Filippo Romolo Neri [1515 –1595] was an Italian priest who founded a society of diocesan clergy called the Congregation of the Oratory or the Oratorians. He and his companions met for prayer and worship in an oratory – hence the name of the Order and, because of the music at these events, the musical genre of the oratorio was developed. [Handel’s “Messiah,” for example, is an oratorio.]
Philip was noted for his playful humor and shrewd wit. He believed that cheerfulness was a Christian virtue and wrote that, “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.”
About 1544, he met and became fast friends with Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. They were both passionate about reforming the Church and one of their shared interests was ministry to prostitutes in Rome.
For me, the key lines in today’s Gospel are: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” Jesus tells this to his confused disciples [who do not yet understand that he is talking about his forthcoming Passion and the Resurrection.]
In our world of mass shootings and wars of aggression, it can be easy for us to become depressed and as confused as the disciples of Jesus. We need to remember, however, that the Resurrection has changed everything. It tells us that evil will never triumph and that we have every reason to live joyfully even in the midst of the pain of our world.