FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 23rd FEBRUARY – 2nd MARCH 2025
Every religious order has, from time to time, its own unique celebrations that are not marked in the same way by the universal church. It may be the feasts of founders or of other particular saints belonging to the order, or it may be other occasions and events that mean something to the order in question, in the light of their own history, but not so much across the board, except to those who have a special affiliation to them, such as Third Order members or lay associates and companions. Such celebrations can be marked with great festivity, in other words a good feed, and would have been something, especially in days gone by, for the members to look forward to, and enjoy, in what would likely have been an otherwise austere and frugal life. Orders who didn’t eat meat, for example, might be allowed the luxury of eating meat on such days, and no doubt a wee glass of something to go with it.
When I was rector of our Passionist Retreat at Mount Argus in Dublin, a city in which, at that time, there were many religious orders, although a number have now disappeared, there was a particular member of our community, a good priest and a great character, who made it his business to know when all such celebrations were taking place in the various religious houses and churches across the city. Usually, such occasions would begin with a solemn Mass, and he would turn up with his alb and stole, congratulating them on whatever auspicious occasion was being marked, and humbly asking if it would be possible for him to concelebrate the Mass with them. After the Mass he would then use his not inconsiderable charm to wangle an invitation into the festivities afterwards. As a result, in the course of any given year, he would have enjoyed many a good feed with great relish. I lost count of the number of occasions I met religious superiors at meetings and they said to me, “Did you know we had Father so-and-so with us recently for our big feast day?” There was no need for me to be embarrassed, as I think many religious orders had similar characters in their own communities.
I bring this to mind because, on the Friday of this week gone by, the Friday before Ash Wednesday, we Passionists celebrated the feast from which our Passionist Congregation takes its name, the Feast of the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ. This feast is unique to Passionists. It was instituted by St. Paul of the Cross himself, the founder of the Passionists, back in the 18th century. The Solemn Commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion may sound as if it should be a rather sombre occasion, but in fact our founder wanted it to be the very opposite. He saw it as a very happy occasion, and a very joyful celebration of the mystery of Good Friday, focusing on the Passion of Our Lord as, in his own words, well known to anyone who frequents a Passionist church, “the most overwhelming sign of God’s love for us.” It was to be celebrated as a Gaudeamus, a Latin word that means “let us rejoice”, or even “let us take pleasure in”, because what could be worth celebrating more than such a wonderful love – love so amazing, so divine. A Gaudeamus also meant that there would be a good feed. However, as it would be inappropriate to celebrate in such a festive way on Good Friday, a day of fast and abstinence, which of course is the ultimate commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion, Paul instituted this feast on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, so that the members could prepare for entering into Lent, knowing that, while Lent itself would be a serious and sombre journey, with much fasting and abstaining, it was ultimately rooted in this most overwhelming expression of God’s love for us, and that this awareness should be with us like a shining light throughout the whole season. Reflecting on this feast, the Passionist Bishop Vincent Strambi, a contemporary of St Paul of the Cross, once wrote, “Happy is the person who reflects on the life-giving Passion of our Lord. He will be humble, trustful, thankful and loving towards Jesus who is our justice, our sanctification and our redemption.” I invite you to remember this as you begin your Lenten journey.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
Every religious order has, from time to time, its own unique celebrations that are not marked in the same way by the universal church. It may be the feasts of founders or of other particular saints belonging to the order, or it may be other occasions and events that mean something to the order in question, in the light of their own history, but not so much across the board, except to those who have a special affiliation to them, such as Third Order members or lay associates and companions. Such celebrations can be marked with great festivity, in other words a good feed, and would have been something, especially in days gone by, for the members to look forward to, and enjoy, in what would likely have been an otherwise austere and frugal life. Orders who didn’t eat meat, for example, might be allowed the luxury of eating meat on such days, and no doubt a wee glass of something to go with it.
When I was rector of our Passionist Retreat at Mount Argus in Dublin, a city in which, at that time, there were many religious orders, although a number have now disappeared, there was a particular member of our community, a good priest and a great character, who made it his business to know when all such celebrations were taking place in the various religious houses and churches across the city. Usually, such occasions would begin with a solemn Mass, and he would turn up with his alb and stole, congratulating them on whatever auspicious occasion was being marked, and humbly asking if it would be possible for him to concelebrate the Mass with them. After the Mass he would then use his not inconsiderable charm to wangle an invitation into the festivities afterwards. As a result, in the course of any given year, he would have enjoyed many a good feed with great relish. I lost count of the number of occasions I met religious superiors at meetings and they said to me, “Did you know we had Father so-and-so with us recently for our big feast day?” There was no need for me to be embarrassed, as I think many religious orders had similar characters in their own communities.
I bring this to mind because, on the Friday of this week gone by, the Friday before Ash Wednesday, we Passionists celebrated the feast from which our Passionist Congregation takes its name, the Feast of the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of Jesus Christ. This feast is unique to Passionists. It was instituted by St. Paul of the Cross himself, the founder of the Passionists, back in the 18th century. The Solemn Commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion may sound as if it should be a rather sombre occasion, but in fact our founder wanted it to be the very opposite. He saw it as a very happy occasion, and a very joyful celebration of the mystery of Good Friday, focusing on the Passion of Our Lord as, in his own words, well known to anyone who frequents a Passionist church, “the most overwhelming sign of God’s love for us.” It was to be celebrated as a Gaudeamus, a Latin word that means “let us rejoice”, or even “let us take pleasure in”, because what could be worth celebrating more than such a wonderful love – love so amazing, so divine. A Gaudeamus also meant that there would be a good feed. However, as it would be inappropriate to celebrate in such a festive way on Good Friday, a day of fast and abstinence, which of course is the ultimate commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion, Paul instituted this feast on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, so that the members could prepare for entering into Lent, knowing that, while Lent itself would be a serious and sombre journey, with much fasting and abstaining, it was ultimately rooted in this most overwhelming expression of God’s love for us, and that this awareness should be with us like a shining light throughout the whole season. Reflecting on this feast, the Passionist Bishop Vincent Strambi, a contemporary of St Paul of the Cross, once wrote, “Happy is the person who reflects on the life-giving Passion of our Lord. He will be humble, trustful, thankful and loving towards Jesus who is our justice, our sanctification and our redemption.” I invite you to remember this as you begin your Lenten journey.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
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