Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-04-22
Local Observation of the Day
mt Sacred Heart Retreat
Next Week.
Something About the Mea who
Preach the Story OF the
Passion.
FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME


and lay brothers of the Passionist
order will celebrate the feast of st.
Paul of the Cross on Friday, April
2S. st. Paul of the Cross was the
founder of the order which has
grown to great proportions and
whose priests are noted for their
eloquence and missionary zeal. In
Louisville the day will be appro-
priately observed at Sacred Heart
Retreat, Newburg road. There will
be a solemn high mass at O'Clock.
During the day the Passionist
Fathers will bless religious articles
and from time to time will bless
those assembled with the relic of st.
Paul. Catholics from all parts of
the city and county will make Sacred
Heart Retreat a shrine of devotion
on St. Paul's day.
st. Paul of the Cross was born in
Genoa, Italy, in 1894. Early in life
he was noted for his piety, and
when he was twenty-six years old
he put on the habit now worn by
his followers. The soutane is much
like that worn by secular clergy.
Over the soutane hangs a heart, sus-
pended from the neck with a cross
above 1t. A black leather strap is
belted around the waist. In the
monasteries the members of the
community wear sandals instead of
shoes.
In 1921 st. Paul went to Rome
to have the rules of his order con-
firmed. Sanction was withheld for
many years, and meanwhile the
young zealot was ordained a priest.
All obstacles being at length re-
moved, he established the first mon
astery of his order at Argentara in
1887. The rules of the congrega-
ton were confirmed by Benedict
XIV. in 1741. Clement XIV showed
the fathers marked favors and con-
ferred on them the house and
church of SITS. John and Paul on the
Coelian Hill. Rome. There the holy
founder took up his abode, and there
he died In 1878. After his death
the congregation extended rapidly,
but for a while only in Italy. Paul's
most settled purpose in life was the
conversion OF England, but 1t was
not until 1912 that his followers
obtained a footing there. The first
Provincial was Rev. Father Ignatius
Spencer. a convert from Anglican
ism. Now the Passionists have a
half-dozen communities in Great
Britain. They also have houses in
the United States, Belgium, Aus
tralia, Roumania and Belgium.
The life of a Passionist Is quite
austere. They fast three days in
every week as well as observe the
fast of Lent and Advent. They wear
nothing on their feet save sandals
They rise at night to say mathis. and
recite the office in choir at all the
canonical hours. Besides the VOWS
of poverty, chastity and obedience
the Passionists take a fourth-to
keep alive in the hearts of the faith
ful our Lords passion. On the day
of their profession they make a vow
OF perseverance in the congregation.
The Passionists were introduce
into the United States in 1852 by
the Right Rev. Michael O'Connor,
Bishop of Pittsburg. The first COL
ony consisted of three priests and
one lay brother. The Superior was
Father Anthony Caiandrl, who died
April 81, 1878. In 1859 the
Passionists were enabled to start a
second house at Dunkirk, in the dio-
cese OF Buffalo. Applications from
devout American youths were not
wanting, and in 1861 a third house
OF the order was founded at Ho-
boken, N. J. In 1868 the three
houses were erected into Province
with Father Dominic Tarlattini as
Provincial. Later retreats were
built In Cincinnati. Baltimore, Louis
vile. in the archdiocese of st.
Louis, Chicago and other points
Besides the Passionists have founda-
tions in Mexico and Buenos Ayres.
The method OF the Passionists in
conducting missions is practically
the same as that followed by other
missionaries, but the prominence
given In their preaching to the mys-
teries OF our Lords passion is found
to be singularly effective I'm rousing
the negligent and stimulating the
devout TO still greater fervour. The
Passionists will welcome you II you
visit Sacred Heart Retreat on the
occasion OF the feast of ST. Paul or
the Cross.