Passionaries

The founder of the congregation is St. Paul of the Cross.

In 1714, Paolo Francesco Danei volunteered for the Venetian army, which was fighting against the Turks . A year later, he realized that military service was not his calling, he resigned, became close to the monks of the Carmelite Order and spent the next five years in constant prayer and strict austerity .

According to legend, in 1720 the Virgin Mary appeared to him, who handed him a black robe with a white cross embroidered on it and said that he should establish a new monastic congregation, the members of which would pay special attention to the Passion of the Lord . The foundation date of the congregation is considered November 22, 1720 . In monasticism, Paolo Francesco Daney took the name Paul of the Cross . He wrote the charter of the new community, the basis of the spirituality of the new monastic community should have been poverty and a contemplative life in strict austerity with special respect for the Passion of Christ . His first associate in organizing the congregation was his own brother, John Battisto.

In 1725, Pope Benedict XIII allowed Paul Cross to accept new members in the community, two years later blessed him to preach, after which members of the congregation, later named Passionists (from the Latin Passio - Passion), began to preach, wandering throughout Italy. Their zeal and strict asceticism attracted many who wanted to join their new monastic community.

The first monastery under the direction of Paul Cross was founded on September 14, 1737 in Monte Argentario . After some time, Pavel of the Cross was ordained a priest and received the right to accept those who wish to the monastery he founded. Pavel Cross conducted an active correspondence: more than two thousand of his letters have been preserved, in which his spiritual life, imbued with mysticism , is revealed.

In 1741, Pope Benedict XIII officially approved the congregation, and on November 16, 1769, Pope Clement XIV in the Bull Supremi apostolatus approved the Charter of the Passionists. After the Charter was approved, the passionate people were given the ancient Roman basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo , which became the main temple of the order. The founder of the order, who died in 1775, was buried in the same church. At the time of his death, passionists totaled 12 monasteries in Italy and 176 monks.

During the Napoleonic wars, passionaries were subjected to repression, and their monasteries were closed. In 1814, the congregation was restored, after which it began to develop rapidly and crossed the borders of Italy. In 1860, passionists owned 26 monasteries in Italy and several monasteries in other European countries. The most important contribution to the rapid development of the order was made by the rectors of Antonio Testa (1839-1862) and the blessed Bernardo Silvestrelli (1875-1911). In 1867, the founder of the order, St. Paul of the Cross, was canonized . In 1905, passionists totaled 1,475 monks.

In the 20th century, the congregation continued its development, which was mainly achieved through missionary work outside of Europe. Passionist monasteries appeared in Korea , Japan , China , the Philippines , as well as in some African countries. At the end of the 20th century, a community of passionists was founded in Ukraine ( Smotrych village), which is included in the Polish province of the Order.

In 1959, the new monastic constitution of the congregation was prepared and approved by the Holy See.

According to data for 2014, the order totaled 365 cloisters. The total number of monks is 2 083, of which 1,598 are priests ^[1] . On the coat of arms there is a heart inscribed from which a cross with the inscription "Jesu XPI Passio" grows. The monks of the order wear black vestments with a leather belt and the emblem of the order on their chest. The general curia is located in Rome, the main temple is the basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo . The Order is headed by the General Rector, elections are held every 6 years. Currently, the general rector of the order is the father of Ottaviano d'Egidio (Ottaviano D'Egidio).

Geographically, all the passionate monasteries are divided into seven conferences:

• Conference of Italy,
• Iberian Peninsula Conference,
• North European Conference,
• Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Poland, Czech Republic and Ukraine),
• Asia Conference
• Africa Conference
• Conference of America,

There are several female congregations that adhere to the spirituality of passionaries (see Passionists ).

In the center of spirituality of passionaries is the Eucharist and the Easter secret. In addition to the usual three monastic vows - poverty, obedience and chastity, passionists bring a vow to honor the memory of the Passion of Christ and to promote the spread of this reverence among believers. Passionists lead a prayer-contemplative lifestyle, but are not in strict lock, a number of priests of the order feed the parish communities. The congregation also carries out missionary work in Asia and Africa. A distinctive feature of the monastic life of the congregation is the Friday weekly worship of the Way of the Cross throughout the year, while the usual practice of the Catholic Church is the celebration of these services only on Fridays of Lent .

There are three women's congregations that share passionate spirituality:

• Congregation of Passionists - founded by St. Paul of the Cross, approved in 1770. In 2005, the congregation numbered 66 monasteries and 273 nuns.
• Congregation of Passionists St. Paul Cross - founded in Florence in 1815. Finally approved by the Holy See in 1939. In 2005, there were 160 monasteries and 1,028 nuns.
• The Congregation of the Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ was founded in Plock (Poland) in 1918. Approved in 1953. In 2005, there were 31 cloisters and 231 nuns.

Among the saints and blessed orders, the most famous are:

• Paul of the Cross - canonized in 1867, founder of the order.
• Vincent Stramby is the first bishop of the order, canonized in 1950.
• Gabrielle of Our Lady of Sorrows - was canonized in 1920.
• Karl Houben - was canonized in 2007.
• Evgeny Bosilkov - Bulgarian martyr of the communist regime, beatified in 1998
• Lorenzo Salvi - preacher, beatified in 1999.
• Luigi Campidelli - beatified in 1985.
• Isidore of St. Joseph - beatified in 1984.
• Bernardo Silvestrelli - one of the general rectors of the order, beatified in 1988.
• Domenico Barberi - Theologian, beatified in 1963.

•   Wikimedia Commons has media related to Passionists
• Official site of the order
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Catholic Encyclopedia. Ed. Franciscans. M.: 2007. T.3. Art. 1313-1314
• Passionists in Poland (Polish)