Chase all gloominess
from your heart, and, even if you do something wrong, don't get upset,
since that would do even more harm than the wrongdoing. Instead, humble
yourself gently, asking God's pardon, decide that you will do better in
future and joyfully continue on your way.
St. Paul of the Cross
PRAYER
TO ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS
Paul,
our
father and brother,
as
we stand with you before the Cross of Christ
may
our minds, our hearts and our lives
be
overwhelmed by the love shown there for us.
As
you followed the example of Jesus Crucified
may
we too be emptied of all things
but
the desire to do God’s will
and
so keep alive the memory
of
the Passion and Death
of
Jesus Christ our only hope.
Amen
Paolo Danei Massari was born
in Ovada, Italy the 3rd January 1694. His family later moved to Castellazzo
Bormida, not far from his birthplace. His mother taught him from an early
age that the strength to overcome any and all difficulties in life was
to be found in the Passion of Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for Jesus
Crucified since his early childhood, Paul wished to dedicate his entire
life to Him. One time, seriously ill, he had a vision of hell which completely
terrorized him. On a later occasion, during a sermon, he felt himself inspired
by the Lord to the love of Christ Crucified; he referred to that moment
as the time of his "conversion".
Between 1715-1716, desirous
of serving Christ, he went to Venice to enlist in the army. Inspired by
the ideals of a crusade, he wished to fight against the Turks who were
threatening Europe. One day, while in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament,
he was made to understand that this was not his vocation. He then resigned
from the army but remained for a while in Venice, at the service of a family
he knew. He later returned to his home. Even though his priest uncle had
left him an inheritance that he might marry, Paul renounced any such intention.
To make memory of the Crucified.
According to one witness, it was in a vision he had of the Blessed Virgin
that Paul came to recognize the habit, the sign and the kind of life he
was to lead, a life totally committed to Jesus Crucified. Having consulted
with several prudent confessors, the Bishop of Alessandria, Mons. Gattinara,
vested Paul with the Passionist habit on the 22nd November 1720. Paul then
spent the next forty days in the sacristy of the church of St. Charles
in Castellazzo. His experiences and the state of his soul during that "forty
days" is made known to us in the "Spiritual Diary". During that retreat
he also wrote the Rule for possible future companions to whom he refers
as "The Poor of Jesus". On a visit, his brother, John Baptist, asked to
join him but Paul refused his request, at least for the moment.
At the end of this experience,
the bishop authorized him to live in the hermitage of St. Stephen in Castellazzo
and to engage in the apostolate as a layman. During the summer of 1721
Paul went to Rome with the intention of having an audience with the Holy
Father that he might reveal his inspiration concerning the future Congregation.
The officials at the Quirinal, the then residence of the Popes, would not
permit him entrance, thinking he was some kind of beggar.
The first Passionist vow.
Accepting this humiliation in imitation of Jesus Crucified, he went to
the basilica of St. Mary Major and, before the image of Our Lady "Salus
Populi Romani, took the vow to consecrate himself to promoting the memory
of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
On his journey home he stopped
at Orbetello for a while, at the hermitage of the Annunciation on Mount
Argentario. Arriving at Castellazzo he was joined by his brother John Baptist.
They then immediately left for Mount Argentario, to live there as hermits.
Later, at the invitation of Bishop Pignatelli, they went into hermitage
at Madonna della Catena, Gaeta. Bishop Cavalieri next permitted them to
live in Troia for a while. They later returned to the diocese of Gaeta
at the shrine of Our Lady of Civita, Itri. Their every attempt to found
a community ended up in failure. In order to preach the Passion they had
to be ordained priests and so they next went to Rome. While studying theology
there, they also ministered to those infected with skin diseases in the
hospital of San Gallicano. The brothers had the occasion to speak with
the Holy Father when he visited the church of the Navicella on the Celian
hill and he orally granted them permission to make a foundation on Mount
Argentario. In 1727, ordained priests, the brothers left Rome to live at
Mount Argentario.
To preach the Passion of
Christ. They initiated their apostolate among the local fisherman, woodsmen
and shepherds, etc. They were soon joined by other companions, among them
their brother Antonio and some others who were already ordained priests.
The bishops requested them to preach parish missions in the local towns.
When war broke out in the Garrison States, Paul ministered to the sick
and wounded of both armies, his presence always welcomed.
The first retreat, dedicated
to the Presentation, was inaugurated in 1737. Paul later presented Rome
with the new Rule of the young Congregation. After making some mitigation,
Benedict XIV gave his approval in 1741.
Our Founder was a contemporary
of other outstanding, saintly preachers such as St. Leonard of Port Maurice,
whom he met on one occasion, and St. Alphonsus Liguori with whom he was
acquainted. Like them, he too, for love of Jesus Crucified, was filled
with zeal for the preaching of parish missions.
Though he had held the office
of Superior General from 1747 onward, he never stopped preaching missions
or writing letters of spiritual direction. The Institute did encounter
much opposition on the part of some sectors of the Church for which reason
some of the projected foundations had to be delayed until a pontifical
commission passed favorable judgment on the Passionists.
Counseled by and with the
good example of his brother John Baptist, Paul constantly endeavored to
preserve the spirit of solitude, poverty and prayer. When John Baptist
died in 1767, Paul felt he had been abandoned, left an orphan.
Passionist religious women.
A country girl, Lucia Burlini, had one time spoken to Paul of the "doves
on Calvary", an image used by some who were of the same contemplative spirit
as were many religious. Though Paul had struggled for 40 years for its
realization, it was not until 1771 that the Passionist Nuns were established
in Corneto-Tarquinia. Paul appointed Mother M. Crocifissa Costantini, a
Benedictine nun, as the first superior. Pope Clement XIV granted her permission
to transfer to the new convent.
After the suppression of
the Society of Jesus, Clement XIV transferred the Fathers of the Missions
(Lazzarists) to the church of Sant'Andrea on the Quirinal and gave Paul
of the Cross the house and Basilica on the Celian Hill, SS. Giovanni e
Paolo. A short distance from the Coliseum, it was here Paul passed the
last years of his life. Here, too, he was visited by two Popes, Clement
XIV in 1774 and by Pius VI in 1775. He died a few months after the latter
visit. His mortal remains are enshrined in the Chapel, completed in 1880,
dedicated to him.