The Importance of Immediate Obedience: A Story from St. Philip Neri
The Importance of Immediate Obedience: A Story from St. Philip Neri

One of the virtues we associate with St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is obedience. In fact, from Scripture, we see that he exhibited what you might call right-away obedience. The Lord would give St. Joseph a dream in which He indicated what St. Joseph should do, and after he woke up, St. Joseph went and did what he was supposed to do.
St. Philip and the Congregation of the Oratory
As one of several priests at his parish, Philip began to draw disciples because of his depth of spiritual knowledge and his concern for souls. Philip would frequently take his disciples around to the various churches and pilgrimage places around Rome. Philip also helped organize their care for the poor by leading by example as he would minister to the patients at the hospitals of Rome. Eventually, he would found a society of men who shared his concerns for the poor and development in the spiritual life. He called his group the Congregation of the Oratory.
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* There is a similar story regarding another saint--St. John Baptist de Rossi--which interestingly enough actually took place at the same hospital in Rome--the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. Read Led by the Holy Spirit to Save a Life.
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