From the Letters of St. Gabriel:
“I recommend to you a strong, constant devotion to Mary, our most holy and sorrowful virgin. Think often of her and sympathise with her in her sufferings. Then this loving mother, who is never outdone in kindness, will comfort you.”
Passionist Proper Offices, p. 74
Read more about St. Gabriel here
Visit the Shrine of St. Gabriel in Italy here
St. Paul of the Cross was influenced by the spirituality and writings of St. Francis de Sales. The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross reveal some fifty five quotations from St. Francis de Sales.
In his still widely read “Introduction to the Devout Life” St. Francis de Sales leads all those who desire to become holy along a path which has, for almost four centuries, proven to be a sure one. Central to holiness is an interior conversion to Jesus. Symbolically we are to write the name of Jesus upon our hearts.
St. Francis de Sales writes “whoever has Jesus Christ in their heart will soon have him in all their outward ways” (IDL Part III Chapter 23). We are to “live Jesus” and make the pattern of his life our own.
Today Passionists celebrate the titular feast of the Congregation – the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
It is celebrated each year on the Friday before Ash Wednesday.
This feast, which was instituted by St. Paul of the Cross, is a joyful celebration of the mystery of Good Friday focussing on the Passion as “the most overwhelming sign of God’s love” (St. Paul of the Cross).
Passionist Bishop Vincent Strambi writes, “Happy is the person who reflects on the life giving passion of our Lord. He will be humble, trustful, thankful and loving towards Jesus who is our justice, our sanctification and our redemption” . (From the book ‘The Treasures Which We Have in Jesus Christ,’ Volume III, p. 14
May the Passion of Jesus be always in our hearts!
An interesting article about catholic spirituality here
Since the time of St. Paul of the Cross when Passionists gather for prayer they begin with the invocation “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bend in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father“.
St. Paul of the Cross taught that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend (Philippians 2:10). Veneration of the Name of Jesus flourished through the teaching of the Franciscan St. Bernardine of Siena (+1444). The 1721 the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus was mandated for the universal Church and was restored by Pope John Paul II.
OUR PASSIONIST CHARISM 