Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul

The Lord has set you firm within his Church, which he built upon the rock of Peter’s faith. May he bless you with a faith that never falters.

The Lord has given you knowledge of the faith through the labours and preaching of St. Paul. May his example inspire you to lead others to Christ by the manner of your life.

THE APOSTLES AND THE PASSIONIST LIFE

For St. Paul of the Cross the Passionist life “is not unlike that of the apostles, but rather totally comformable to theirs, and their conduct has been the norm of the constitutions.” It is understandable, therefore, that he should have loved them and transmitted to his religious a similar love and veneration …. special veneration was given to St. Paul the Apostle. St. Paul of the Cross bore his name and admired his ardent love for Christ Crucified, and he loved particularly to meditate on the apostle’s letters. His quotations from them are numerous and were regularly put before the novices so that they might learn to glory in the cross of Christ.

(cf. History of the Passionists, Father Fabiano Giorgini, C.P., Volume 1, page 328) 

Fr. Theodore Foley, C.P.

The Cause of Father Theodore Foley C.P.  (1913-1974), officially opened in Rome in 2008. For 10 years, Father Theodore was the Superior General of the Passionists.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Pope Benedict XVI’s Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, described his life during the  inauguration ceremony. He invited the Passionists to walk the way  of sanctity, “which Father Theodore followed with such  dedication.”

Daniel Foley was born in 1913 in Springfield to a family of Irish immigrants. He entered the Passionist congregation in 1932 and in the following year made his first profession, taking the name Theodore. He was ordained a priest in  1940 in Baltimore, Maryland USA.

In 1958, Father Foley became a General  Consultor and assistant to the Superior General of the Passionists. He was himself elected Superior General in 1964, a post that he held until his  death on 9th October 1974.

Father Giovanni Zubiani C.P., Postulator of the  Cause of Beatification, spoke of Father Theodore as a man open to dialogue “but firm on the principles and charism of the Congregation.”

LINKS

You can view a brief video on the life of Father Theodore Foley, C.P.  here

You can link to an interview on Father Theodore Foley, C.P., by Bishop Norbert Dorsey C.P. here

Read an article about Father Theodore from The Passionist Compassion magazine  here

Father Theodore Foley remembered … by Fr. Victor Hoagland C.P.  here

 

PRAYER FOR THE CANONISATION OF FATHER THEODORE FOLEY, C.P.

Lord Jesus Christ, you called Father Theodore Foley to follow you as a Passionist Priest even to Calvary’s heights.  Through you Immaculate and Sorrowful Mother, you taught him obedience to your Father’s will and the fulfillment of your Commandment of loving God and neighbor.  Let the loving inspiration of your servant move us to live a more profound life of virtue. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Theodore Foley according to the designs of your holy will.  Through his intercession, we ask you to grant the request I now present (mention your request).  Through Christ our Lord, Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father).
 

Approved + Paul M. Boyle, CP, Bishop Emeritus of Mandeville.

As the Year of St. Paul concludes ….

As the Year of St. Paul concludes, Pope Benedict XVI writes:

“Men are often empty inside and thus must grasp for promises and drugs, which end up adding to their inner sense of emptiness. This inner emptiness, man’s inner weakness, is one of today’s great problems. The inner self—the heart’s perceptiveness, the capacity to see and understand the world and man from within, with the heart—must be strengthened. We need reason enlightened by the heart to learn to act in accordance to the truth in love. This cannot be done without an intimate relationship with God, without a life of prayer. We need to meet God, something which is given to us in the Sacraments. And we cannot speak to God in prayer if we do not let Him speak first, if we do not listen to him in the word he gave us.”

St. John Mary Vianney

 

 “You have a small heart, but prayer enlarges it and makes it capable of loving God.”

Welcome to the Year for Priests

Praise to you, Lord of all Life, for in your infinite love you care for your people by the ministry of priests.

May their faithful service bring lasting good to your Church and great happiness to them. Help them to do what is right, that by their teaching and living we may grow in the knowledge of your love.

As our priests instruct your people,
enlighten them with the wisdom of Christ the Teacher.

As they preach your Word and celebrate the sacraments,
sanctify them with the holiness of Christ the High Priest.

As they face weakness, suffering and discouragement,
strengthen them with the grace of Christ the Life-Giver.

As they work for peace, unity and healing in your Church,
uphold them with the courage of Christ the Reconciler.

Blessed are You, Lord of all Life.

St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us.