Last October, Father John Abberton wrote a very kind post about Saint Paul of the Cross and the Passionists. What he said was positive and at the same time realistic, perhaps too realistic for my eyes when I read: The days of the Passionists in Great Britain are now over. Such Passionists who remain are very few and unable to have much impact on the church. During the past year, I have been trying to settle in to my new life in Prestonpans, a place where (when I was a schoolboy) there was a monastery community of about twelve at the former Saint Mary’s Retreat, Drum-Mohr, and three other Passionists in the parish house where I now live alone. While I can understand Father Abberton’s words, which were obviously written with sadness (and in my present situation perhaps I can understand them better than most), I hope that there is at least some life in the old dog yet. I have neglected this site during my year of settling in; I really should resurrect it lest I be guilty of collusion in the Case of the Disappearing Passionists.
Hello Padre!
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Servant of God Ignatius Spencer, pray for us.
Blessed Dominic Barberi, pray for us.
Saint Paul of the Cross, pray for us.
The Passionists cannot be disappearing … I’ve only just found them! As long as the world needs to be reminded of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the Passionists will endure.
http://wheat4paradise.wordpress.com/
He uses the phrase” ..exemplary men..” That is a good phrase and description. I think the Passionists suffered from their own commitment to pastoral work and the simplicity of the Gospel message. While others get/got caught up in the blandness of pastoral trends, the Passionists get/got on with the business of being pastoral. While it will have short term disadvantages, it will have long term benefits. Passionist spirituality when absorbed, leads to a pastoral heart. That is noticeable in the Passionist!
It is so great to see you on line again ! Keep up the good work ! Yours, as always, in the Passion of Jesus !