MIRACULOUS MIRACLES™

Prayer — Prayers of the Saints

Prayer to St. Paul of the Cross

Indulgenced by Pius IX, 24 April 1863; and by Pius X, 17 September 1904

To the founder of the Passionists, who prayed for England for fifty years and did not live to see it: 'obtain a return to the Catholic Faith of all heretical nations, particularly England, for which thou didst pray so much.'

The Prayer
English · Original
O glorious St. Paul, thou who, while on earth, wast a mirror of innocence and a model of penance! O hero of sanctity, specially chosen by God to meditate night and day on the most bitter Passion of His only-begotten Son, and to propagate the same devotion throughout the world, by word, by example, and by means of thy institute! O Apostle, powerful in word and work, who didst spend thy life in bringing back the wandering souls of wretched sinners to the feet of the Crucified, look graciously down from heaven upon my soul, and hear my prayers.

Obtain for me so great a love of Jesus suffering that, ever meditating on His Passion, I may make His sufferings mine; that I may recognise in the deep wounds of my Saviour the wickedness of my sins, and may draw from them, as from so many founts of salvation, the grace of lamenting them bitterly, and a firm will to imitate thee in penance, if I have not followed thee in innocence.

Procure for me, O St. Paul, the grace which here, at thy feet, I particularly and earnestly beg of thee (here mention the grace desired). Moreover, obtain for our holy Mother the Church victory over her enemies; obtain conversion of sinners, and a return to the Catholic Faith of all heretical nations, particularly England, for which thou didst pray so much. Finally, intercede for me with God that I may die a holy death, and come to enjoy Him with thee in heaven, for all eternity. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.
When the Prayer is Said

On 19 October; in Lent and Passiontide; for England; before the Stations of the Cross.

History & Background

Paul Danei founded the Passionists in 1720 to keep the memory of the Passion alive by preaching missions to the poorest districts of Italy, and gave them a fourth vow to promote it. He wore the black habit with the white heart and cross on the breast that his congregation wears still.

For fifty years he prayed daily for the conversion of England, a country he never saw and which was then closed to Catholic priests on pain of death. He died in 1775. In 1841 a Passionist, Blessed Dominic Barberi, went to England; on 9 October 1845, in the rain at Littlemore, he received John Henry Newman into the Catholic Church. Both men are on this site.

The prayer, indulgenced by Pius IX in 1863, keeps that petition in it — which is why it is printed here in full rather than in the shorter version. The text is the Raccolta's of 1910.

Indulgences Attached

One year once a day, and plenary on the feast or within its octave for those who say it for a month beforehand — Pius IX, 24 April 1863 and 20 April 1868 (Raccolta, 1910, no. 351).

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