The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Solemn Commemoration of the Passion

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Today, March 1, the 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 focusing 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!

Prayer for the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

God of compassion, creator and redeemer of humankind, You sent your only Son into this world to die that we might live, and to restore us to your friendship, lost by the sin of Adam.  Keep before our eyes the mystery of Christ crucified, so that we may preach to the world the redeeming love of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

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.”