Letter XVI. To the Bishop of San Severino

He thanks him for the sympathy shown by him to the Congregation erected in that city.

Most illustrious and reverend Monsionore, my MOST HONOURED LoRD, — It was a great pleasure for myself, as well as our fathers to receive your letter of September 7, which was to have been given by the Rev. Don Bartolommeo Achillei, but one of our fathers having passed through San Severino, on his way back from Loreto, visited the spot of the Madonna de' Lumi. So that it was not necessary for the above-mentioned Don Bartolommeo to undertake the journey, and besides the good accounts we had of the devotion to the Madonna, your letter was doubly welcome confirming them. The saving of souls being the first and foremost thought in our Congregation, it raises our hopes that it will succeed there, with your help, co-operation, and goodwill towards our Congregation which always remains devoted to your most illustrious and reverend lordship, most desirous of your holy happiness. We all humbly kiss your hands — Of your most illustrious and reverend Lordship the servant in the Lord,

Philip Neri.

Rome, the last of September y 1589.

The oratory at San Severino was founded 1586 ; iee Cabd. Capbcb- LATBO, op. citt ii. 534 (Engl. TransL), and at first, like the Congregation of Naples, was under the government of St. Philip.

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