Did you know that our Founder, St. Paul of the Cross never actually saw the first community of Nuns? For 50 years he labored to establish the congregation of Passionist priests and brothers all the while holding on to his dream of founding a monastery of women who would express the contemplative dimension of the Passionist charism.

He gave many retreats to women in cloistered monasteries and in doing so became the spiritual director of a Benedictine Nun - Mother Mary Crucified Constantini. He recognized she was especially graced by God and chose her to be the foundation stone of the first monastery.

When the great day came Paul was confined to his sick bed in Rome. He was unable to be present for the solemn event that took place May 3, 1771. Which at that time was the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross. He wrote the Rule and chose the first Nuns.