250 Years at the Foot of the Cross!
May 3rd, 2021, was a very special day for Passionist Nuns throughout the world. 250 years ago, Venerable Mother Mary Crucified of Jesus, along with ten other women personally chosen by St. Paul of the Cross, took possession of the Monastery of the Presentation in Corneto (now Tarquinia) Italy, thus officially establishing the Nuns of the Passion of Jesus Christ. We thank God for their “yes,” as well as for that of all the “Doves of the Crucified” who have followed in their footsteps throughout the centuries. It is thanks to their fidelity that we at St. Joseph Monastery are still living and loving the contemplative Passionist life 250 years later!
For this joyful jubilee occasion, Bishop William Medley gave us special permission to use the Mass and Divine Office for the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, which used to be celebrated on May 3rd at the time of the original foundation of Passionist Nuns. Our community invited priests and religious from around our diocese to join us for Eucharistic Adoration, Solemn Vespers, and a “socially-distanced social.” See below for some photos from the service!
But wait — what is that the nuns are wearing??
As a part of our ongoing community renewal, as well as in honor of our 250th jubilee, we have decided to re-institute the use of the traditional Passionist mantle. We will wear this long black cape at Mass and Liturgy of the Hours for solemn occasions. For those who read our earlier blog post, this is what we were so diligently working to complete in the cloth room for the past several weeks! However, we could not have done it without the special help of Elaine Morris, the aunt of our Sr. Mary Andrea, who volunteered her services as a seamstress to help us complete this massive project!
Sr. Maria Faustina wearing her new mantle!
This special garment is far more than just a decorative flourish, however. Its spirituality goes all the way back to the Prophet Elijah, who wore a mantle as a sign of his prophetic office. As we don our mantles before entering chapel, we are reminded of our own role as prophets, witnessing to the power of the Gospel through our hidden lives of prayer. In a New Testament context, the mantle can also help us remember to “put on Christ,” as the Apostle Paul exhorts us, so that we may truly pray the Liturgy of the Church in union with His sacrificial Heart. The presence of the Passion Sign on the professed Sisters’ mantles, in addition to the Sign on their habits, calls to mind the Song of Songs: “Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm.”
We thank God from the bottom of our hearts for 250 years at the foot of the Cross, keeping company with the Mother of Sorrows and interceding for the needs of the world. We ask you to join us in praying, through the intercession of St. Paul of the Cross and Venerable Mother Mary Crucified, that the Passionist Nuns may experience a joyous and fruitful renewal worldwide as we enter upon our next 250 years!