St.
Paul of The Cross 1694 – 1775
Feastday 28th April/20th October
Born 1694
Died 1775
St John of The Cross was born at Ovada, Genoa, Italy. His
parents were exemplary Catholics, and from his earliest years the Crucifix was
his book, and the Crucified his model. Paul received his early education from a
priest who kept a school for boys in Cremolino, Lombardy. He made great
progress in study and virtue, spent much time in prayer, heard daily Mass,
frequently received the Sacraments, faithfully attended to his school duties,
and gave his spare time to reading good books and visiting the Churches, where
he spent much time before the Blessed Sacrament, to which he had a ardent
devotion. In early manhood he renounced the offer of an honorable marriage also
a good inheritance left him by an uncle who was a priest. Inflamed with a
desire for God’s glory he formed the idea of instituting a religious order in
the Passion. The Rules of the new congregation according to the Plan were made
known to him in a vision. He was untiring in his Apostolic labours and never,
even to his last hour, remitted anything austere manner of life, finally
succumbing to severe illness, worn out as much by austerities as by old age.
During more than fifty years this saint was accustomed to pray for the return of England to the Catholic Faith, and on several occasions had visions and revelations about its re-conversion. In spirit he saw the Passionists established in England and labouring there for the conversion and sanctification of souls. It is well known that several leaders of the Oxford Movement, including Cardinal Newman, and thousands of converts have been received into the Church in England by the Passionist missionaries.
There are many other private prophecies concerning the remote and proximate signs which will precede the General Judgment and concerning Antichrist, such as those attributed to St. Hildegarde, St. Bridget of Sweden, Venerable Anna Maria Taigi, the Cure d'Ars, and many others. These do not enlighten us any more than do the Scriptural prophecies as to the day and the hour of that judgment, which still remains a Divine secret.