 16^th century=

A century KNOWN=for its SAINTS==He founded the Oratorians =and is known as=

ROME’S SECOND APOSTLE=He took Great DELIGHT-in being known as=a CHILD of=

The Holy Father God and Jesus=and his laughter and HIS=Love were contagious=Saint

Philip was known as=A HAPPY FOOL FOR Christ=and we should all=BE HAPPY

FOOLS FOR CHRIST=In today’s world=as we are ALL FOOLS=to someone or something=

IN THIS WORLD=I hope I am known=as a HAPPY FOLL FOR CHRIST=and a CHILD

Of God=in this world too

 

“THE FOOL=says in his heart=’There is no God=They are corrupt=their deeds are vile=

There is no one=who does good’”                                                                                                                    Psalm 14:1

“But everyone=who hears these words of mine=and does not put them=into practice=

Is like a FOOLISH MAN=Who built his house on sand”                                                                    Matthew 7:26

“We are=FOOLS FOR CHRIST=But you are so wise=In Christ=We are weak=But you

Are strong”                                                                                                                                                  1 Corinthians 4:10

 

Saint Philip Neri=Was APPROACHABLE=and lovable=to all the people of=The 16^th

Century=He was FULL of jokes and pranks=but MOST OF ALL=He glorified the CROSS=and

Was=A FOOL FOR CHRIST=I hope that I am too=and he gave others CONSTANT INVITATIONS=

To MEET Jesus and him=IN the confessional=and above all he prayed=”I cannot LOVE YOU

Unless you=Help me my Jesus”=He was a CHILD OF GOD=and a FOOL FOR CHRIST=I hope

I can HUMBLY BE=these two things too=ALONG with Saint Philip Neri

 

“Five of them =WERE FOOLISH=and five were wise=The foolish ones=Took their lamps=

But did not take any oil with them”                                                                                                           Mathew 25:2

“But God chose=THE FOOLISH things=of the world=To shame the wise=God chose the

Weak things=of the world=to shame the strong”                                                                      1 Corinthians 1:27

“For the wisdom=Of the world=IS FOOLISHNESS=in God’s sight=As it is written=

‘He catches the wise=In their craftiness’”                                                                                1 Corinthians 3:19

 

In his Oratory=Saint Philip’s formula=was PRAY FIRST=then teach the=”SACRED
WORD OF SCRIPTURE”=Saint Philip BELIEVED=that MORE was gained by PRAYING FIRST

Than study=Dear Lord=we pray=That we LEARN about you=From Saint Philip Neri=but

First and foremost=That all of us=My Brothers and sisters==REALIZE that we are= CHILDREN

Of God=and that we should at least=BE TRYING=to be=A HAPPY FOOL FOR CHRIST

I know I am TRYING

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our FOREVER LOVING=Forever TEACHING and guiding=

And Forever Living=Holy Father God!

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-26-2025

 

Ps       INSPIRED=by an article in=LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Pat Gohn