The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Concluding the Year of Consecrated Life

ThPope Francis Verte Year of Consecrated Life, as designated by Pope Francis, concludes on Tuesday, February 2, 2016.

A beautiful statement by Pope Francis offered ways we should look at the Year of Consecrated Life.  He said to “look to the past with gratitude,” and see how the charism has been
lived over the years.  St. Paul of the Cross urged his fellow Passionists to remember, “We must arouse the world from its slumber.” Even our founder knew then that we needed to “Wake Up the World!”

Pope Francis then wrote, “live the present with passion.” As Passionists, we are blessed with our vowed men and women who today offer comfort and healing to the suffering, marginalized and vulnerable. By keeping alive the memory of the Passion of Jesus, we are assured that as we walk together in suffering; we are inspired by the hope that awaits us in the Resurrection of Jesus.

Finally, Pope Francis concluded that, as religious, we should, “embrace the future with hope.”  We look to the future with optimism for those seeking to live a consecrated life as a Passionist.  In Holy Cross Province, we have three young men currently in religious formation.   May they be inspired by the Holy Spirit as they seek out their vocation as religious to serve the Church.

We Passionists are grateful to all those who have journeyed with us throughout this year, and we ask that you continue to pray for all those who have made commitments to live a consecrated life and continue to “Wake Up the World!”

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!

Ash Wednesday

On March 2, the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday. 

Most of us learned early in our Catholic lives that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and that is a time of special sacrifice in preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving…. These words of Pope Francis, taken from his Lenten Message of last year, 2021, and echoing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, can still inspire our answer to the question: “What am I giving up for Lent?” 

We can draw our Lenten sacrifices out of our daily life: 

Share our faith in God’s presence by sharing in prayer with our family or with those in our parish community.
Share our hope in God’s promises by encouraging positive and respectful dialogue in our family circle and among our friends. 
Share the charity God has bestowed on us in the Passion of Jesus, with those whose sufferings are ignored or aggravated.

Let us pray for one another as we enter the season of Lent. Our Passionist “motto” can be our daily prayer during Lent, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.”