2009 PASSIONIST CHARISM RESOURCES - Passionists

• This approval made it possible for Paul and his companions to take the four public
vows called for in the approved Rules
• Paul announces the good news of the Papal approval of the Rules and the profession
of the four public vows by himself and his companions
• Paul describes his joy and holy wonder in the presence of God’s gracious bringing to
reality his dream of long ago
• He gives a report of the life the community will live as well as the apostolic goal the
Pope has assigned the Congregation to fulfill
• Paul finally uses the occasion to invite young men to join the newly approved
Congregation
• Paul recognizes that there need to be more members and more Retreats if the Pope is
to approve the community as a Congregation. Paul writes: “I will allow Divine
Providence to guide me.”
1742 “SMALL AND WEAK FOUNDATIONS”
• Because of “two very serious sicknesses,” Paul could not return to the Retreat of
the Presentation until 16 January 1742.
• He writes that he was very near death.
• Two of the priests had vocational problems.
• Father Angelo Di Stefano has returned to Rome and Father Charles Salemmi is
determined to stay in Piombino
• Realising he must have another Retreat and more candidates, Paul also realises if
his own health does not improve, the Congregation itself might disappear
• Yes, his dream rests on very “small and weak foundations”
1743 “WHAT JOKES GOD PLAYS ON US”
• The new year finds Paul anxious for candidates and hoping for a new foundation,
especially the one at Vetralla
• He also has some missions to conduct, if his health holds out
• For a while he hoped to go north to give missions at Genoa and then at
Alessandria.
• This fails to take place
• But toward the end of the year matters will look better and several very good men
will join him
• Paul is awaiting permission to open two Retreats, one at Vetralla and the other at
Toscanella
• He is at peace, even though he is “walking through thunder, storms, clouds...”
• There are fourteen religious, but only four are priests
• He needs members, but also there is need of three Houses to enable the Pope to
establish his community as a religious institute
• Paul celebrates the Feast of the Presentation 1743 vesting three candidates,
including his brother Father Anthony, who earlier had been dismissed
1744 “I WILL ALLOW DIVINE PROVIDENCE TO GUIDE ME”
• Paul and John Baptist journeyed to Rome to finalize the establishment of the two
Retreats at Vetralla and Toscanella
• But the two Albani brothers, both cardinals, have offered them a new foundation at
the shrine of San Eutizio near Soriano
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