The Sign of the Passion, given to St. Paul of the Cross in a series of visions and worn by all professed Passionists. It beautifully manifests our motto: “May the Passion of Christ be ever in our hearts!”
Today is the titular feast of the Passionist Congregation.
On the Friday before Ash Wednesday each year, we celebrate with great festivity the saving mysteries which we will observe with subdued and mournful spirits on Good Friday. One could say that the Solemn Commemoration is to Good Friday what Corpus Christi is to Holy Thursday!
This special feast is unique to Passionists and originated with our Holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross. It is just one of many expressions of the unique “Passiocentrism” of our Congregation.
IDEAS FOR CELEBRATING THIS FEAST:
Pray the Stations of the Cross or the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, asking for the grace of a deeper devotion to Jesus’ Sacred Passion
Pray the Passionist Proper Liturgy of the Hours for this feast
The display of the Instruments of the Passion, with a relic of the True Cross.
“May the most Holy Passion of Jesus be always in our hearts, and may the sweet balsam which flows from that holy tree perfume our spirit so that, sacrificed as holocausts to the High Good, His Divine Majesty may accept us as victims of love in an odor of sweetness. Amen.”