In this article, we read about the unique life of Teresa Gallifa, foundress of the Congregation of the Servants of the Passion. Wife, mother, widow, and religious, Teresa was ahead of her time in her focus on compassion and service for unwed mothers and their children.
Read MoreContinuing the series on various communities of active Sisters affiliated with the Passionists, we now come to an English Congregation: the Sisters of the Cross and Passion.
Read MoreIn the centuries since our Holy Founder’s death, his special charism has served as the inspiration for many other religious congregations. One such “sister congregation” to the Passionists is the Daughters of the Passion of Jesus Christ and of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary.
Read MoreAmong the numerous religious communities affiliated with the Passionist Congregation, a special place belongs to the Passionist Sisters of St. Paul of the Cross — commonly known as the “Signa Sisters,” after the town in Italy where they were founded.
Read MoreToday marks the 234th anniversary of the death of Venerable Mother Mary Crucified of Jesus, the first Passionist Nun. It was her courage, humility, perseverance, and — most of all — burning love for Jesus Christ that laid a foundation which has stood firm for 250 years. This latest Formation and Catechesis bulletin contains reflections on our holy co-foundress’ life written by Sr. Luzia Maura, CP.
Read MoreThe youngest of our Passionist Saints was, like St. Gemma, actually not a vowed member of the Congregation. St. Maria Goretti is widely known and loved for her willingness to suffer martyrdom rather than surrender her virginity, but fewer people know that this 11-year-old girl was catechized and spiritually nurtured by the Passionist Fathers.
Read MoreFor many people, their first introduction to the Passionists came through the charismatic figure of St. Gemma Galgani. Though she was unable to enter religious life due to poor health, this mystic and stigmatist predicted that she would be considered part of her beloved Passionist Congregation after death — and how true that prophecy proved
Read MoreThe Blessed Virgin Mary, especially under her title of Our Sorrowful Mother, has been central to Passionist life throughout our history. It was she who gave the habit to St. Paul of the Cross, and it was in her Roman basilica (St. Mary Major) that our Holy Founder first made the “Passion Vow.”
Read MoreIf you’ve ever clicked over to our Passionist Year calendar, you might have noticed that it is not always the same as the universal Church calendar. Some of our feasts are unique to Passionists, and others we celebrate with greater solemnity. In her maternal wisdom, the Church nurtures the spiritual patrimony of our Congregation by allowing us to keep special feasts connected with our specific charism: devotion to and grateful remembrance of the Passion of Jesus.
Read MoreThey are men and women, young and old, religious and laity. They lived in different centuries, spoke different languages, were called to different forms of service and sacrifice in Christ’s Kingdom. One thing, however, binds together this diverse group: in their unique ways, these holy men and women shared in the precious gift of the Passionist Charism.
Read MorePassionists deeply treasure our holy habit, a gift to our Congregation from the Mother of Sorrows herself. Our Lady appeared to St. Paul of the Cross clothed in a black robe, and she pleaded with him to found a congregation that would wear the same “garb of mourning and penance,” keeping her company on Calvary.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be a part of the Passionist Congregation? What is the significance of community life in our day? In this latest bulletin in the Jubilee Formation and Catechesis series, Fr. Giovanni Cipriani, C.P. offers some beautiful reflections on the joy and challenges that come with community and the communal life, as well as on the special “family spirit” of the Passionists.
Read MoreThe defining characteristics of the Passionist Congregation is our special vow “to promote devotion to and a grateful remembrance of the Passion of Jesus Christ.” Traditionally, this has been listed as our fourth vow. However, after the Second Vatican Council, which called on religious to embrace their founding charisms in a renewed way, the Passionists moved this distinctive vow to the first place in our profession formula.
Read MoreWhat is a spirituality? Is Passionist spirituality distinct from spirituality of the Passion? In this Jubilee Bulletin, Fr. Bernard Mayele Muntwene tackles these questions and more, leading us to a deeper understanding of our beautiful and unique spiritual patrimony received from St. Paul of the Cross.
Read MoreSt. Paul of the Cross often spoke sorrowfully of the world’s forgetfulness of the Passion of Christ, and so he asked his religious to make a special vow “to promote devotion to and grateful remembrance of the Passion of Jesus Christ.”
Read MoreThree hundred years ago right now, Paul Danei was in the midst of his 40-day retreat at the Church of St. Charles, in Castellazzo, Italy. Passionists look on this special time in our Holy Founder’s life as the true spiritual beginning of our Congregation.
Read MoreWe as Passionists treasure these final exhortations of St. Paul of the Cross, and it is our hope that they will likewise inspire each of you.
Read MoreThe latest article in the Passionist Jubilee Bulletin’s “Formation and Catechesis” series literally follows the footsteps of St. Paul of the Cross, exploring some of the different sites in Italy that were important to the formation of our Congregation.
Read MoreThis essay, written by German Passionist Father Gregor Lenzen, explores what Passionists refer to as the four “pillars” of the Congregation: prayer, solitude, poverty, and penance.
Read MoreThe Passionist Jubilee bulletin has begun publishing a series on “formation and catechesis,” taking a deeper look at the history and spirituality of our Congregation.
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