FEBRUARY
27
SAINT
GABRIEL POSSENTI
Saint
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (Possenti) was born at Assisi in Umbria
in 1838. While very young, he attended school at Spoleto and seemed to
be strongly attracted to the World. However, under the call of God's grace,
he entered the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ where he lived
so crucified to the world and so intimately united to God that he became
a model of all the virtues, especially humility and obedience.
Moreover,
he had a very great devotion to the Sorrowful Virgin who was, as it were,
the whole reason for his holiness. He died at Isola of Gran Sasso in the
Abruzzi on February 27th 1862. He was 24 years of age and had not yet completed
his studies for the priesthood.
Near
his tomb, there rose a large sanctuary, a place of faith pilgrimages
and a centre of religious influence. In 1926 Saint Gabriel was declared
joint patron of the Catholic Youth of Italy and in 1959 principal patron
of the Abruzzi.
MAY 16
SAINT
GEMMA GALGANI
Saint
Gemma was born in 1878 near Lucca, Italy. From her childhood she dedicated
herself to meditation on the Passion of Jesus Christ. She was orphaned
and, then charitably weIcomed into the home of a deeply Christian family.
She
had a singular devotion toward the Eucharist and toward Jesus Crucified.
Graced with special supernatural charisms, she offered herself to God for
the conversion of sinners. Her ardent desire was to enter the Passionist
Nuns but was never realized because of various difficulties, including
poor health and the publicity surrounding her extraordinary graces. She
distinguished herself as an extraordinary exemplar of holiness in the midst
of the world. She had many visions and at times the stigmata, the wounds
of Jesus, were visible on her body. She died at Lucca on Holy Saturday,
April 11th 1903 at the age of 25.
JUNE
12
BLESSED
LORENZO SALVI
Blessed
Lorenzo Maria of St. Francis Xavier (Salvi) was born in Rome on 30th October
1782. He died in Capranica (Viterbo) 12th June 1856.
Blessed
Lorenzo professed the Passionist Rule 20th November 1802 and was ordained
to the priesthood 29th December 1805. As superior he was most prudent in
leading the community. Following in the footsteps of Our Founder, St. Paul
of the Cross, his principle apostolate was that of itinerant missionary.
Blessed
Lorenzo was also untiring in promoting devotion to the Holy Childhood of
Jesus on every occasion by work, example and through his many writings.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II, 1st October 1989. He is buried in
the Passionist Church of St. Angelo, Vetralla (Viterbo).
JULY
24
BLESSED
NICEFORO DIEZ TEJERINA AND THE PASSIONIST MARTYRS OF DAMIEL
Blessed
Niceforo of Jesus and Mary (Diez Tejerina) and his 25 martyr companions
were all members of the Passionist Community of Daimiel. Their martyrdom
took place against the background of the strong anti-clerical climate which
was sweeping Spain after the proclamation of the Republic in 1931. The
majority were young religious aged between 18 and 21 years of age studying
for the Priesthood and the possibility of working one day in South America.
Towards
midnight of the 21/22nd July anticipating the possibility of being attacked,
the members of the Community, led by the Provincial Fr. Niceforo Diez gathered
in the Chapel of the Monastery. They made their last Confession, received
Holy Communion and heard the Provincial say 'Inhabitants of Calvary, this
is our Gethsemane. Human nature frightened at the prospect of the Steps
of the Passion, the same as that of Jesus, grows weak and is intimidated.
But Jesus is with us. He comforts us and sustains us. In a few moments
we will be with Christ. Inhabitants of Calvary - Courage! Let us die for
Christ.'
About
200 men arrived and drove them into the night. Divided into small groups
they were martyred at various places over the next three months. Six were
martyred on 23rd July at Manganares and on the same day nine at Carabanchel.
Two days later three more were killed at Erda. Two months later two were
martyred at Carrion de Calatrava on 25th September. In the following month
the final group of six were martyred on 23rd October.
Not
one abandoned the group to avoid participation in their fate. The moment
of supreme sacrifice had come and all of them faced death with unflinching
fortitude and patience for the love of God and Jesus. In actual fact even
the soldiers admitted that some of them died with the crucifix in their
hands and crying out 'May Christ the King Live!'
Their
Memorial is observed 24th July, the available date nearest to the date
on which the first group, under the leadership of their Provincial, Blessed
Niceforo Tejerina, was martyred. They are the first Beatified Martyrs of
the Congregation of the Passion. Pope John Paul II beatified them on 1st
October 1989.
Martyred
in Manganares 23rd July
Fr.
Niceforo Diez (aged 43 Yrs.), Jose Estalayo, student (aged 21 yrs.); Epilanio
Sierra, student
(aged
20 yrs.); Abilio Ramos, student (aged 20 yrs.); Zacarios Fernandez, student
(aged 19 yrs.); Fulgencio Calvo, student (aged 19 yrs.);
Martyred
in Carabanchel 23rd July
Fr.
German Perez, (aged 30 yrs.); Fr. Felipe Valcabado (aged 62 yrs.); Maurilio
Macho, student (aged 21 yrs.); Jose Oses, student (aged 21 yrs.); Julio
Mediavilla, student (aged 21 yrs.); Jose M. Ruiz, student (aged 21 yrs.);
Laurino Proano, student (aged 20 yrs.); Bro. Anacario Benito,
(aged
30 yrs.); Bro. Felipe Ruiz, (aged 21 yrs.)
Martyred
in Erda 25th July
Fr.
Pedro Largo, (aged 29 yrs.); Felix Ulgade, student (aged 21 yrs.); Bro.
Benito Solana,
(aged
38 yrs.)
Martyred
in Carrion de Calatrava 25th September
Fr.
John Pedro Bengoa, (aged 46 yrs.); Bro. Pablo M. Leoz, (aged 54 yrs.)
Martyred
in Manzanares 23rd October
Fr.
Ildephonso Garcia, (aged 38 yrs.); Fr. Justiniano Cuesta (aged 26 yrs.);
Eufrasio de Celes, student, (aged 21 yrs.); Honorino Carracedo, student
(aged 19 yrs.); Tomas Cuartero, student,
(aged
21 yrs.) and his brother, Jose M. Cuartero, student (aged 19 yrs.)
AUGUST
26
BLESSED
DOMINIC BARBERI
Dominic
Barberi, as a Passionist by title "of the Mother of God," was born of devout
farming people in 1792 at Viterbo, Italy. At twenty- two years of age,
he experienced the call of God to the apostolate. Leaving his farm work,
he entered the Passionists where he manifested extraordinary gifts of mind
and heart. After he was ordained to the Priesthood in 1818, he spent himself
diligently in teaching, in the ministry of the Word, in the spiritual direction
and in writing many philosophical, theological and homiletic works.
Filled
with the spirit of Saint Paul of the Cross, he left Italy and went first
to Belgium. There he established the Passionists in 1840, and went
on to England in 1842. He was now responding to a Divine call that had
always been with him - to work for unity among God's people in England.
In
the space of eight years he had founded four Passionist Communities and
exercised an extensive apostolate by preaching missions and retreats throughout
the country. His writings and personal holiness brought many to the faith;
most prominent among those he received into the Church was John Henry Newman.
Broken
finally by his labours, he died at Reading on 17th August 1849, at the
age of 57. He was enrolled among the Blessed by Pope Paul VI during the
Second Vatican Council, on 23rd October 1963.
SEPTEMBER
24
SAINT
VINCENT STRAMBI
Saint
Vincent Strambi was born at Civitavecchia, in Italy, in 1745. A short time
after his ordination to the Priesthood he entered the recently founded
Passionist Congregation.
Travelling
throughout most of Italy, he endeavoured to promote the Christian life
among the people by preaching on the Passion. He wrote hagiographical books,
including a Life of St. Paul of the Cross, and devotional books, the most
significant of which was that on the Precious Blood. Being an outstanding
'spiritual director,' he directed, among others, Saint Gaspar del Bufalo
and Blessed Anna Maria Taigi.
Appointed
Bishop of Macerata and Tolentino, he showed himself to be a true shepherd
of his flock and promoted the reform of the clergy and the people with
apostolic zeal. In the political upheavals of the time, he was a fearless
advocate of the freedom of the Church and chose exile in preference to
an unlawful oath of loyalty to Napoleon. When he returned to his Diocese
after exile, he once again manifested his deep pastoral concern and extraordinary
charity for the poor. Called by Pope Leo XII to become his personal advisor;
he died in Rome on January 1, 1824.
OCTOBER
6
BLESSED
ISIDORE DE LOOR
Blessed
Isidore De Loor, known in the Passionist Congregation as Isidore of Saint
Joseph, was born 13th April 1881, in the small town of Vrasene, located
in the diocese of Gent-Gand, in Eastern Flanders. He was from a family
of farmers, and he grew up loving his work in the fields.
At
the age of twenty-six he felt the call to the religious life, and entered
the novitiate of the Passionist Congregation in Ere, where he was received
as a lay-brother. He professed his religious vows on 13th September 1908.
Thereafter he humbly served several communities of the Congregation; to
his community service was joined an especially intense life of prayer and
penance, in keeping with the spirit of the Congregation.
His
right eye had to be removed in 1911, because of a tumour. Among the religious
of the congregation, and among the laity, he was admired for his charity
and simplicity, his dedication to work and his spirit of recollection.
Having suffered through several months of intense pain, he succumbed to
cancer and pleurisy on 6th October 1916.
Blessed
Isidore was only thirty-five years of age, and had lived as a religious
for only nine years. Many referred to him as "the good Brother" and "the
Brother of the Will of God." Pope John Paul II, declared him Blessed
the 30th September 1984.
OCTOBER
9
SAINT
INNOCENCIO CAROURA ARNUA
Saint
Innocencio of Mary Immaculate (Emanuele Canoura Arnau) was born on 10th
March 1887 in Santa Lucia del Valle de Oro, Diocese of Mondonedo, Spain.
Professed a Passionist the 27th July 1905 and ordained a Priest 20th September
1913, he was most zealous in exercising this ministry in various communities
of his Province.
During
the so-called "Revolution of Asturias of 1934"; while he was celebrating
Mass with the De La Salle Brothers, he together with eight of the Brothers,
was taken prisoner by those who were filled with hatred for religion. All
were executed on 9th October 1934. Inocencio, together with the Brothers
who were martyred with him, was beatified on 19th April 1990.
They
were canonized and declared Saints on 21st October 1999, by Pope John Paul
II.
OCTOBER
19
SAINT
PAUL OF THE CROSS
St.
Paul of the Cross was born on 3rd January 1694 in Ovada, Italy. Nurtured
by a Christian family home and active in his local Church his prayer life
developed rapidly in his teens. At 26 he left home to become a hermit.
He
believed that the troubles of the world were a result of the forgetting
of the Passion of Jesus. He wanted all to keep alive the Memory of the
Sufferings of the Crucified One. This, he believed, began in prayer at
the foot of the Cross.
Ordained
a priest at 33 years of age he lived his beliefs. For the next 45 years
he preached missions bringing the message of the Cross and the Love of
the Crucified Jesus to people. Miracles and conversions abounded. Many
learned to pray and to live a true Christian life.
All
his life he struggled to found a Religious Community who would accept his
ideals and carry on his work. When he was 47 his first followers - the
Passionists - appeared on the streets of Italy. Over the next thirty years
he founded 12 Passionist Communities with 176 religious priests and brothers.
He died at the age of 81. Since then, his followers, have continued the
work of keeping alive the Memory of Christ Crucified.
NOVEMBER 3
BLESSED PIUS CAMPIDELLI
Pius of St. Aloysius (Campidelli)
was bon on 29th April 1868 at Trebbio (Italy) and was the son of farmers.
It was through a parish mission that he came to know the Passionists. He
received the Passionist Habit on 27th May 1882 and made his first vows
on 20th April 1884.
While preparing for Ordination
he was afflicted with a grave illness. He died on 2nd November 1889. He
was 21 years of age. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 17th November
1985.
NOVEMBER
13
BLESSED
EUGENE BOSSILKOV
Blessed
Eugene Bossilkov was born in Belene, Bulgaria, on 16th November 1900, and
entered the Passionist Seminary at Oresch in Bulgaria at eleven years of
age and completed his studies in Passionist Communities in Belgium and
Holland.
When
he entered the Passionist Novitiate he replaced his baptismal name Vincent
with that of Eugene of the Sacred Heart. He was ordained a Priest on 25th
July 1926 and then gained a Doctorate in Theology in Rome before returning
to Bulgaria in 1933.
Having
first served in Russe and at Bardaski-Gheran, in 1947 he was nominated
Bishop of Nicopolis. Well known and loved throughout Bulgaria, he was condemned
to death during the state persecutions and was martyred in the prison at
Sofia on 11th November 1952.
NOVEMBER
18
BLESSED
GRIMOALDO SANTAMARIA
Grumoaldo
of the Purification, (Ferdinando Santamaria) was born on 4th May 1883 in
Pentecorvo, Italy, the eldest of five children. He was professed a Passionist
at 17 years of age on the 6th March 1900. He began his preparation for
Ordination in the Passionist Community at Ceccano, Italy.
Barely
two years after his profession he was stricken with acute meningitis. He
died on 18th November 1902. He was only 19 years of age.
DECEMBER
9
BLESSED
BERNARD MARY SILVESTRELLI
Blessed
Bernard Mary of Jesus (known as Caesar Silvestrelli before becoming a Passionist)
was born at Rome on 7th November 1831 of the noble Silvestrelli-Gozani
family. He was baptized the same day, and received the sacrament of Confirmation
on 7th June 1840. He was ordained a Priest on Monte Argentario on
22nd December 1855. He made his religious profession as a Passionist
on 28th April 1857 at the novitiate at Morrovalle where his companion
was the future Saint Gabriel of Our Mother of Sorrows.
He
was quickly called upon to fulfil various ministries in the service of
the Passionist Congregation: Director of Students, Master of Novices, Rector,
Provincial Consultor and, during the years 1878-88 and 1893-1907, Superior
General. Strenuous in upholding the spirit of the Congregation, he
gave the Passionists a great apostolic thrust in the world. Under his enlightened
and vigilant guidance six new Provinces were founded, and those which had
been suppressed by the governments of Italy and France were reorganised.
Having resigned the office of Superior General, he received from the Pope
the title of "Honorary General" for life.
He
retired to the Passionist Monastery at Moricone where he died on 9th December
1911 after a serious fall. He was eighty years of age. He was beatified
by Pope John Paul II on 16th October 1988.
| PASSIONISTS
HONOURED BY THE CHURCH |
Saint Paul of the Cross
(1694 - 1775)
Saint Gabriel Possenti (1838
- 1862)
Saint Vincent Strambi (1745
- 1824)
Saint Innocencio Caroura
Arnua (1887 - 1934)
Saint Gemma Galgani (1878
- 1903)
Saint Maria Goretti
(1890 - 1902)
Blessed Dominic Barberi (1792
- 1849)
Blessed Lawrence Salvi (1782
- 1856)
Blessed Charles Houben (1821
- 1893)
Blessed Bernard Silvestrelli
(1831 - 1911)
Blessed Pio Campidelli (1868
- 1889)
Blessed Grimoaldo Santamaria
(1883 - 1902)
Blessed Niceforo Diez Tejerina
and the Passionist Martyrs of Damiel
Blessed Eugene Bossilkov
(1900 - 1952)
Blessed Isidore De Loor
(1881 - 1916)
Venerable John Baptist Danei
(1695 - 1765)
Venerable Giacomo Gianel
(1714 - 1750)
Venerable Norberto Cassinelli
(1829 - 1911)
Venerable Fortunato Gruttis
(1826 - 1905)
Venerable Giuseppe Pesci
(1853 - 1929)
Venerable Nazareno Santolini
(1859 - 1930)
Venerable Giovanni Bruni
(1882 - 1897)
Venerable Galileo Nicolini
(1882 - 1897)
Venerable Germano Ruoppolo
(1850 - 1909)
Venerable Gerardo Sagarduy
(1881 - 1962)
Venerable Egidio Malacarne
(1877 - 1953)
Venerable Stanislaus Battistelli
(1885 - 1981)
Venerable Maria Crocifissa
Constantini (1713-1787)
Venerable Lucia Burlini
(1710 - 1789)
Venerable Antonietta Farani
(1906 - 1963)
Venerable Dolores Medina
(1860 - 1925)
Venerable Gemma Giannini
(1884 - 1971)
HOMEPAGE
