杏MAP导航 to Passionists: Renew mission with gestures of love and gratitude

St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis writes a message to the Passionists on the 300th anniversary of their foundation, and urges them to renew their charism and mission by focusing on gratitude, prophecy, and hope.

By Devin Watkins

The Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, commonly known as the Passionists, was founded in Italy by Saint Paul of the Cross on 21 November 1720.

As the religious order celebrates its third centenary, 杏MAP导航 Francis wrote a message on Thursday to the Superior General, Fr. Joachim Rego, C.P.

New apostolic goals

Reflecting on their charism of living and proclaiming the memory of Christ鈥檚 Passion, the 杏MAP导航 urged the Passionists to adapt their mission 鈥渢owards new apostolic goals鈥�.

He said humanity is experiencing a 鈥渟piral of changes鈥� that call into question the 鈥渋ntimate constitution of its being.鈥�

鈥淵ou too,鈥� he said, 鈥渁re asked to identify new lifestyles and new forms of language in order to proclaim the love of the Crucified One, thus giving witness to the heart of your identity.鈥�

Gratitude and the future

杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the Passionists to implement the commitment they made at their recent General Chapter to renew their mission on the basis of 鈥済ratitude, prophecy, and hope.鈥�

Gratitude, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渋s the experience of remembering the past within the context of the Magnificat and walking toward the future with a Eucharistic attitude.鈥�

The Passionists, he added, can find happiness and fulfillment in contemplating and proclaiming Christ鈥檚 outpouring of love on the Cross.

Prophecy adapted to the present

The 杏MAP导航 said the dimension of prophecy means 鈥渢hinking and speaking in the Spirit.鈥�

鈥淭his is possible,鈥� he noted, 鈥渇or those who experience prayer as the life breath of their soul and can grasp the movements of the Spirit in the depths of their hearts and in all of creation.鈥�

Living in this way, he added, ensures that the word they proclaim 鈥渋s always adapted to the needs of the present moment.鈥�

Hope in the Spirit

杏MAP导航 Francis said the virtue of hope allows Passionists to perceive the 鈥渙n-going generating action of the Spirit鈥� in their religious and parish communities, despite the fact that their numbers are on the wane.

鈥淗ope means rejoicing in what exists, instead of complaining about what is missing,鈥� he said.

Needs of humanity

Recalling their founder, St. Paul of the Cross, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the Passionists to 鈥渟et the world on fire鈥� through their ministry.

He said they should never tire in their commitment to the needs of humanity.

鈥淭his missionary calling,鈥� he noted, 鈥渋s directed above all towards the crucified of our age 鈥� the poor, the weak, the oppressed and those discarded by many forms of injustice.鈥�

Discovering how best to carry out this mission, said the 杏MAP导航, will require 鈥渁 sincere effort of inner renewal on your part鈥�, which grows out of their relationship with the Lord.