Passionist

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Jesu XPI Passio

Passionism is also an artistic movement.

Passionists are a Roman Catholic religious group that was founded by St Paul of the Cross (Paul Francis Danei). Its expanded name is The Congregation of Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 History
2 Character of the Congregation
3 Social Work
4 Passionist Sisters
5 External links

[edit] History

St. Paul of the Cross wrote the rules of the Congregation in December 1720, and in 1725, Pope Benedict XIII granted Paul the permission to form his congregation. Paul and his brother, John Baptist, were ordained by the pope on the same occasion.

Clement XIV then granted full rights to the Passionists, as enjoyed by the other religious orders, in 1769 except that he did not make them a full order but a congregation. The congregation historically has had two primary goals: part missionary work and part contemplative life, with an attempt to blend the two. Its founder had attempted to marry the reflective orders such as the Trappist monks, together with the dynamic orders like the Jesuits.

There are now 2,179 Passionists in 59 nations on the five continents, led by a superior general who is elected every six years. He is currently assisted in the government of the congregation by 4 consultors. The present superior general is Father Ottaviano D'Egidio. The congregation is divided into provinces, vice-provinces and vicariates.

The official name of the institute is "The Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ." The superior general resides in Rome (Piazza Ss. Giovanni e Paolo, 13 - 00184 Roma - tel. 06 772711). This is also the international house of studies and where the Congregation's founder is buried.

[edit] Character of the Congregation

The members of the congregation are not allowed to possess land, and the congregation collectively can only own the community house and a bit of land attached to it. They rely completely on their own labor and on contributions from the faithful in order to maintain themselves financially. The habit worn by members is a rough wool tunic bearing the words "Jesu XPI Passio," meaning "Passion of Jesus Christ" and the congregation is discalced.

A number of Passionists have been canonised, including their founder St Paul of the Cross, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows and St Vincent Strambi. The Passionist Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War have also been canonised and beatified. The causae of the English Passionist Father Ignatius Spencer and the Italian Passionist Father Dominic Barberi have also been opened. Dominic was declared 'Blessed' in 1963 by Pope Paul VI.

[edit] Social Work

Unlike the La Sallians or the Gabrielites, Passionists do not usually open schools and universities, except seminaries for their own students wishing to become brothers and priests. There are some schools sponsored by the Passionists, like the St. Gema Galgani School (which includes primary, junior high and high school-level education) in Santiago (Chile), but these are more the exception than the rule.

Traditionally, their main apostolate has been preaching missions and retreats. According to Saint Paul of the Cross, they were founded in order to "teach people how to pray", which they do through activities such as retreats and missions, spiritual direction, and prayer groups. Today they often also assist local priests in pastoral works, including saying masses, hearing confessions, and visiting the sick. Due to the continuing lack of priests in the United States, the monks today are sometimes designated as pastors and assistant pastors of various parishes.

Though Passionists are not required to work in non-Christian areas as missionaries, their Rule allows its members to be posted to missionary work, such as mainland China (before the Communists took over in 1949), India, and Japan, as dictated by the Pope.

[edit] Passionist Sisters

The Passionist Sisters is an order that was founded in 1850 by Father Gaudentius, an early Passionist priest, as a convent for factory girls. In its infancy, it was called "Sisters of the Holy Family," and was later included under the Passionist family. Its first Mother Superior was Mother Mary Joseph Prout.

Due to their separate raisings guided by members of the Order, Saint Maria Goretti and Saint Gemma Galgani are traditionally counted into the ranks of the Passionists Sisters, even though they died before they could formally enter the order (Maria was killed, Gemma died of tisis).