Saint Phillip Neri

Neri, Saint Phillip (1515–95), mystical leader and founder of the Congregation of the Oratorians during the Counter-Reformation in Italy. He was ordained in 1551. A room above his church, called an oratory, held large audiences for religious conferences and recreation. His congregation is named after this room, as is the musical genre known as oratorio. A spiritual rather than political leader of the church, he claimed to have experienced unusual religious moments, including miracles that are ascribed to him.

See also: Counter-Reformation.