today's readings are Acts 24: 27; 25: 13-21; Psalm 103 and John 21: 15-19
Today the universal Church celebrates a saint who undoubtedly could have answered, just like Peter, "Yes" to Jesus' question, "Do you love me?" For Philip's life a life of loving God and loving neighbour.
I chuckle at one title that is bestowed upon Philip - "The apostle to Rome". One might think that this is a mistake. After all, Rome had been the seat of the Church for 1500 years before Philip came along. And there were plenty of churches there to show this. But Philip's unique life was truly one of evangelization - reaching out to the ordinary folk of Rome and bringing the message of Jesus Christ to them, both by deed and by word.
Blessed with mystical experiences, Philip was ordained a priest and then became the founder of the Oratorians in the 16th century. Truly he was a man of faith - again, by deed and word. Truly he helped to make a lot of disciples of the Lord.
Om this his feast day, we fervently say, "St. Philip Neri, pray for us".