2nd CENTENARY OF THE RESTORATION OF THE CONGREGATION Letter of the Superior General on the 2nd CENTENARY OF THE RESTORATION OF THE CONGREGATION: 1814 - 2014 were times in our history when fidelity to the Church’s doctrine and these buildings, including many to the directives of the Pope.” monasteries and convents, were Dear Brothers, Sisters and Friends in desecrated and destroyed by anti- the Passionist Family, religious and anti-church forces – Napoleon was also interested in taking over “the goods of religious in not to mention the persecution of its believers. Such was the situation order to pay for the great economic On my daily walks here in Rome, in the Papal States known as “the debt caused by the war, lodging which I am required to do following complete suppression” by Napoleon soldiers, the increase of bureaucrats my surgery, I often ‘drop-in’ to visit on 3 May 1810 leading to the and for completing public works.” churches and basilicas of which there confiscation of all church is no shortage. And I am often in awe properties, and the disbanding and at the beauty of the art and At the time of the suppression, our displacement of all religious and architecture of these structures, Congregation had been in existence clergy to their places of origin in the many of which were constructed for 90 years and was present in 17 hope that this would bring about centuries ago. They were built as communities – all in Italy. This, in the extinction of the church and “Temples to the glory of God”. Sitting fact, meant that the whole Passionist religious life. According to our late in these ‘Temples’, one cannot but be Congregation was suppressed. Our historian Fr Fabiano Giorgini CP: lifted up in praise to God’s glory, and Passionist Nuns were in existence for sense the sacredness and immanent 39 years and were present in only presence of the Divine. “As an absolute arbiter, Napoleon one monastery in Corneto (Tarquinia). This situation of survival did not accept anyone escaping his control and, perhaps, feared … that under the conditions of suppression As I enjoy the beauty and peaceful religious would foment the maxims lasted for four years, until 1814. surroundings of these churches of Rome in the people, that is, today, it is hard to believe that there 2 CONGREGATIO PASSIONIS JESU CHRISTI I write this letter (accompanied with see and appreciate the guiding and strengthen us, Passionists today, to the attached brief history written by protecting hand of God. It is a part move forward with hope, for nothing Fr Fernando Piélagos CP) to bring to of the history of our salvation! can suppress the Spirit of God! our awareness that on the 27th June When we reflect back on the history “…they arrested the apostles and had 2014 our Congregation of this time, we see the enormous them put in prison. But at night the commemorates the second difficulties and hardships endured angel of the Lord opened the prison centenary (200 years) of its by our religious, but we also see gates and said: ‘Go and take up restoration. their trust in God, and their fidelity position in the Temple, and tell the to the life and mission of God. Following Napoleon’s authorization people all about this new Life.’ They for the return of Pope Pius VII to Two hundred years later - since the did as they were told; they went into Rome from France, the religious time of the restoration (1814-2014), the Temple at dawn and began to orders were quickly restored - one of as we look back at our preach.” (Acts 5:18ff) the first to attract the Pope’s Congregation’s story, we cannot but “…Peter and the apostles said: attention being the Congregation of be grateful for the bountiful ‘Obedience to God comes before the Passion, although it was the blessings of God. In His mercy, God obedience to men; it was the God of smallest of all. They were the first to raised up Passionist prophets and our ancestors who raised up Jesus…to resume the religious habit and saints who, with the courage of be leader and Saviour, to give community life in our Retreat of Sts their conviction in the Charism, repentance and forgiveness of sins John and Paul. Upon receiving their would proclaim the message of through him…We are witnesses to reinstatement on 27 June 1814, Fr God’s love seen in the Passion of this, we and the Holy Spirit whom Giorgini comments that the Jesus to peoples and cultures, God has given to those who obey Passionists “decided not to reopen all outside Italy, in nearly 60 nations of him.’” (Acts 5:29ff) the possible monasteries, in order not the world. to have imaginary communities Gamaliel’s intervention to the The second centenary of the which would have weakened prayer Sanhedrin: “…I suggest that you leave restoration of the Congregation is a and apostolic life.” This decision was these men alone and let them go. If story of HOPE – founded in the realistic and made eminent sense. this enterprise, this movement of heart of God. Even today, as the We can imagine that after 4 years of theirs, is of human origin it will break Congregation in various parts of the displacement from the religious up of its own accord; but if it does in world continues to face hardships house and the discipline of the fact come from God you will be and difficulties, prejudice and religious life, not all the religious unable to destroy them. Take care persecution, we must rely on the from the time of the suppression not to find yourselves fighting against strength and power which comes would have returned to the God.” (Acts 5:38ff) from the Spirit of Jesus; we must monastery. The numbers would have continue on the path of fidelity and depleted. Some, of course, would authenticity, holding firm to the have died in that time, while others hope founded in our God. would have left the Congregation Fr Joachim Rego CP choosing other paths of life. I conclude with the following Superior General excerpts from the Acts of the Feast of SS. John & Paul, 26 June 2014 This event, marking the second Apostles which details the situation centenary of the restoration of the of persecution experienced by the Congregation, is a moment deserving Apostles in the early Christian our reflection in order that we might community. May this inspire and 3 2nd CENTENARY OF THE RESTORATION OF THE CONGREGATION Sts. John and Paul Basilica (1773) before the suppression of the Congregation. By Fr. Fernando Piélagos, C.P. Rome, May 6, 2014 This June 26 will mark the second centenary of the Congregation's being re-established. Years ending in “14” have been of significant note in our history, and it would not be good to overlook our patrimony in that regard. The following data are not the re -telling of history, but rather can help our reflection, and in particular, help us to be grateful to God for His bountiful assistance. As an introduction, let us begin with a summary of the preceding century, 1714-1814. that he decided to strive for a holy and problems facing the Church. In March, T he chronology of this stage in the perfect life.... 1715, the war between France and life of St. Paul of the Cross is not Austria had come to a close with the definitively clear; however, we can be In the notes to this text, Treaty of Rastadt; but the Turks guided by the testimony of Fr. John written by Fr. Cajetan, we read: We immediately signaled their intention of Mary of St. Ignatius (Cioni). He was our find ourselves, toward the middle of dominating Europe. In response, the Founder's confessor and secretary. He 1713. At that time, the Danei Family European nations most under threat, like provided a record of many confidences. was living in the environs of Genoa, Venice, allied themselves to protect their In his deposition as a witness in the probably at Campo Ligure. There, on Christian values. Pope Clement XI wanted 1 Process for Canonization in Vetralla, the 4th of February, 1710, Anthony had to make common cause of these efforts after speaking of the studies undertaken been born. St. Paul (of the Cross) calls by putting them under the spirit of a by the youthful Paul, he says: that time of his life the time of his Crusade; to this end, on May 31, 1715, conversion to penance.2 he published the brief Ubi primum. As At about the age of nineteen, we know, these preparations for war although he had lived an exemplary and The Congregation had not yet been would have later effect in the life of Paul edifying life, one day he heard an born; nevertheless, its future founder Danei, who wanted to join the Christian informal sermon of his pastor which left was already living in a climate of defense with his own inscription. him feeling so moved with compunction, spiritual fervor and was attentive to the 4 CONGREGATIO PASSIONIS JESU CHRISTI These episodes are well-known, many difficulties in governing and this is not the time to detail the the Church because of the chronology of his later life; it is sufficient presence of the Napoleonic that we remember that here start 60 troops. In the summer of 1809, years of an intense spirituality, during he was taken to Navona, and which the Congregation will be born. At later to Fontainebleau, in the time of his death, he stated that he France as a prisoner of was confident he was leaving the Napoleon.