a religious society of young women at Rome, so called from their taking St Philip de Neri for their protector. The society consists of 100 poor girls, who are brought up till they are of age to be married, or become nuns, under the direction of some religious women, who teach them to read, write, and work, and instruct them in the duties of Christianity. They wear a white veil, and a black cross on their breasts. See MACEDONIA.