Phillip Neri by Barbara Yoffie

Phillip Neri by Barbara Yoffie

Philip Neri was born in 1515 in Florence, Italy. He was such a kind and cheerful little boy that people called him good little Philip. He studied in Rome, a city where many people had forgotten their faith, but not Philip. One night while he was praying, the Holy Spirit filled his heart with God's love and the joy of the Holy Spirit. He became a priest and used the gift of the Holy Spirit to help the people of Rome to grow in their faith.

Through the sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit comes to us just as it did to Philip. And like him, we are called to inspire others to do the work of God. He is the patron (May 26) of joy and the city of Rome.

Saints are real-life heroes of faith who inspire us by their virtues to become more like Christ. In the Saints and Me series, these beautifully illustrated early-reader books tell the real storieof saints that come to life and connect with today's children aged 4 to 9.

Jeff Albrecht has illustrated for Disney, Warner Bros., Marvel, DC Comics, and other entertainment companies. His animation has been seen on Cartoon Network. His Christian illustration credits include Master Books (A is for Adam, N is for Noah) and Living Faith Kids. He enjoys working in different styles from his studio in the St. Louis area.