HISTORY OF
THE PASSIONIST ORDER
Saint Paul of the Cross [1694 - 1775]
St. Paul of the Cross, the founder of the Passionist Order, was born on January 23rd, 1694, in Ovada, a small town lying among the northern foothills of the Appenines, and belonging to what was, at that time, the Republic of Genoa. From childhood he manifested a remarkable love for, and devotion to, the Sacred Passion of Jesus Christ. His earliest ambition was to enkindle in men's hearts a greater love for Christ Crucified.In his twenyfifth year he was favoured by God with frequent inspirations concerning the sublime apostolate destined for him through the establishment of a new Religious Order within the Church. He was clothed in the habit of the new order of the Passionists on November 22nd. 1720, by Mgr. Gattinara, Bishop of Alessandria. In 1721, having written the Rules to be observed by his followers, he travelled to Rome to secure the necessary sanction for his proceedings. This sanction was witheld for a few years but finally in 1725, he received authority from Pope Benedict XIII to establish the Order of the Passionists. Two years later the same Pope ordained him a priest. The first "Retreat", or Monastery, was formally opened at Monte Argentaro, near Orbetello, in 1737.
From his ordination to the priesthood until his death in 1775 - almost half a century - Paul laboured indefatigably in his great apostolate of making the Passion of Christ a dominant influence in the lives of men. To the numerous congregations which he addressed in the course of his long missionary career, he could truly say, even as St. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, said to his Corinthian followers: "And I, Brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom; declaring unto you the testimony of Christ. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified."
Full of years and worn out by missionary labours, he died in the Retreat of Ss. John and Paul, Rome on October 18th, 1775. Before his death, St. Paul had the consolation of seeing his Order firmly established in his own country. Since then it has spread throughout the world. He was canonised by Pope Pius IX on June 29th. 1867 and his Feast day is observed on April 28th.
St. Paul of the Cross.
St. Paul of the Cross and England.
For half a century one of the principal objects of St. Paul's impassioned longings and fervent prayers had been the conversion of England. The source of this interest is difficult conjecture. It could have been an inspiration of God or possibly a reminiscence of what he had heard of sufferings for the Faith from his old Carmelite schoolmaster, whose own Order had established a foreign mission in England.However this may be, he prayed perseveringly for England's conversion through its darkest period of its catholic history, when but a remnant of its catholic people were left. And before he died God rewarded his divine optimism by lifting the vale of the future and giving him a glimpse of a new and resurgent England. On one of the last mornings of his life, after celebrating Mass, he was wrapt in ecstacy. Afterwards he could hardly speak for joy. "Oh, what have I seen!", he said, "My own religious in England!" It was his Nunc Dimittis.
Blessed Dominic Barberi C.P. in England.
We can only guess at the joy that filled Paul's heart as he saw in his vision his spiritual sons labouring in England but it was not God's will that Paul should ever set foot here. Some sixty years were to pass before this vision became a reality. Its fulfilment was brought about by a very remarkable man. The desire of St. Paul of the Cross was inherited in full measure by the Venerable Father Dominic Barberi. Fired with zeal, like his sainted Father and Founder, for England's conversion, Dominic longed and prayed for twenty-eight long years to labour in this country for the return of its people to the catholic faith.After many obstacles and delays, his prayers were eventually answered. He reached England in November 1841, accompanied by Fr. Amadeus and in the following February took possession of Aston Hall, near Stone, in Staffordshire - the first Passionist Retreat and the Bethlehem of the Order in England. Thus the ardent desire of St. Paul of the Cross had been realised. Fr. Dominic celebrated Mass in the Crown Inn, Stone, on Advent Sunday, 1842. Two years later he opened a little church in the town. This church - the first Passionist church in England - is now enclosed and preserved in the grounds of the Domincan Convent, and when, as is fondly hoped, the church shall raise him to her altars, this little church will become a place of pilgrimage for the nation in whose spiritual interests he laboured and suffered so much.
Within a few years Dominic made other Foundations of the Order in this country. His apostolate, however, was of short duration, for after seven years of sowing the seeds of the catholic faith, including John Henry Newman as a convert, he died at Reading, on August 27th. 1849.
The Passionists in England, with Fr. Dominic at their head, soon revived without commotion, several catholic customs and practices which had died out since the Reformation. They were the the first to adopt a strict community life, to wear their habit in public, to give Missions and Retreats to the people and to hold public religious processions. They gloried in the disgrace of the Cross, wre laughed at by protestants, warned by timid catholics but were always encouraged by Cardinal Wiseman. Their courage became infectious, so that in a short time almost evry Order in England followed their example.
In every retreat or Manstery of the Passionist Order in this country, on every day of the year, prayers are offered for the conversion of England. May we share that legacy with all those, and they are many, who desire to see England once more united to the See of Peter. And at the prayers of her Martyrs, of St. Paul of the Cross, Venerable Dominic, and Ignatius Spencer, the day star of England's faith will surely rise again, even as the setting sun rises on the morrow.
Blessed Dominic Barberi C.P.
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