Dear brothers of the Congregation and sisters and brothers of the Passionist Family,

I wish to extend to you my best wishes and those of the General Council for a Happy Feast Day of our Father and Founder, St. Paul of the Cross.

Last evening, 18 October, we religious here at Sts. John and Paul celebrated the Solemn Vespers of St. Paul of the Cross in the Chapel on the side of the Basilica where the relics of the Founder are enshrined. As is our tradition, we read the Spiritual Testament that he left to the Congregation prior to receiving the Holy Eucharist on his death bed where he expired at 4:45 PM on 18 October 1775.

I recall what St. Vincent Mary Strambi wrote in his biography of the Saint:

«As his complaint was aggravating, on the 30th of August, he judged fit that he should receive the Viaticum, and therefore directed that the entire community should be present on the occasion. The religious, with lighted torches and singing devoutly, accompanied the Blessed Sacrament from the church, and saw their blessed father in the presence of his Redeemer. Not being able to prostrate himself on the ground and adore him, he lifted up his arms in token of devotion and love, as though he would fly towards him to embrace him in his heart. He then exclaimed: “Ah! my dear Jesus, I protest that I will live and die in the communion of the Holy Church. I detest and abominate all errors”. He then fervently recited the Apostles’ Creed, after which, being entreated by his children to leave them, before he quitted them, some last words of advice which might be indelibly stamped upon their hearts, the blessed father, who tenderly loved them, spoke thus, in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament:

SPIRITUAL TESTAMENT
Above all things besides, I earnestly recommend fraternal charity. Love one another in holy charity. Behold my dearest Brethren, what I desire with all the intensity of my poor heart, I give to you; to you who are present here and to all the rest who are now wearing this habit of penance, of sorrow in memory of the Passion and Death of our most amiable divine Redeemer, as well as to all those who, by the mercy of God, in times to come, shall be called to this little flock of Jesus Christ.

And furthermore, I recommend to all especially to those who shall hold the office of Superior, that there flourish ever more and more in the Congregation the spirit of prayer, the spirit of solitude and the spirit of poverty, and rest assured, if this spirit is preserved, the congregation fulgebit sicut sol in conspectu Domini et coram gentibus (the congregation will be brilliant like the sun in the sight of God and of the nations).

I also with most special insistence recommend a filial love for Holy Mother Church, and a total submission to her visible head, who is the Roman Pontiff; let all implore, day and night, in their prayers both for the Church and for the Supreme Pontiff, and let them endeavor to cooperate, as much as they can, for the welfare of Holy Church for the salvation of the poor souls of their neighbors with missions and spiritual exercises and with other means which are in harmony with our Institute, promoting in the hearts of all devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ and to the Sorrows of Mary Most Holy.

In a particular way I also recommend that prayers be offered with great fervor for the present Holy Father that the Divine Mercy let him prosper many years for the welfare of His Church, and console him with blessed success in all his endeavors, that he may desire what is pleasing to God and carry out that desire with all his power. For this intention I wish and ordain that the recitation of the Litany of the Saints be continued, also after my death, even if this be not mentioned in the Rule, and that this be continued as long as there is need, according to the judgment of him who shall be Superior after me. As a sign of recognition from the sincerity of my heart and of reverence and gratitude towards the Holy Father I wish he be given the small image of the Sorrowful Mother that I now have for my use.

And lastly I beg pardon, with my face in the dust and with sobs of my poor soul, of all members of the Congregation, present and absent, for all the failings I have committed in this office, which by the Will of God, I have held so many years. Oh, poor me! Behold in my departure from you to go to eternity, I leave nothing behind but my bad example, even if I must confess I never had bad intentions, but always had your sanctification and perfection at heart. Again I ask your pardon and I recommend to you my poor soul that our Lord may receive it into the bosom of his Mercy, which I hope through the merits of his most Sacred Passion and death. Yes, my dear Jesus, I hope, albeit a sinner, soon to come to see you in Paradise and to give you at the moment of my death a holy embrace and so to remain ever united to you for all eternity and to sing your mercies throughout all ages. And now I recommend to you the poor Congregation, which is the fruit of your Gross, of your Passion, of your Death! And I beg you to give all members of the Congregation and its Benefactors your holy blessing.

And you, Virgin Immaculate, Queen of Martyrs, also you, in view of the sorrows you underwent in the Passion and death of your most loving Son, also you, give all your maternal blessing, and I place them all here and leave them under the mantle of your protection.

Here, then, my dear Brethren, are the remembrances that I leave you with my whole poor heart. I leave you, and I will stand expecting all of you in Paradise; there I will ever pray for the Supreme Pontiff and for the Church, which I love so much and for the whole Congregation, its benefactors, and for all for whom I know I should pray. I leave all of you, present, absent and future, my blessing. Benedictio Dei Omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super vos et maneat semper. »

This is the spiritual Testament that St. Paul of the Cross left us together with his blessing: it is his desire to always remain with us in God, in on-going communion with the lives of those men and women religious and laity of the Passionist Family who have existed over the years, even until now “and all those who will be called to this poor Congregation.”
Once again we invoke his intercession as Father so that God will fill us with his grace and his blessings. I am particularly mindful of the sick who share in the suffering of the Passion of Jesus.

I conclude with the first words of the spiritual Testament: “Above all else I recommend most urgently…that you have love for one another…”

Best wishes to everyone for a Happy Feast Day! May St. Paul of the Cross protect us!

Sts. John and Paul, Rome Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio
19 October 2009 Superior General cp.
Solemnity of St. Paul of the Cross