Catholic Missionary Spirituality: Saint Paul of the Cross Let the Cross Shape Mission

St. Paul of the Cross (Paolo Francesco Danei; 1694–1775) was an Italian mystic, preacher, and founder of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (the Passionists). His feast day is October 19 (October 20 in the United States).Born on January 3, 1694, in Ovada, northern Italy, into a devout family, he experienced a deep conversion in his youth centered on the Passion of Christ. In 1720, after a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a 40-day retreat, he wrote the Rule for a new religious community dedicated to meditating on and promoting devotion to Jesus’ suffering and death on the Cross. He was clothed in the black Passionist habit that same year. Despite many difficulties and delays, the Passionists received formal approval from Pope Benedict XIV in 1741 (confirmed later by Clement XIV).

Paul founded multiple “retreats” (monasteries) across Italy and also established the Passionist Nuns. He was a powerful preacher of parish missions and retreats, known for leading many to conversion through meditation on the Cross. He lived a life of poverty, penance, solitude, and intense prayer. By his death on October 18, 1775, in Rome, he had established 12 foundations. He was canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1867.