Saint Paul of the Cross

Saint Paul of the Cross, whose original name was Paulo Francisco Danei, was born in Ovada, a small town in the Italian region of Piedmont. He came into the world as the firstborn of a family of 16 children, who brightened the home of a family with noble origins, but who faced economic difficulties. Since childhood, São Paulo demonstrated a great interest in religion, nurturing a solid faith through daily participation in Mass, frequency of the Sacraments and continuous practice of prayer.

The Cross in the heart and soul

In 1713, something significant happened in the life of Paulo Francisco. He decided to live as a hermit monk, ignoring membership of any Order. At the age of 26, the local Bishop allowed him to live in a cell behind the church of Castellazzo Bormida. It was at this moment that Paul matured the idea of founding a new Congregation of the Poor of Jesus. For more than a year in that cell, he wrote the Rule, aimed at love for the Cross. This spirituality based on sacrifice and the symbolism of the cross became characteristic of the religious guided by Paul. In a time of little faith, he made the unpopular choice to embrace the way of the cross and sacrifice, enjoying being called “Brother Paul of the Cross.” He dedicated himself to the poor and sick, seeing in them the face of the crucified Jesus.

The Passion, love of God for man

Finally, in 1727, Pope Benedict XIII granted permission for Paul to gather some companions around him to help him. His first companion was his blood brother, John the Baptist, and both were ordained priests in the same year. Thus was born the first nucleus of the Order of Discalced Clergymen of the Holy Cross and the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which later became known as the Passionists.

The essence of this Order was the radical belonging to the cross of Jesus and the understanding that his Passion was not only a necessary requirement for the remission of sins, but also the maximum expression of God’s love for man. The first religious people were trained as preachers, overcoming ignorance, irreligiosity and abandonment of the Gospel through the Word, instead of fighting with weapons against the Turks.

Next to the “inaccessible”

Paulo da Cruz preached a lot and wrote an immense number of letters, possibly more than ten thousand. His preaching during the Jubilee of 1750 was historic. However, much of his life was lived in solitude, mainly in Monte Argentário, where he founded the first convent. From there, he went on missions to the poorest regions of the Maremma and to the most remote islands of the Tuscan archipelago, where it was difficult to spread the Word of God.

In 1771, with the collaboration of Mother Crocefissa Costantini, she founded in Tarquínia the female branch of the Congregation: the cloistered nuns who became the Passionist Sisters of Saint Paul of the Cross, a Congregation dedicated to the educational mission, especially for women victims of violence and exploration. Saint Paul of the Cross died in Rome in 1775 and was canonicalized by Pius IX in 1867.

Conclusion

Saint Paul of the Cross was a man guided by the Cross and Passion of Jesus Christ. He chose to embrace the unpopularity of sacrifice and founded his congregation on the love of God manifested in the Passion of Jesus.

His dedication to the poor and sick, his life of solitude and his mission to bring the Word of God to those most in need are examples of his unshakable faith. Saint Paul of the Cross left a legacy of love, service and devotion to the Cross, an inspiring testimony for all Christians.