PASSIONIST FEAST DAYS
Friday before Ash Wednesday
SOLEMN COMMEMORATION OF THE PASSION
OF JESUS CHRIST
Titular Feast of the Passionist Congregation
5th January
BLESSED CHARLES HOUBEN
Read
about Blessed Charles
27th February
SAINT GABRIEL POSSENTI
Saint Gabriel was born at
Assisi (Italy) in 1838. He died at Isola del Gran Sasso (Italy) on 27th
February 1862. Near his tomb, there arose a large sanctuary, a place of
faith pilgrimage. In 1926 Saint Gabriel was declared joint patron of Catholic
Youth in Italy and in 1959 principal patron of the Abruzzi region of Italy.
Read
more about Saint Gabriel
16th May
SAINT GEMMA GALGANI
Saint Gemma Galgani was
born in 1878 near Lucca (Italy). She had singular devotion to the Eucharist
and to the Passion of Jesus. Although her ardent desire was to enter the
Passionst Nuns, this was never realised. She died in Lucca on Holy Saturday,
11th April 1903.
Read
more about Saint Gemma
12th June
BLESSED LORENZO
SALVI
1st July
PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
9th July
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF HOPE
Devotion to Mary under the title
of Mother of Holy Hope has been practised by Passionists from the beginnin
of the Congregation. It was promoted in a special way by the great early
Passionist, Father Thomas Struzzeri, who later became a bishop. He carried
a picture of Our Lady of Holy Hope with him on missions. This picture was
reproduced in the rooms of Passionists that they might be reminded to ask
Our Lady's assistance in their needs. Mary thus became a special model
and suport for our hope, and she remains so today.
24th July
BLESSED NICEFORO
DIEZ TEJERINA
AND THE PASSIONIST
MARTYRS OF DAMIEL
26th
August
BLESSED DOMINIC
BARBERI
Dominic
Barberi, known in religious life by the title "of the Mother of God" was
born in 1792 at Viterbo, Italy. At twenty two years of age he entered the
Passionist Congregation. After being ordained to the priesthood in 1818,
he was engaged in teaching, in the ministry of the Word, in spiritual direction
and in writings spiritual books. He went to England in 1842. He received
Cardinal John Henry Newman into the Catholic Church. He died at Reading,
England, on 27th August 1849.
14th September
TRIUMPH OF THE HOLY CROSS
15th September
OUR LADY OF SORROWS
Principal Patroness of the Passionist
Congregation
The celebration of the feast
of Our Lady of Sorrows allows all Passionists the opportunity to deepen
their participation with Mary in the mystery of Christ's Passion. In honouring
her, they are following in the footsteps of St. Paul of the Cross, who
by his personal devotion, his letters, preaching and other ministry, deeply
venerated Mary united with her Son in his Passion.
24th September
SAINT VINCENT
STRAMBI
Saint
Vincent Strambi was born in Civitacehhia, Italy, in 1745. A short time
after his ordination to the priesthood, he entered the recently founded
Passionist Congregation. Travelling through the most of Italy, he endeavoured
to promote the Christian life among the people by his preaching on the
Passion. Appointed Bishop of Macerata and Tolentino, he showed himself
to be a true shepherd. Called by Pope Leo XII to become his personal advisor,
he died in Rome on 1st January 1824.
6th October
BLESSED ISIDORE
DE LOOR
9th October
SAINT INNOCENCIO
CAROURA ARNUA
19th October
SAINT PAUL OF
THE CROSS
3rd November
BLESSED PIUS CAMPIDELLI
13th November
BLESSED EUGENE
BOSSILKOV
18th November
BLESSED GRIMOALDO
SANTAMARIA
21st November
PRESENTATION OF MARY
The tradition of the Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple was very dear to St. Paul of the
Cross because it reminded him of his own consecration to God by the foundation
of the Passionist Congregation. He wanted the first house of Passionists
on Monte Argentario and the first Monastery of Passionist Nuns founded
at Tarquinia to be dedicated to the Presentation of Mary. Hence this feast
came to be celebrated among Passionists with much solemnity. Today, however,
it commemorates the Blessed Virgin as the humble handmaid of the Lord,
associated in the mystery of redemption, rather than the traditional Presentation
of Mary in the Temple.
9th December
BLESSED BERNARD
MARY SILVESTRELLI
May the Passion of Jesus
Christ be always in our hearts
