Philip’s purity, if we consider it deeply, was only another aspect of his love of God, and this is true of all purity that is perfect and persevering and virginal. We see in the entire life of our Saint that the practice of this virtue is one ray of the mighty love of God which possesses and purifies his whole heart — a ray which penetrated and transfigured his body and his whole demeanour, so that his words, his look, his smile, his gestures, all that was about him, breathed and inspired purity. It was perfect purity of heart, and therefore it shone as a soft light on his beautiful features, and revealed itself in the bright and most delicate blush which would at times instantaneously overspread his face as a testimony of virginal chastity. […]
From his pure heart, as from an untarnished mirror, there was reflected on the outer man an image of the inner beauty of his soul, and it was that image which drew all towards him. It is this also which explains his great love for children, and their great love for him. Childhood is naturally pure, and loves the pure without knowing why; and the pure in heart feel themselves peculiarly attracted towards children. And thus when children saw Philip pass they would run up to him with great gladness of heart; and Philip loved them in return, and instructed them, and lavished the tenderness of his soul on them.
All through his life, and especially after he was a priest, he delighted to make himself a child amongst children, to draw them to God; and in his serene look, in his bright penetrating eyes, even in his gentle words, they unconsciously felt the goodness and the purity of his heart. So they drew each other as the magnet draws iron, or as among certain plants there is a mutual affinity and rapport. Just as impurity, which is the most selfish of vices, stamps a character of selfishness on the whole man, and elicits aversion and repugnance, also purity, which is another form of holy love, clothes the whole man with attractiveness, and inspires love and trust.
CAPECELATRO, CO, Alfonso.
La vita di S. Filippo Neri.
Napoli: G. de Angelis e Figlio,
1879, v.I, p.164-167
