Episode 101 -- Life of St Philip IX.101 -- Musicians and Spirituality

Did St Philip understand musicians?

Yes. We read about the final years of one of St Philip's most famous penitents: Giovanni Animuccia (1514-71). Like St Philip, Animuccia was from Florence. They were almost the exact same age. But Animuccia came to Rome much later than St Philip, around 1550. He became the director of the Capella Giulia, the 24 member member (12 men 12 boys) choir that sang at all Solemn Liturgies at St Peter's, unless the Pope himself was celebrating the Mass. The choir had been refunded by Pope Julius II. Over time Animuccia divided his time between this choir and the music at the Oratory. "He is noted," Fr Bertram writes, "as a leading exponent of the Roman polyphonic school, second only to Palestrina." Under St Philip's direction Animuccia lived a devout and balanced spiritual life. Philip prudently moderated his strong desires for holiness.