A Passionist Treasure
We are blessed to have over two thousand letters written by our founder, St. Paul of the Cross (1694-1775), many of which are letters of spiritual direction. He guided lay and religious people in the life of Christian prayer and holiness.
A treasure among these are the correspondences that he had with two of the first Passionist Nuns – Mother Mary Crucified (Faustina Gertrude Constantini, 1713-1787) and Mother Angela Teresa of the Assumption (Teresa Palozzi, 1737-1810).
St. Paul directed Mother Mary Crucified as a religious over 30 years. We have 32 letters of St. Paul’s direction to her. Mother Mary Crucified began her religious life as a Benedictine Nun and later became a Passionist Nun when the first Passionist convent opened in 1771. God prepared her to be the first superior through years of prayer, trial, and spiritual direction.
Teresa Palozzi received spiritual direction from St. Paul before entering religious life. While she served God in the setting of her family household, she grew in the life of contemplative prayer and virtue. When the Passionist convent opened, she entered as one of its first postulants. Later, she became its second superior. We have 44 of St. Paul’s letters to her, which cover a span of 14 years.
Through these letters, we can see the mind and heart of the founder as he formed these first Passionist Nuns. They continue to guide us as we grow in our Passionist vocations today. In future posts, we’ll look at Passionist spirituality as taught by St. Paul of the Cross to these women.
You can find these in the publication: The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross, edited by Roger Mercurio, C.P. & Frederick Sucher, C.P. and translated by Laurence Finn, C.P. & Donald Webber, C.P., New City Press, 2000.