Sierra Madre

Miguel, the Roamin’ Catholic blogger, has posted some very good photographs of Mater Dolorosa Retreat House, Sierra Madre (near, or perhaps in, Los Angeles). I was there once, very briefly, on my way to Japan and, like Miguel, I found the Passionists not at home (-they were all away at a provincial chapter or assembly) but was able to visit the retreat house. The adjacent monastery had already been demolished as a result of earthquake damage; at that time, most of the Passionists were re-located in other monasteries, leaving a small community to take care of the retreat house. It’s a fine facility in a beautiful location. You can find the Mater Dolorosa website here.

Passionists in Lourdes (3)

On the last day of the Chapter in Lourdes, Father Cormac O’Hora C.P. celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination. Father Cormac was ordained with Fathers Eustace and Justinian of this community, but was unable to mark his jubilee in December because of illness. After working for some years at our English-speaking community of Saint Joseph’s, avenue Hoche, Paris, he moved to Saint Michael’s Province in 1986 and has been living and working with the French Passionists since then. He is the province’s only Irish member. Here he is, offering Mass with the General, Father Ottaviano, and the Provincial, Father Guy Sionneau C.P.

After the Mass, Father General said a few words, ably translated by Father Philippe.

As you can see, some of these words were quite enthusiastic.

Father Cormac was not the only Irish person present at the Chapter. Among the observers was Sister Myriam-Therese from the Passionist Nuns in Venteuges. Although she was born in England of an English mother, she is actually an Ó hAnnracháin from Skibbereen, County Cork - so don’t ever tell her that she is English!

Passionists in Lourdes (2)

You may have noticed a painting in the last picture of my previous post about Lourdes. The painting, which (as far as I remember) is from the 1860s, shows Saint Paul of the Cross and a companion walking beside some of the brigands whose unofficial chaplain he was. Here is a closer view; unfortunately the light is not very even in this photo.

And here is a detail of one of the brigands, which give a better idea of the quality and colours of the painting:

On the back wall of the chapel is a large painting of Saint Paul of the Cross in ecstasy. I have seen a similar painting in Rome, but much smaller; this one is about six feet by four feet.

According to Father Patrick, the two paintings were in earlier Passionist houses in France and were moved to Lourdes when this house, the Relais Nazareth, was bought.

Young Passionist Saints for World Youth Day

(Urna containing the Relics of Saint Gemma Galgani, Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin and Saint Maria Goretti)

In following Christ and imitating Mary, we must have the courage of humility; we must entrust ourselves humbly to the Lord, because only in this way will we be able to become docile instruments in his hands and allow him to do great things in us. The Lord worked great miracles in Mary and in the Saints! I am thinking, for example, of Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena, Patrons of Italy. I am thinking also of splendid young people like St Gemma Galgani, St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, St Louis Gonzaga, St Dominic Savio, St Maria Goretti, born not far from here, and the Blesseds, Piergiorgio Frassati and Alberto Marvelli. And I am also thinking of numerous young men and women who belong to the ranks of the “anonymous” Saints, but who are not anonymous to God. For him, every individual person is unique, with his or her own name and face. All, and you know it, are called to be Saints!
(Pope Benedict XVI to young people at Loreto, 2 September 2007)

In listing some saints who were splendid young people last year, Pope Benedict highlighted five young Italians who have been canonised, three of whom are saints of the Passionist family. Today, in preparation for the World Youth Day, Father Tiernan Docherty C.P. received from the Passionist generalate in Rome the relics of those three young saints, Saint Gemma Galgani, Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin and Saint Maria Goretti. The relics will now begin a missionary journey around various dioceses of Australia in preparation for the World Youth Day. As part of this programme, they will be at Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. On Sunday 3 June at 6.00 p.m., Cardinal Pell will receive the relics at the Cathedral and then celebrate Mass.

During the World Youth Day events, from 15 to 21 July, the relics will be exposed for veneration in the Passionist Church, Saint Brigid’s, Marrickville, Sydney. (E-mailed info and photo from Father Gary.)

Passionists in Lourdes

I recently attended the Provincial Chapter of the French Passionists which was held at the Relais Nazareth, the new Passionist house in Lourdes. This is, of course, a Jubilee Year in Lourdes, so I was able to make my Jubilee pilgrimage before the Chapter opened. The arches shown below are acting as the Holy Doors for the Jubilee Year. There is also a special itinerary which brings the pilgrim to the Parish Church where Bernadette was baptised, the Hospice chapel in the town where she made her First Holy Communion, the Cachot where she lived, and the Grotto where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette.

There has been a lot of new building since my last visit to Lourdes, almost twenty years ago, but since most of you know more about that than I do, I will confine myself to some photos of the new Passionist house. The house is located near the cemetery where the Soubirous family are buried.

Go through the cemetery and, as you leave through the gate at the far end, turn right and then left: you will find yourself in the rue du Sacre Coeur (-I don’t know how to do accents with this programme).

The Relais Nazareth is located in the aforementioned and unaccented rue.

Having seen the doorbell, now have a look at the rest of the house as seen from the rue.

The Relais Nazareth is only about ten or fifteen minutes walk from the Grotto (downhill going and uphill coming back). It is in a quiet part of the town and is ideally suited for retreats. Here are the inner courtyard,…

…the view of the hills beyond,…

…and the entrance to the Chapel.

Here you can see the interior of the Chapel…

…and the conference room where the Chapter was held.

Two Passionist Blogs

Here are two Passionist blogs I came across recently:
PassioNews is maintained by Father Philippe Plet C.P. As the name suggests, it gives news items and photographs on Passionist topics. Its unique selling deature is that it does so in French. The official Passio Christi news pages are only offered in English, Spanish and Italian, so this site is a must for Francophone readers.
The other blog is called In the Shadow of His Wings. It is the blog of the Passionist Contemplative Nuns of Saint Joseph Monastery, Whitesville, Kentucky. I’ll add links to both in the sidebar under Sites of Passionist Interest.

Caterina

Father Victor Hoagland has written a very fine reflection on one of my favourite saints. (Picture: Saint Catherine of Siena dictating the Dialogue)

In paradisum

Father Fabiano Giorgini C.P., the man who knew more than anyone else in this world about the history of the Passionists and Saint Paul of the Cross, died today (28 April, formerly the Feast of Saint Paul of the Cross) at the age of seventy-nine. He wrote volumes 1 and 2/2 of the History of the Passionists, edited the first volume of the new edition of the Lettere di San Paolo della Croce (having established the critical version of the text of the letters working from the original manuscript sources), produced recently (in Italian) a new edition of the complete writings of Saint Gemma Galgani, and published numerous articles on Passionist history and spirituality. He was a Consultor for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, President of the Historical Commission of the Congregation of the Passion, and had been Provincial of the Province of the Pieta twice and Vicar General of the Passionist Congregation once. His doctoral thesis La Maremma toscana nel settecento is considered a classic work on the topic and is still cited by historians today, more than fifty years after it was written.

Generations of postgraduate students in Rome went to him for advice on their dissertations or theses, and he was always ready to encourage new research and provide helpful hints for developing a new line of thought. He was deeply committed to supporting the Passionist Contemplative Nuns in whatever way he thought was best, and travelled the world offering the Nuns opportunities for ongoing formation in our history and spirituality.

As well as putting himself at the service of his Passionist brothers, not just academically but in the everyday service that builds up community life, he also lived a very profound spiritual life and was recognised by those who lived with him as a man of deep prayer. He was a clear example of what it means to practice heroicity of virtue. May the Lord welcome him into the happiness of heaven.

Provincial Chapter

Photograph of the new Passionist house in Lourdes, taken from passionews

I will be leaving early tomorrow morning for the Chapter of the Province of Saint Michael (France) which opens in Lourdes on Sunday. I hope to have a quiet retreat/pilgrimage day on Saturday before people begin to arrive for the Chapter at which I will be acting as moderator. I have not been to Lourdes since 1990, so I am looking forward to this opportunity, especially in the anniversary year.

Profession in Bavaria

Father Anton of the Wounds of Christ (Anton Lässer) made his First Profession as a Passionist on April 4, 2008 at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Schwarzenfeld, Bavaria. Father Anton, who is 46 years old and holds a doctorate in theology, was a diocesan priest in Austria for some years but was always drawn to the saints and the spirituality of the Passionist community.

The first picture shows Father Anton making his profession of vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and the distinctive Passionist vow to contemplate and proclaim the Memory of the Passion of Jesus

The Provincial, Father Gregor, blesses the insignia of profession

Father Anton receives the Passionist sign which he will now wear on his habit

Congratulations - Ad multos annos!