In choosing St. Philip Neri as his model, Cardinal Newman chose the convivial approach over the combative one. In 16th-century Rome, with the post-Reformation challenges for the Church at their height, two saints offered contrasting, but not contradictory, approaches. Philip Neri was the “saint of gentleness and kindness” as Newman would write, while Ignatius of Loyola was the man of martial combat. Ignatius viewed Philip’s approach as too soft, unequal to the moment.
Both are needed, but Newman chose Philip Neri. It is therefore amusing that Leo chose the feast day of Ignatius to confer the title of “Doctor of the Church” on a son of St. Philip Neri.