The Holy life of Philip Nerius founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. To which is annexed a relation written by S. Augustine of the miracles in his dayes, wrought many of them in or near the city wherein he resided and well-known to him. And a relation of sundry miracles wrought at the monastery of Port-Royall in Paris, A.D. 1656. publikcly [sic] attested by many witnesses. / Translated out of a French copie published at Paris. 1656.

CHAP. XIV. The Foundation of the Oratory.

SEing therefore Philip determined to bestow his pains at Rome, in winning souls to God, and the number of penitents daily encreased, that the place though large could not hold them: in the year 1558. He obtained of the deputies for the chief convent of S. Hierom, that part of the Church, which lies on the right side of the Chancel above the body of the Church; where he erected the Oratory, whither he removed the Conference held before in his Chamber.

That Oratory is yet to be seen, but more sump∣tuously and neatly built; to which the R. R. Fa∣thers daily resort to prayer, and on Holy-days preach to the great benefit of souls.

Hither therefore did Phiiip with his Sons retire every afternoon to their Spirituall exercises; which ended, he would lead them, on worky days to some open place of the City or Suburbs; on festivals to some Church or other: and hence came the cu∣stome of having the daily repast of the word of God, and that familiar way of preaching instituted by the H. Father.

But these beginnings of the Infant Oratory none better can delineate, then he who knew them so exactly, and described them so copiously, Baro∣nius. For in the first Tome of his Annals, treating of holy meetings, such as the Apostle mentions to the Corinthians.

Certainly by the Divine wis∣dome, saith he, was it brought to passe, that in our times, thirty years since, by means chiefly

of the R. Father Philip Nerius a Florentine, who as a wise Master-builder laid the foundation; and of his disciple the R. Father Francis Maria Tau∣rusius Politianus, who amongst them seemed the Chieftain of the Preachers, Assemblies were insti∣tuted in the City, much what after the form of those Apostolical conventions, such especially as by the Apostle were appointed for the discoursing of divine matters, both for edifying the hearers, and for propagating the Church. By the care therefore and industry of these was it first agreed on, that the Zealous Christians should meet a∣dayes at S. Hieroms Oratory (for from it came the name of the Congregation of the Oratory) and there a religious meeting should be held after this manner. First silence being made, they be∣gan with prayer, and one of the Brothers reads some pious lesson. At the reading of which the Father used to interpose upon occasion, explain∣ing more fully, enlarging, and vehemently in∣culcating upon the minds of the Auditors, the things read: continuing his discourse sometimes a whole hour (with great satisfaction to the hearers) dialogue-wise▪ asking some of the com∣pany their opinions of such a thing. Afterward by his appointment one of them went up into the desk raised upon steps, and made an Oration, without flourishes or varnish of Language, com∣posed out of the approved and choice lives of Saints, Sacred writ, and sentences of the H. Fa∣thers. He that succeeded him discoursed after the same manner, but on a differing matter. Then followed a third, who related some part of the Church-story in the order of its severall ages. E∣very of these had his half-hour allotted him, and

performed all with marvailous delight and ap∣probation: then, singing some Hymn, and go∣ing to prayers again the company broak up. All things thus ordered, and ratified by the Pope, as far as the times would suffer, that beautifull face of the Primitive Apostolicall assembling seemed to be revived again; whereat all good men re∣joycing, and many taking their modell from them, the like exercises of piety were set up and practi∣sed in other places.

Thus far Baronius to shew the rise and originall of the Oratory.

To these daily duties he added others to be per∣formed on Holy days. First he enjoyned them to confess duly, and spend some time in prayer be∣fore they went to Mass; after that to receive the Sacrament. Then he sent them severally to divers Infirmaries, some to S. John Laterans Hospitall, some to S. Maries de Consolatione, others to Santo Spirito in Saxia, where they did each of them to their power help the sick both by word and deed. Some of them vertuous above the rest (in number about thirty or forty) to the singular example of piety to the beholders, went every day to perform these offices of charity.

Besides some of them every Saturday evening, and on Holiday eves came to Philip, whom he took with him by night from S. Hieroms, to the Churches ei∣ther of S. Maria supra Minervam, or S. Bonaven∣ture on Mount Quirinall, (for then a Covent of Capuchin•• dwelt there) where they went to Mat∣tens with the Friers in the Quire, and spent all the night in prayer and meditation, that so in the morning they might receive the B. Sacrament with greater gusts and relishes of devotion. The number of them was sometimes so great, that you should see

the Quires of the Regulars and Religious filled with secular and Lay persons. Philip for divers years used almost every night to frequent those Church∣es, whom, upon a signall that was betwixt them, the Porter let in; and the Dominicans freely granted him the keys of their Monastery, to come in at plea∣sure.

But not content with these works of piety (there∣by to withdraw his Sons especially the younger, from the occasions of sin) he was wont at certain times of the year, as Shrovetide and after Easter, to go with them to the seven Churches of the City, though now those of the Oratory visit them at shrove∣tide only. At first very few went, five and twenty or thirty at most; but the company soon encreased, that even in Philips life time there went oftimes no less then two thousand of them together. All were admitted of what rank so ever, except women: very many of the Regulars came, especially of the Orders of the Capuchins and Dominicans, from whom there flocked thither whole troops of Noviees.

The manner of their journey was thus. On the day appointed they all came single, or in companies to S. Peters in the Vatican, or the Cathedral of S. Paul without the walls, where putting themselves into ranks, they went forward to the other Chur∣ches: as they passed they spent part of the time in meditation on some set subject out of the sacred mi∣steries (the multitude being distributed into Classes, unto every of which a Priest was assigned) the rest of the time was taken up in singing Hymns, Psalms, Spirituall songs, and Letanies, the Musiques attend∣ing them: if any of the day remained over, they conferred of religious matters.

In every Church, except those two mentioned,

one of their own, or some other made a short ser∣mon to the people: but when they came to S. Se∣bastians or S. Stevens Church, Mass was celebrated with all solemnity, where all of them well nigh received the Sacrament. Thence they went to the gardens of the Maximi or Cresscentii, and some∣times to those of the Matthaei in Mount Caelius (yet at this day they (with their permission) visit those only of the Matthaei) in which every one sitting in his order, a table was furnished with bread and wine sufficient, and an egg, a piece of cheese, with an apple added thereto. At dinner the Singers entred singing and playing to some holy Antheme: when table was taken away, they went to the other Churches; and so home, every one greatly re∣joycing.

These religious processions were wholly govern∣ed by Philip, who took such pains therein, that by overmuch wearying himself he sometimes fell into a fever, but in his latter years, both by reason of age, and because the Institution was already suffici∣ently setled, he staid at home and performed other pious duties.

How pleasing a work unto God that was, though it appeared not by down-right miracles, yet was no∣tably declared by sundry divine intimations. Once as his manner was, he went about Carnevall-time to these Churches, and in the way from S. Pauls to S. Sebastians arose on the suddain so great a tem∣pest, that all thought of betaking them to their heels; but Philip bade them, Stay and be confident for I will warrant,-none that goes with me shall suffer much by this storme.

These devout usages so piously introduced by the R. Father were commended by divers reputed

both for gravity and learning: among which John Rubeus in his book dedicated to Philip honours them with these elogies.

Among other right famous things (saith he, bespeaking the H. man) which I beheld the last year, being 1568 in Rome; it most pleased me to see the Oratory of S. Hierom a Charitate thronged with such a multitude of devout persons: which reflecting more seriously on, I reckoned to be the goodliest and noblest of all the rarities in the City. And so much the more I both wondred and rejoyced, for that I saw Personages of the best rank, and of severall nations attend so chear∣fully to the word of God, dispenced with that sim∣plicity and integrity by You. Whence it falls out that almost infinite numbers of people abju∣ring the world, as the whole City can witness, consult of giving themselves up to Christ, where devoting themselves to the Cloysters of the Reli∣gious, and other Holy Orders, they stedfastly per∣sist in their vowed sanctity.

Thus Rubeus.