Today is the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion — the titular feast of our Congregation. Passionists around the world unite on this Friday before Ash Wednesday to honor the love of our Crucified Lord, and to rejoice in the beautiful vocation that He has granted to each of us.

Wait — is Ash Wednesday really less than a week away? Hard as it is to believe, we now find ourselves on the cusp of Lent 2023. Perhaps you have already decided on how you will implement prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during these sacred 40 days. Or perhaps you haven’t given that much thought to it — wasn’t it just Christmas, after all??

Wherever you fall on the “Lenten preparedness” spectrum, we have an opportunity for you to enter more deeply into the spirit of this season: a new blog series entitled Ponder His Passion! Each Friday of Lent, beginning a week from today, we will share a brief reflection on Our Lord’s Passion, written by one of the Sisters.

We hope that these little sharings will serve as food for thought and prayer, as you grow in your own relationship with the Lord. May our Sorrowful Mother guide each of you to a deeper love of her Crucified and Risen Son.

Happy feast day and Blessed Lent
from Mother John Mary
and the whole community
of St. Joseph’s Passionist Monastery!