Flowers of the Passion

Thoughts of St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionists


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Introduction: These little "Flowers of the Passion" are a collection of devout thoughts and sentiments gathered mostly from occasional letters of that great lover of Jesus crucified, St. Paul of the Cross. They are a treasure to humble and simple souls, and show what sweetness, comfort, graces, and virtues can be drawn from devout meditation on the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. It is only from constant and loving reflection on the love shown towards us, and the bright examples of every virtue given us by our suffering Lord, that such beautiful and affecting sentiments could so spontaneously spring.

To enjoy, therefore, all the benefits to be derived from these exquisite little blossoms of love, we should imitate St. Paul of the Cross, and meditate in our own humble way on the mysteries of the sacred Passion of Our Lord. Wherefore, to insure greater utility to the devout reader of these flowerets, we subjoin in an appendix a short instruction on the most easy and profitable method of meditating on the sufferings of Jesus Christ, Who became an outcast and a reproach among His people in order to atone for our sins, to reveal His love for us, and to give us a bright example of every virtue. "Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps." (1 Peter ii. 21.)




The Passion and the Way of Perfection


The Passion of Christ is the door which opens into the delicious pastures of the soul. Our divine Saviour has said: "I am the door. By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (John x. 9.)

Imagine yourself seriously indisposed, and that I, who love you tenderly, call to see you. After saying a few words of sympathy and consolation, I should certainly look at you with compassion and, through love of you, make your sufferings my own. Thus when we meditate on the Passion of Christ, seeing Him in such affliction, we ought to compassionate Him, and then to remain looking upon Him in so great torments, and, through compassionate love, make His sufferings our own.--Page 11 - 12