Saint Philip Neri: The Saint Who Loved to Laugh | Catholic Saint Story for Kids
Updated: 7 days ago
Can you love God deeply and still love to laugh? Saint Philip Neri showed the people of Rome that prayer, friendship, and a cheerful welcome can belong together.
The Saint Who Loved to Laugh is an illustrated Catholic saint story for children, families, and classrooms. Follow Philip from Florence to Rome as he cares for people in need, welcomes young people, gathers friends for prayer in the Oratory, and leads a joyful pilgrimage to seven churches. His invitation is simple: begin doing good today.
Watch the story in Early Preview
Available now in Early Preview: watch the free 20-second trailer, rent the full story for $0.99 for 72 hours, or buy it for $2.99. Qualifying Servus Dei members can watch through their subscription.
Free YouTube release: Monday, May 24, 2027 at 6:00 a.m. Eastern.
Runtime: approximately 6 minutes 25 seconds. Suggested ages: 7–11, with younger children welcome alongside an adult. Feast day: May 26.
Free lesson plan and printable activities
These free materials help children connect Philip’s story with prayer, humility, cheerfulness, and practical kindness. The leader guide includes discussion prompts, a simple kindness activity, a short prayer, and adaptations for families and mixed-age groups.
Choose Draw & Tell for children who prefer drawing or speaking, and Read & Write for children ready to put their thoughts into words. Use the whole packet for a group lesson, or select the pages that suit your family or class.
Talk together
1. How did Philip make people feel welcome? How can we include someone who is lonely or left out?
2. What is the difference between kind laughter and teasing? Can we still turn to God when we feel sad?
3. What small act of kindness can we begin today, instead of waiting until we are older or feel ready?
Try one small act of kindness
Invite each child to choose one welcome they can offer today: include someone in a game, help with an ordinary task, listen patiently, or encourage a person who is having a hard day. Draw or write the plan, carry it out, and thank God for the chance to love. Let humor be gentle; no one needs to become the joke.
Pray together
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us. Help us pray like Saint Philip Neri, welcome others with kindness, and begin doing good today. Give us humble hearts and a joy that makes room for people who are sad. Saint Philip Neri, pray for us. Amen.
Learn more about Saint Philip Neri
Philip Neri lived from 1515 to 1595 and is remembered as the Apostle of Rome. This film is an illustrated dramatization: dialogue and visual details are adapted for storytelling, and the half-beard episode is presented as a traditional story. His remarkable experience in prayer is not something children need to copy; ordinary prayer, mercy, and friendship are ways to follow his example.
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