St. Paul of the Cross (1695-1775), an Italian mystic and founder of the Passionists

PIOUS BEGINNINGS
Paul of the Cross was born to pious parents at Uvada in the Duchy of Savoy (Piedmont area of northern Italy) on 3 January 1694. He was descended from a noble family and christened Paolo Francesco Danei. His future holiness was foreshown by a wonderful light which filled his mother's room while she was in labor, and by a remarkable proof of the protection of the Queen of Heaven, who saved him from drowning in a river as a child. He was the second of sixteen children, yet only six survived infancy. Thus he knew intimately of death and suffering from an early age. As soon as he acquired the use of reason, he burned with love for Jesus Christ crucified. He began to devote much time to contemplation of Him. He chastised his innocent flesh with watchings, scourgings, fastings, and all kinds of austerity. On Fridays he drank vinegar mingled with gall. As a youth he taught catechism in the homes of children living near him. Fueled with the desire for martyrdom, he joined the army which was being assembled in Venice to fight against the Turks. But having learned the will of God in prayer, he gave up this career in order to serve in a nobler army which was to defend the Church and labor for the eternal salvation of men. When he returned home, he then refused a very honorable marriage and an inheritance left him by his uncle. He instead wished to enter upon a straiter way. He was greatly influenced by St. Francis de Sales' Treatise on the Love of God. He received a coarse tunic as a habit from his bishop, who, on account of Paul's holiness of life and knowledge of divine things, commissioned him even before ordination to preach the Word of God, which he did with great profit to souls.

FOUNDING RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS
Paul traveled to Rome, and after completing his theological courses, was raised to the priesthood by command of Pope Benedict XIII, who also gave him permission to gather comrades about him. Again relying heavily on prayer, he first withdrew into the solitude of Monte Argentaro, where the Blessed Virgin had already invited him to go. She also showed him a black habit bearing the emblems of Her Son's Passion. On seeing a heart surmounted by a white cross, and in the heart was written "Passion of Jesus Christ," he heard these words: "This is to show how pure the heart must be that bears the holy name of Jesus graven upon it". There he laid the foundations of a new congregation in 1720. The first to join him was his own brother, John Baptist. Through Paul's pious labors and the blessing of God, it grew rapidly and attracted eminent men. He was known to say "The service of God does not require good words and good desires, but efficient workmanship, fervor and courage." His nascent congregation received the confirmation of the Apostolic See more than once, together with the Rule which Paul had himself received from God in prayer, and the addition of a fourth vow: to promote devotion to the Lord's Passion. These first Passionist fathers preached missions to enkindle the faith, especially in the countryside and areas often neglected by pastors.

The first Retreat (the name St. Paul gave their monasteries) was opened in 1737 on Monte Argentario when the community had nine members. Paul chose this term to to underline the life of solitude and contemplation which he believed was necessary for someone who wished to preach the message of the Cross. In addition to praying the Divine Office in community, Passionists were to devote at least three hours to contemplative prayer each day. The austerity of life practiced by these founders did not encourage large numbers, but Paul preferred a slow, at times painful, growth to something more spectacular. St. Paul also established a congregation for nuns, whose vocation should be to meditate upon the surpassing charity of their heavenly Spouse.

[column size="2-3" last="0"]A MOST HOLY WITNESS
His untiring love for souls caused him to never weary in preaching the Gospel, and he brought a number of men, both heretics and criminals, into the way of salvation. So great was his eloquence when he spoke of the Passion that both he and his hearers would she tears, and the most hardened hearts were moved to repentance. The fire of the love of God burned so in his heart that his garments often seemed to be scorched, and two of his ribs raised. He could not restrain his tears, particularly when saying Mass, and he was often rapt in ecstasy and raised into the air, while his face shone was with light from heaven. Some times when he was preaching, a heavenly voice was heard prompting him, and at others his words became audible at the distance of several miles. He was distinguished for the gifts of prophecy, of speaking with tongues, of reading the heart, and of power over evil spirits, over diseases, and over the elements. Through popes regarded him with affection and veneration, he looked upon himself as an unprofitable servant upon whom devils might well trample.[/column]

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DEATH AND VENERATION
St. Paul established a much larger community at the Church of St. John and Paul in Rome. For fifty years, he remained the indefatigable missionary of Italy. He persevered in his austerities until extreme old age. He died at age 81 in Rome on the day he himself foretold (18 October 1775), after having received the Last Rites and the consolation of a heavenly vision. He left the spirit of his teaching as an inheritance to his disciples in the beautiful exhortation he made to them on his death bed. Pope Pius IX enrolled him among the Blessed, and after further signs and wonders, proceeded to canonize him among the Saints.

[column size="2-3" last="0"]SAINTLY QUOTE
"It is an excellent and holy practice to call to mind and meditate on Our Lord's Passion, since it is by this path that we shall arrive at union with God. In this, the holiest of schools true wisdom is learned, for it was there that all the saints became wise." - St. Paul of the Cross

LEARN MORE
An enjoyable and informative article in which are recounted many of St. Paul of the Cross' supernatural gifts is LINKED HERE from the "saintpaulofthecross.com" website.

PRAYER - COLLECT OF THE DAY
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, for preaching the mystery of the cross, didst endow holy Paul with rare charity, and wast pleased that through him a new family should flourish in Thy Church: grant through his intercession for us, that we may ever bear in mind on earth the memory of Thy Passion and be accounted worthy to obtain its fruit in Heaven. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.[/column]

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