Saint Paul of the Cross and St. Mary Magdalene

“Among the female saints he (St. Paul of the Cross) venerated with special affection was St. Mary Magdalene, to whom be bore a very fervent devotion, sang Mass on the day dedicated to her, and made it a feast in the Passionist Rule. He used to say, to encourage others in this devotion, that after the Blessed Virgin Mary this great saint was, of all the women, the one that loved God the most.”

- from the Life of Blessed Paul of the Cross by Fr. Vincent Strambi, C.P.

A Litany of St. Mary Magdalene

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

                          

St. Mary Magdalene, servant of Jesus, pray for us

St. Mary Magdalene, chosen by Him, pray for us

Freed from the slavery of possession, pray for us

Vessel of sincere repentance, pray for us

Giver of a grateful heart, pray for us

Eager student of the Word, pray for us

Devoted companion of the Lord, pray for us

Participant in His Passion, pray for us

Comforter at the crucifixion, pray for us

Preserver of the Body of Christ, pray for us

First witness to the triumph over death, pray for us

Proclaimer of the good news, pray for us

Steadfast in your fidelity, pray for us

Constant in your love, pray for us

Humble in your acceptance of mercy, pray for us

 St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross - Saint Mary Magdalene

On the Feast of Mary Magdalene go to Communion for me, praying that great, holy penitent to ask from our loving Redeemer to grant me true compunction of heart so that I may melt, turn to water, liquify all my tears of love and sorrow for the grave offenses committed against my good God.  (Letter 324)

The loving penitent Saint Mary Magdalene, in seeing the gentle Jesus, fell at his feet out of love. O sweet fall!  There she loved and was silent, and listened to the holy words of Jesus, and burned with love.  Love speaks more with silence than with the tongue. (Letter 1049)

The Rector of San Angelo writes me that the bishop there and the officials of Corneto have changed their minds on the site for the location of the Retreat. I would want it to be on the site where years ago I stopped to recite the Litany of Saint Mary Magdalene, Penitent, to whom I still desire, if that is satisfactory to the bishop, to dedicate this new Retreat. (Letter 1532)

On Calvary there were only Mary Most Holy, Saint John and Saint Mary Magdalene, that is to say, the souls that were true lovers of Christ.  (Letter 2052) 

July 22 - Saint Mary Magdalene, the Penitent

St. Paul of the Cross considered Mary Magdalene deeply in love with Christ, who stood courageously at the foot of the cross, who guarded the tomb, who sought to complete the embalming of Christ’s body and received the first announcement of the resurrection, as a model of conversion and of full union with God. He trusted she would obtain for him and his religious the true spirit of penance and solitude which despises all worldly ignominy and gossip and seeks only Jesus. According to some witnesses, St. Paul of the Cross had declared her “joint protectress” of the Congregation. Certainly he wished her feast to be kept as of rule, exclusing the regular fast.

He had an altar dedicated to her in the first church of the Congregation at Monte Argentario. In his letters she is frequently presented as protectress in overcoming temptations and keeping faithful to the love of Christ.

- taken from HISTORY OF THE PASSIONISTS, Volume 1, Fabiano Giorgini, C.P. p. 327

Retreat of St. Joseph, Monte Argentario opened 16th July 1761

The Retreat of St. Joseph on Monte Argentario was opened on 16th July 1761.  St. Paul of the Cross was sick in bed and could not be present at the Opening Ceremony.

St. Paul of the Cross wanted the Retreat of St. Joseph on Monte Argentario to offer the young postulants an atmosphere with more salubrious air. At the same time he hoped that in the retreat of the Presentation, which remained without novices, ten or twelve retreatants could be given hospitality.

The work of construction was done in great part by the Passionist Brothers who made the bricks, prepared the lime etc.

Begun in Autumn 1755 it was opened in July of 1761 with the decision that the two communities should be morally considered as one sole community.