From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

October 19th - St. Paul of the Cross

Paolo Danei Massari was born in Ovada, Italy the 3rd January 1694. His
family later moved to Castellazzo Bormida, not far from his
birthplace. His mother taught him from an early age that the strength
to overcome any and all difficulties in life was to be found in the
Passion of Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for Jesus Crucified since
his early childhood, Paul wished to dedicate his entire life to Him.
One time, seriously ill, he had a vision of hell which completely
terrorized him. On a later occasion, during a sermon, he felt himself
inspired by the Lord to the love of Christ Crucified; he referred to
that moment as the time of his "conversion".

Between 1715-1716, desirous of serving Christ, he went to Venice to
enlist in the army. Inspired by the ideals of a crusade, he wished to
fight against the Turks who were threatening Europe. One day, while in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, he was made to understand that
this was not his vocation. He then resigned from the army but remained
for a while in Venice, at the service of a family he knew. He later
returned to his home. Even though his priest uncle had left him an
inheritance that he might marry, Paul renounced any such intention.

=C2 According to one witness, it was in a vision he had of the Blessed
Virgin that Paul came to recognize the habit, the sign and the kind of
life he was to lead, a life totally committed to Jesus Crucified.
Having consulted with several prudent confessors, the Bishop of
Alessandria, Mons. Gattinara, vested Paul with the Passionist habit on
the 22nd November 1720. Paul then spent the next forty days in the
sacristy of the church of St. Charles in Castellazzo. His experiences
and the state of his soul during that "forty days" is made known to us
in the "Spiritual Diary". During that retreat he also wrote the Rule
for possible future companions to whom he refers as "The Poor of
Jesus". On a visit, his brother, John Baptist, asked to join him but
Paul refused his request, at least for the moment.

At the end of this experience, the bishop authorized him to live in
the hermitage of St. Stephen in Castellazzo and to engage in the
apostolate as a layman. During the summer of 1721 Paul went to Rome
with the intention of having an audience with the Holy Father that he
might reveal his inspiration concerning the future Congregation. The
officials at the Quirinal, the then residence of the Popes, would not
permit him entrance, thinking he was some kind of beggar.

Accepting this humiliation in imitation of Jesus Crucified, he went to
the basilica of St. Mary Major and, before the image of Our Lady
"Salus Populi Romani, took the vow to consecrate himself to promoting
the memory of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

On his journey home he stopped at Orbetello for a while, at the
hermitage of the Annunciation on Mount Argentario. Arriving at
Castellazzo he was joined by his brother John Baptist. They then
immediately left for Mount Argentario, to live there as hermits.
Later, at the invitation of Bishop Pignatelli, they went into
hermitage at Madonna della Catena, Gaeta. Bishop Cavalieri next
permitted them to live in Troia for a while. They later returned to
the diocese of Gaeta at the shrine of Our Lady of Civita, Itri. Their
every attempt to found a community ended up in failure. In order to
preach the Passion they had to be ordained priests and so they next
went to Rome.

While studying theology there, they also ministered to those infected
with skin diseases in the hospital of San Gallicano. The brothers had
the occasion to speak with the Holy Father when he visited the church
of the Navicella on the Celian hill and he orally granted them
permission to make a foundation on Mount Argentario. In 1727, ordained
priests, the brothers left Rome to live at Mount Argentario.

They initiated their apostolate among the local fisherman, woodsmen
and shepherds, etc. They were soon joined by other companions, among
them their brother Antonio and some others who were already ordained
priests. The bishops requested them to preach parish missions in the
local towns. When war broke out in the Garrison States, Paul
ministered to the sick and wounded of both armies, his presence always welcomed.

The first retreat, dedicated to the Presentation, was inaugurated in
1737. Paul later presented Rome with the new Rule of the young
Congregation. After making some mitigation, Benedict XIV gave his
approval in 1741.

Our Founder was a contemporary of other outstanding, saintly preachers
such as St. Leonard of Port Maurice, whom he met on one occasion, and
St. Alphonsus Liguori with whom he was acquainted. Like them, he too,
for love of Jesus Crucified, was filled with zeal for the preaching of
parish missions.

Though he had held the office of Superior General from 1747 onward, he
never stopped preaching missions or writing letters of spiritual
direction. The Institute did encounter much opposition on the part of
some sectors of the Church for which reason some of the projected
foundations had to be delayed until a pontifical commission passed
favorable judgment on the Passionists. =E2=80=A6.

After the suppression of the Company of Jesus, Clement XIV transferred
the Fathers of the Missions (Lazzarists) to the church of Sant'Andrea
on the Quirinal and gave Paul of the Cross the house and basilica on
the Celian hill, SS. Giovanni e Paolo. A short distance from the
Coliseum, it was here Paul passed the last years of his life. Here,
too, he was visited by two Popes, Clement XIV in 1774 and by Pius VI
in 1775. He died a few months after the latter visit. His mortal
remains are enshrined in the chapel, completed in 1880, dedicated to
him.


Saint Quote:
Prayer, good reading, the frequentation of the sacraments, with the
proper dispositions, and particularly the flight of idleness--these
are, believe me, the means of sanctifying yourself.
--St. Paul of the Cross

Bible Quote:
=C2 For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but godliness is
profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is and
of that which is to come.=C2 [1 Timothy 4:8] DRB


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Holy Mary, help the helpless, strengthen the faithful,
comfort the sorrowful, pray for the people,
plead for the clergy, intercede for all women
consecrated to God; may all who keep thy
sacred commemoration experience the
might of thine assurance.

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)