The patron saint of joy is St. Philip Neri, a native of Italy who served as a priest from 1551 to 1595. He lay the groundwork for what became the Congregation of the Oratory. Philip Neri was born July 21, 1515, in Florence. He attended university in Rome -- tutoring two boys to make ends meet, while he devoted himself to religious studies. While praying in the catacombs in Rome one night in 1544, he experienced an epiphany which changed his life. He sold his books and spent the next thirteen years as a lay minister in Rome. Neri's winning and loving manner drew many to him, and he encouraged young men to give their lives to prayer and good works. He and his congregation, who became known as the Priests of the Oratory, visited and worked in hospitals, discussed spiritual matters, and enjoyed prayer and music. He was eventually ordained. Other priests, bishops, even cardinals and popes, looked to him for advice and guidance on spiritual matters. The pope hoped to make him a cardinal, but St. Philip Neri would rather minister to the common people. Upon his death in 1595, it was discovered he had an enlarged heart, which was ascribed to his mystical ecstasy in 1544. St. Philip Neri was canonized in 1622. His unfailing good humour resulted in his naming as the patron saint of practical jokers and the patron saint of joy. His feast day is May 26, the date of his death. An interesting piece of trivia is - while St Philip Neri is the patron saint of joy -- it's difficult to find a picture of him looking joyful. In the "virtual oratory" - a group that draw inspirations from St. Philip Neri - on it's Web site (http://www.thevirtualoratory.com) requests anyone who locates a picture joyful picture of St. Philip Neri to let them know. The patron saint of joy is St. Philip Neri, a native of Italy who served as a priest from 1551 to 1595. He lay the groundwork for what became the Congregation of the Oratory. Philip Neri was born July 21, 1515, in Florence. He attended university in Rome -- tutoring two boys to make ends meet, while he devoted himself to religious studies. While praying in the catacombs in Rome one night in 1544, he experienced an epiphany which changed his life. He sold his books and spent the next thirteen years as a lay minister in Rome. Neri's winning and loving manner drew many to him, and he encouraged young men to give their lives to prayer and good works. He and his congregation, who became known as the Priests of the Oratory, visited and worked in hospitals, discussed spiritual matters, and enjoyed prayer and music. He was eventually ordained. Other priests, bishops, even cardinals and popes, looked to him for advice and guidance on spiritual matters. The pope hoped to make him a cardinal, but St. Philip Neri would rather minister to the common people. Upon his death in 1595, it was discovered he had an enlarged heart, which was ascribed to his mystical ecstasy in 1544. St. Philip Neri was canonized in 1622. His unfailing good humour resulted in his naming as the patron saint of practical jokers and the patron saint of joy. His feast day is May 26, the date of his death. An interesting piece of trivia is - while St Philip Neri is the patron saint of joy -- it's difficult to find a picture of him looking joyful. In the "virtual oratory" - a group that draw inspirations from St. Philip Neri - on it's Web site (http://www.thevirtualoratory.com) requests anyone who locates a picture joyful picture of St. Philip Neri to let them know.

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