Patron Saint of Joy: St. Philip Neri, the Saint of Joy, Prayer

The saint best known as the patron of joy is St. Philip Neri (1515–1595), the “Apostle of Rome,” a priest so cheerful and full of humor that he became known as the saint of joy; he taught that a joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a sad one. Other saints of joy are St. Francis of Assisi, who sang the praises of God even when he was sick and almost blind, and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, the young man from Turin whose friends remembered his laughter. Joy is also one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Below are their stories, Scripture and prayers for joy.

A short prayer for joy, written for this page:

St. Philip Neri, you were joyful because you loved God with all your heart.
Pray that I may find my joy in God, not in passing things,
and that I may bring a smile to everyone I meet today. Amen.

St. Philip Neri, the saint of joy

Philip was born in Florence in 1515. At eighteen he gave up a business career and went to Rome, where he lived poorly, studied, and spent nights praying in the catacombs. He visited the sick in the hospitals, talked with young men in the streets and shops, and drew them to prayer and the sacraments. Ordained a priest in 1551, he spent long hours in the confessional and gathered people for informal talks on Scripture, prayer and music in a room called the Oratory; from these grew the Congregation of the Oratory, approved in 1575.

Philip was famous for his humor. He played jokes, told funny stories, and sometimes did silly things in public, such as wearing his clothes inside out or shaving half his beard, so that people would not take him for a saint. Behind his cheerfulness was a deep love of God and great humility. He died in 1595 and was canonized in 1622. His feast day is May 26.

The prayer of his feast from the 1916 daily missal:

O God, who didst elevate the blessed Confessor Philip to the glory of thy Saints, grant we beseech thee, as we rejoice in his feast, we may profit by his holy example. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.

Other saints of joy

St. Francis of Assisi, who composed the joyful Canticle of the Creatures near the end of his life, when he was ill and nearly blind. See the feast of St. Francis.
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, the young mountaineer and friend of the poor, known for his laughter and his love of life. See St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.
St. John Bosco, who used games, music and cheerfulness to lead boys to God. See the St. John Bosco prayer.
St. Teresa of Ávila, the lively Carmelite reformer known for her wit. See the St. Teresa of Ávila prayer.

What Scripture says about joy

Philippians 4:4 (Douay-Rheims):

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice.

Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, takes its name from this verse.

Prayers for joy

Written for this page.

When I have lost my joy

Lord, I feel heavy and sad.
Fill me with the joy of your Holy Spirit,
help me to see your gifts, and give me hope again. Amen.

For a joyful heart

St. Philip Neri, pray that I may take God seriously and myself lightly,
laugh with others and never at them,
and serve with a cheerful heart. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the patron saint of joy?

St. Philip Neri, the cheerful sixteenth-century priest of Rome, is known as the saint of joy.

When is St. Philip Neri’s feast day?

May 26.

Is joy a fruit of the Holy Spirit?

Yes. Joy is one of the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit.

More prayers

Texts and sources

Philippians 4:4 (Douay-Rheims).
The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916), St. Philip Neri (May 26), Collect, public domain (archive.org).