Feast of St. Paul of the Cross

April 28

The eighty-one years of this Saint’s life were modeled on the Passion of Jesus Christ. In his childhood, when praying in church, a heavy bench fell on his foot, but the boy took no notice of the bleeding wound, and spoke of it as “a rose sent from God.” A few years later, the vision of a scourge with “love” written on its lashes assured him that his thirst for penance would be satisfied. In the hope of dying for the faith, he enlisted in a crusade against the Turks; but a voice from the Tabernacle warned him that he was to serve Christ alone, and that he should found a congregation in His honor. At the command of his bishop he began while a layman to preach the Passion, and a series of crosses tried the reality of his vocation. All his first companions, save his brother, deserted him; the Sovereign Pontiff refused him an audience; and it was only after a delay of seventeen years that the papal approbation was obtained, and the first house of the Passionist was opened in Monte Argentario, the spot which Our Lady had pointed out. St. Paul chose as the badge of his Order, a heart with three nails, in memory of the sufferings of Jesus, but for himself he invented a more secret and durable sign. Moved by the same holy impulse as Blessed Suso, St. Jane Frances, and other Saints, he branded on his side the Holy Name, and its characters were found there after his death. His heart beat with a supernatural palpitation, which was especially vehement on Fridays, and the heat at times was so intense as to scorch his shirt in the region of his heart. Through fifty years of incessant bodily pain, and amidst all his trials, Paul read the love of Jesus everywhere, and would cry out to the flowers and grass, “Oh be quiet, be quiet,” as if they were reproaching him with ingratitude. He died whilst the passion was being read to him, and so passed with Jesus from the cross to glory.

Prayer to St. Paul of the Cross

O glorious St. Paul, who on earth wast a mirror of innocence, and a pattern of penance! O hero of sanctity chosen by God to meditate day and night on the most bitter Passion of His only-begotten Son, and to spread devotion to it through the world, by thy words, by thy example, and by means of thy Institute! O Apostle, powerful in work and word, who didst spend thy life in bringing back to the foot of the crucifix, the misguided souls of so many sinners, look graciously from heaven, I beseech thee, on my soul likewise, and hear my prayers. Obtain for me such love for my suffering Jesus that, meditating on Him continually, I may make His sorrows mine. Let me see in the deep wounds of my Savior the malice of my sins, and let me gain from them, as from fountains of salvation, the grace to weep over them bitterly, and efficacious resolution to imitate thee in thy penance, if I have not followed thee in thy innocence. Obtain for me likewise, O St. Paul the grace which I particularly and earnestly ask, prostrate at thy feet. [Here mention the grace which is desired.] Obtain, moreover, for the holy Church, our mother, victory over her enemies; for sinners their conversion; for heretics, for whom thou didst pray so much, a return to the Catholic faith. Finally, intercede for me with God, that I may have a holy death, so that I may come to enjoy Him with thee in heaven for all eternity. Amen