Saint of the Day: St. Paul of the Cross

Founder of the Passionists (1694-1775)

His life

+ Paul Francis Danei was born near Genoa to a family of merchants. A pious child, he experienced a series of visions in 1720 in which he was instructed to establish a new religious congregation.

+ After spending 40 days in solitary prayer, he composed a rule of life for what would eventually become the Congregation of the Passion (the Passionists).

+ Ordained a priest in 1727, Paul established the community’s first house in 1737.

+ After the community was given papal approval in 1769, Paul added a fourth vow to promote the Passion of Christ. Passionist priests were soon sought out as retreat leaders and missionaries throughout Italy and beyond.

+ A man of prayer, Paul spent long hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and practiced extreme penances. He wanted the members of his community to combine contemplation and action and his own devotion to the Passion compelled him to share the Truth of God’s love with others.

+ Shortly before his death on October 19, 1775, he established a congregation of enclosed nuns.

+ Saint Paul of the Cross was canonized in 1867.

For prayer and reflection

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the learning of the learned I will set aside.”—1 Corinthians 1:18

Spiritual bonus

On this day we also remember Saint Cornelius the Centurion. The Acts of the Apostles relates that Cornelius was part of a Roman cohort stationed in Caesarea and received the Holy Spirit while listening to the preaching of the Apostle Peter. Peter, in turn, baptized Cornelius and his entire family, making him the first known Gentile convert to Christianity. Later traditions relate that he later served as the first bishop of Caesarea.

Vocations

Passionist Priests and Brothers (Holy Cross Province): https://passionist.org/

Passionist Priests and Brothers (Province of St. Paul of the Cross): www.thepassionists.org

Passionist Nuns (Erlanger, KY): www.erlangerpassionists.org

Passionist Nuns (Pittsburgh, PA): http://www.passionistnunspgh.org

Passionist Nuns (Abington Twp, PA): www.passionstnunsclarkssummit.org

Passionist Nuns (Whitesville, KY): www.passionistnuns.org

Passionist Nuns (Ellisville, MO): www.passionistnunsofstlouis.org

Passionist Sisters (North Kingstown, RI): www.passionistsisters.org

Prayer

May the Priest Saint Paul,
whose only love was the Cross,
obtain for us your grace, O Lord,
so that, urged on more strongly by his example,
we may each embrace our own cross with courage.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.