Wisdom of Saint Philip Neri

"There is nothing which gives greater security to our actions or more effectively cuts the snares that the Devil lays for us than follow another person's direction, rather than our own, in doing good."

--Saint Philip Neri, Maxims and Counsels.

This counsel from the Saint drills down on the subtle and noxious root of self-will. It is worth pondering since there is nothing more central to the American ideal than a kind of idolization of independence. This does not mean that we should not be men of magnanimous undertakings who have the courage and fortitude to take initiative. It does mean that even in these there can be a subtle self-love (remember to have pure intention). So, the Saint of joy points out that these good initiatives are eviscerated in their supernatural value by this kind of often unrecognized self-seeking. Following the direction of another we can both be freed of this and gain the merit of the humble submission, for the love of God, of our will to another in doing good.

Commentary by Fr. D.B. Thompson