The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-14
ST. PHILIPS VENERATIoN FOR
RELICS.
Discovery of the Relics of Martyrs
Their Translation to the Church
of the Oratory.

An interesting event in the life of
st. Philip Neri occurred February IL,
1890, when he was an aged man and
already renowned for his sanctlty.
One of the greatest and most signal
favors bestowed by Pope Sixtus V on
st. Philip Neri was the gift of the
bodies of certain martyrs for the
Church of the Vallicella, the first
Church of the Oratorians in Rome. 1t
was a favor which frightened and
gladdened Philips old age; he valued
it exceedingly as treasure beyond all
price, and it was regarded throughout
Rome as proof of the generation in
which the Pope held the saint.
The gift came about in this way.
Among the many Cardinals who loved
and venerated Philip one of the most
distinguished was Cardinal Cusano,
who was at that time titular OF the
Church of st. Adriano in Campo Vac
cino. While taking down the high al
tar of this church in order to erect
a more stately and magnificent one,
the Cardinal came upon three marble
chests or collins containing the bodies
of certain martyrs, together with tab
lets on which their names were very
distinctly inscribed They we're the
holy martyrs Flavius and Domitilla,
Nereus and Achilleus, Marius, Martha,
Papias and Maurus, whose bodies had
been translated to st. Adriano by
Gregory TX during the earlier part
of the thirteenth century, from the
Church of st. MARITIME del Monti,
where they had been originally placed
by Pope Sergius II. In one of these
collins where the bodies of st. Papias
and st. Maurus, with this inscription
in Latin: 'In this place rest the
bodies of the holy martyrs Papias and
Maurus."
When Philip heard of the discovery
of the holy bodies he went at once to
st. Adriano, and there remained a
long time gazing on the sacred relics
and kissing with tears of devotion the
collins which enclosed them. Then
he proceeded to touch them reverent
ly, and arrange them in their due
places; and while doing this his coun
tenance shone with a radiant and in
effable gladness. Cardinal Cusano was
so impressed with Philips devotion
that he offered to give him, with the
Pope's permission, the sarcophagu'
which contained the two bodies of st
Papias and ST. Maurus, and to trans
late them in procession, at his owl
expense. to the Vallicella. Philip wa
transported with joy at this offer o
the Cardinal and the Pope gladly CAV
his consent.
The 18th of February, 1890, was
bright and memorable day to GU
saint. First of all, the sarcophagu
was opened, and small portion o
the sacred relics was taken out to b.
left in st. Adriano; and then 1t wa
again closed, secured, and sealed, an
borne on a magnificent bier to tn
high altar for the veneration Of tn
faithful. After this, at sign give
by the master of ceremonies, lon
and devout procession wound it's wa
by the arch of Septimus Severus t
the summit of the Capitol, and theme
all the way to the Altieri Palace, clos
to which now stands the Church G
the Gesu, when it turned off to tn
left, towards ST. Philips Church, tn
Vallicella The streets we're crowde
with spectators, but, so strong wer
the feelings of reverence and devotio
amongst them, that there was not tn
slightest accident or disorder. Whe
the procession reached the great doc
of the Vallicella it was met by tie
Cardinals, among whom was Cardin;
Pancrazio, Grand Penitentiary, ate
wards Pope Clement VIII.
When they had entered the churc
Cardinal Cusano solemnly consigne
the sacred relics to Father Philip, an
the saint received the precious 81