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 MoreWe here at St. Joseph Monastery have spent the past year and a half in “Jubilee mode,” celebrating several important anniversaries for our Passionist Congregation and our own community. The last of these, the 75th anniversary of our monastery’s foundation in Western Kentucky, was a particularly joyful occasion.
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 MoreAs the Jubilee Year enters its final months, this latest Communication Bulletin draws our attention back to one of those central themes: prophecy. What does it mean to be a prophet of Christ Crucified? How are we as Passionists called to live out this prophetic vocation in our world today?
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 MoreSister Cecilia Maria takes us to the scene of Our Lady’s seventh Sorrow: the Burial of Jesus. Though Holy Saturday is often forgotten in the rush to prepare for Easter, this is the Marian day par excellence; let us live it in a close spiritual union with her, even if our external lives are busy. Then, on the long-awaited third day, we can rejoice with the Church and with all of creation in the Resurrection of Christ!
Read MoreTomorrow, Palm Sunday, we celebrate the glory of Christ our triumphant King, Who conquered by His death on the Cross. In this week’s video, Sister Frances Marie brings us in spirit to the site of this great victory, Calvary. There we contemplate with her the Sixth Sorrow of Mary: the taking down of Jesus’ lifeless Body from the Cross. The Passionist Fathers’ Jubilaeum reflections take us into the heart of today’s unique Liturgy of the Word: the solemn reading of the Passion according to St. Mark.
Read MoreToday, Sr. Cecilia Maria takes us right to the heart of that great Paschal Mystery as she discusses the fifth sorrow of Mary — the Crucifixion of Jesus. The Passionist Fathers’ Jubilaeum reflection this Sunday also focuses on the heart of our charism, the Passion of Jesus. What does Jesus Crucified mean to each of us?
Read MoreThis Laetare Sunday, as we mark the halfway point of Lent, Sister Frances Marie leads our meditation on the fourth Sorrow of Our Lady: the meeting with Jesus as He carried His Cross to Calvary. In the Jubilaeum reflection for this week, the Passionist Fathers delve into this Sunday’s Gospel — including the famous and often-quoted verse, John 3:16.
Read MoreThis Saturday, we continue our journey through the Sorrows of Mary as Sr. Cecilia Maria’s speaks on the Third Sorrow: the three days’ loss of the Child Jesus in Jerusalem. We also share with you a Jubilaeum reflection by Fr. Gwen Barde, CP, on the Passionist Mission and Evangelization— an appropriate theme for this Lenten season of ongoing conversion!
Read MoreIn our next video on the Seven Sorrows of Mary, Sr. Frances Marie leads us in considering the Second Sorrow: the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. We also continue our series of Jubilaeum Lenten reflections this week with a meditation on the Gospel for this Sunday. What lessons does the Transfiguration of Jesus hold for our lives today?
Read More
