Parte I - Confederazione dell'Oratorio di San Filippo Neri

92 ANNALES ORATORIIcentury Rome, Fabrizio stabbed his sister Plautilla, who was suspected of anadulterous relationship. Fortunately, she survived the attack and her brotherwas afterwards reconciled to her. Philip’s affection, prudence and gentletenacity transformed the life of Fabrizio and indeed of the whole family; Fabriziodeclared that his house had been entirely in Philip’s hands. 17 The saintoften went to the Palazzo Massimo alle (or delle) Colonne to hear the confessionsof the family and took care of their spiritual welfare and occasionallyeven of their temporal affairs. Fabrizio visited Philip frequently and socompletely enjoyed the confidence of the saint that he is, in fact, a better witnessto the last years of the saint’s life at the Vallicella than most membersof his own Congregation. Fabrizio and his first wife, Lavinia de’ Rustici, whodied in 1575, had five daughters in succession. When Lavinia was again pregnantin 1569, Philip predicted the birth of a son. Fabrizio agreed that the boyshould be given a name determined by Philip, who, for unknown reasons,chose Paolo. The saint had great affection for the boy, who was one of hismost faithful spiritual children; Paolo for his part was dedicated to prayer andregularly went to the saint for confession.In January 1583, when the boy was about fourteen years old, he caught afever that proved to be fatal. His illness lasted sixty-five days, during whichPhilip visited him every day. Paolo’s condition deteriorated, and on 16 Marchhis end was obviously near. The received version of the miracle is found inthe Life of St Philip by Father Pier Giacomo Bacci of the Roman Oratory,published in 1622. This work has become the received life of the saint in thehagiographical tradition: 18[On 16 March] the poor boy was near his end; and as the holy father had desiredto be informed when he was on the point of expiring, they sent to saythat if he wished to see him alive he must come as quickly as possible. Themessenger arrived at S. Girolamo whilst Philip was saying mass, so that hecould not speak to him. Meanwhile the boy expired; his father closed hiseyes; Camillo, the parish priest, who had given him Extreme Unction and17 Fabrizio Massimo’s deposition of 29 February 1596, Processo, II, 60. Cf. M. T. BonadonnaRusso, ‘Quarto centenario del miracolo di casa Massimo’, L’Urbe 46 (1983), 1-12, at 5-10. Thepamphlet in commemoration of the miracle by G. Lais, Terzo centenario del miracolo di s. FilippoNeri al Palazzo Massimo, Roma 2 1883, is indicative of the bond between the Massimo familyand the Roman Oratory.18 Cf. Cistellini (1989), III, 2155.