St. Paul of the Cross and the Poor

The Passion for Justice Blog contributes to promoting discussion and resources on a variety of social issues in the world. However it has come to my attention while I was preparing a retreat on the Passionist spirituality of justice that this blog has not offered much content on the subject of our specific spirituality from which we offer these perspectives. For that reason I am posting this blog which will offer Quotes and excerpts from our own Passionist history and spirituality that informs the social ministries of the Passionist community as well as the positions of the office on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. This post will offer you the perspective of justice from the founder St. Paul of the Cross.

The history of our founder demonstrates that he placed great emphasis in equating the mystery of Christ Passion and death with the ongoing suffering that people continue to experience. This message of redemptive suffering was a prominant part of his charism and continues to be a core part of Passionist spirituality. However St. Paul of the Cross was also well known for his dedication in placing a priority on the suffering of the poor. As he developed the religious community which originally he called “the Poor of Jesus” and then eventually he went with “Congregation of the Passion” he placed a special emphasis in having this community serve the poor and marginalized in central Italy. There was a place called the Maremma (marshes) where people who were poor and sick with leprosy and turbuculosis (among other diseases) were sent. Although there were many Priest and clergy in those days almost none of them would go to these places, one of the reasons for this is because teams of roaming bandits also lived in these places to escape the civil authority. So St. Paul of the Cross made it a point to preach and minister to this community.

In his writing St. Paul of the Cross often discussed this social concern which could rightfully be considered a “Preferential Option for the Poor.”  

Whichever one of you has to manage the temporal affairs of the house should do so with gentleness, patience, and humility. If you have debts, beg your creditors, should you be unable to pay, to have compassion on you out of love for God. Control your temper. If others owe you anything, try to secure payment without going to court. Have pity on everyone, especially the Lord’s poor. - February 21, 1721

 

We ought to be grateful and correspond to his divine benefits by loving justice, truth, and exercising charity and the works of mercy towards our neighbor, especially to the poor. - December 26, 1772

 

Following the teaching of the Prince of the Apostles, and that before everything else holy charity may flourish in the Congregation, especially toward the poor sick, we ordain that these are to be cared for with all charitable attention to the extant that our poverty permits. - May 20, 1775

As the preaching fame of St. Paul of the Cross developed the founder found himself traveling throughout Italy preaching missions wherever he went. There are a number of testimonies that discuss how he integrated this justice for the poor. One amazing example of this is offered by his own biographer St. Vincent Strambi.

As this true disciple of his Divine Master, all love and charity, could not do alone what he wished for the poor, he labored in their favor as much as he could, making use of the opportunities that the giving of holy missions and similar employments afforded him. On one occasion, when Father Paul was giving the exercises publicly in a city in 1759, he found out that the poor were in distress because they were obliged to pay back the loan of wheat received for their nourishment during the past winter from the public deposit, without having the means of repaying it, as the harvest had been very scanty that year. The law was just going to be carried into effect against them, and the poor creatures were reduced to extreme distress. Father Paul, moved with compassion for them and their misery, recommended so earnestly and forcibly from the platform to those gentlemen that governed this public office to grant some delay. Showing so tender and cordial a compassion, he moved the hearts of the Vice President and all the gentlemen who had anything to do with the affair, and obtained that payment should not be called for until the following year, to the universal consolation of the poor. He grieved deeply when the poor were abandoned. 

After he passed away in and the process for his canonization took place many came and testified on behalf of this great mystic and Saint. During these testimonies it necame evident that St. Paul of the Cross had a prominant saying that pretty much defines his perspective on justice to the poor.  

Look at the poor, there you will find the name of Jesus Christ written on their foreheads.