Novena in Honor of St. Paul of the Cross

Posted on October 3, 2011 by

St. Paul of the Cross

You are invited to join the Passionists in preparing for the feast of St. Paul of the Cross by praying our on-line novena.

A novena, a nine day prayer, is a way of praying with perseverance, modeled after the nine days period the apostles prayed after Pentecost. Each day, beginning on October 11, there will be a reflection on some aspect of the life or spirituality of St. Paul of the Cross by a noted Passionist. The novena prayers, with a special prayer for each day are already available in an e-booklet at Passionist Daily Reflections.

Watch for the novena beginning on October 11 at: Passionist Daily Reflections.

We hope you will join the Passionist Community for these special days of prayer.

St. Paul of the Cross on Maintaining Inner Peace (thepassionists.org)
Saint Michael, All the Archangels and the Guardian Angels (thepassionists.org)
“Go Fishing” – St. Paul of the Cross (thepassionists.org)

Passionist Fr. Edward Beck Interviews Mario Lopez

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

Mario Lopez on the Inspiration for His Kids’ Book | Video – ABC News

Fr. Edward Beck interviews Mario Lopez about his new children’s book, Mario and Baby Gia. During a “lightening round” on faith, Mario shares how much his Catholic faith means to him.

Passionist Fr. Robin Ryan Addressing London Ontario Diocesan Convocation of Priests

Posted on September 26, 2011 by

Fr. Robin Ryan attending the London, Ontario Diocesan Convocation of Priests where he will give four talks: “Addressing the Mystery of Suffering in Pastoral Care and Preaching.”

The talks are based on his recently published book, God and the Mystery of Human Suffering: A Theological Conversation across the Ages.

St. Vincent Strambi, C.P.

Posted on September 24, 2011 by

Today Passionists remember St. Vincent Strambi, C.P. His faithful witness during a time of religious persecution continues to be relevant and inspirational today.

Born at Civitavecchia, Italy on January 1, 1745, he felt called to the diocesan priesthood at an early age. Before his ordination he was named rector and professor within his seminary, Montefiascone. While on his ordination retreat, he met St. Paul of the Cross and immediately determined to become a Passionist. St. Paul of the Cross had to struggle with his parents who thought that the Congregation of the Passion was beneath the dignity of their son. Vincent’s iron will prevailed and he remained with the Passionists. Paul of the Cross named him professor of theology, patristics and preaching. He was the first to write a biography of St. Paul of the Cross and to explain in print, the meaning of the Passionist charism. Much against his will, he was promoted to the Office of Diocesan Bishop of Macerata and Tolentino in 1801 by Pope Pius VII.

La batalla de Torentino por Vincenzo Milizia

Attempts were made to separate him from the Catholic Church by the invading French. In 1808 he refused to take an oath of allegiance to Napoleon Bonaparte. Expelled from his diocese in 1808, he returned in 1814. In 1815, Napoleon’s troops attempted to retake Italy, but were defeated at the Battle of Tolentino. In retaliation, they set their sights on Macerata. Vincent Strambi confronted General Joachim Murat and stared him down. Throughout his administration, he was extremely loyal to Pope Pius VII. From 1808 to 1823 Strambi lived like a vagabond while at the same time acting responsibly toward his diocese from afar. He resigned his post in 1823 only to be recalled as prelate in the Apostolic Palace of Pope Leo XII. When Leo became mortally ill, Strambi offered his life for the recovery of the pope. He died the following day, January 1, 1824. Pope Pius XII canonized him in 1950 as a public act of appeal to all the bishops of Eastern Europe who were under threat of separation from Rome by Communist governments. In his own way, after his death he appears as an ecumenical figure of Christian unity.

- Fr. Jerome Vereb, C.P.

Blessed Dominic Barberi, C.P. (thepassionists.org)
An Old Story-teller: The Basilica of Saints John and Paul, (Part 1) (thepassionists.org)
St. Vincent Strambi, C.P. (thepassionists.org)

The Cross of 9/11

Posted on September 11, 2011 by

Two weeks ago, New York City prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Irene days in advance with more than adequate warning. Forecasters at first feared that seawater surging into Lower Manhattan from New York Harbor and the Hudson River might even reach the World Trade Center memorial. Such an act of nature’s fury would have been one more painful blow on the eve of the tenth anniversary of that first 9/11, whose terror fell upon us from the blue skies without any warning at all on a sunny and peaceful Tuesday morning.

Hurricanes come and go with some degree of predictability. We bury our dead, rebuild our homes, turn the lights back on and move on, battered but basically resilient. However, 9/11 was life-changing in so many ways. We now realize it was the beginning of a new era. Where were you when the news reached you? That’s what we say when things of this magnitude overtake us. Though we were not ourselves in the streets by the Towers, or passing by the Pentagon, or out there in the farmlands of Shanksville PA, we suffered in spirit with those who were. In the days immediately following the tragedy, men and women of faith (Passionists among them) joined others of generous spirit who sought to bring comfort and healing peace wherever needed.

Now that the tenth anniversary has come, we may certainly recall that moment when our initial surprise became mind numbing, and the surge of emotions gave way to questions that still affect us today. The agony of that first 9/11 has been replayed over and over. The original scenes are seared into our minds, but we are still hearing for the first time the stories of so many heroes who gave their lives in the course of trying to rescue others. So many lives were violently interrupted forever. The impact of 9/11 stretched around the world as we came to know more and more about the thousands of people who were taken from us in just a few hours. Over this decade, we now appreciate how many other lives have been left in shambles because of the wave of death, which swept over our country that Tuesday morning.

Will this anniversary bear any fruit for the future as we let its pain touch us again? We Christians know something about remembering past tragedies. The execution of Jesus on Calvary certainly seemed to be a tragedy on that Friday, which only through faith in the resurrection would one day be called “Good Friday.” We who cherish the Passion of Jesus in our hearts keep our “eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and finisher of our faith” who endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:2).

As we commemorate this tenth anniversary, our Christian faith reminds us how God in Christ Jesus has entered so deeply into the agony of our human tragedies in order to bring us through them and unto healing through his grace and power. Though we cannot escape the storms of suffering which can be relentless at times, the memory of the Lord’s Passion continues to offer us hope in what God can do even in the most difficult human circumstances. May our prayer today accompany all those who still carry the cross of 9/11 in any way. May God transform their suffering into joy.

- Fr. Paul Zilonka, C.P.

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