AUGUST 26
BLESSED DOMINIC BARBERI

Dominic Barberi, as a Passionist by title "of the Mother of God," was born of devout farming people in 1792 at Viterbo, Italy. At twenty-two years of age, he experienced the call of God to the apostolate. Leaving his farm work, he entered the Passionists where he manifested extraordinary gifts of mind and heart. After he was ordained to the Priesthood in 1818, he spent himself diligently in teaching, in the ministry of the Word, in the spiritual direction and in writing many philosophical, theological and homiletic works. 

Filled with the spirit of Saint Paul of the Cross, he left Italy and went first to Belgium. There he established the Passionists in 1840,  and went on to England in 1842. He was now responding to a Divine call that had always been with him----to work for unity among God's people in England. 

In the space of eight years he had founded four Passionist Communities and exercised an extensive apostolate by preaching missions and retreats throughout the country. His writings and personal holiness brought many to the faith; most prominent among those he received into the Church was John Henry Newman. 

Broken finally by his labours, he died at Reading on 17th August 1849, at the age of 57. He was enrolled among the Blessed by Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council, on 23rd October 1963.

Blessed Lorenzo Maria of St. Francis Xavier (Salvi) was born in Rome on 30th October 1782. He died in Capranica (Viterbo) 12th June 1856. 

Blessed Lorenzo professed the Passionist Rule 20th November 1802 and was ordained to the priesthood 29th December 1805. As superior he was most prudent in leading the community. Following in the footsteps of Our Founder, St. Paul of the Cross, his principle apostolate was that of itinerant missionary. 

Blessed Lorenzo was also untiring in promoting devotion to the Holy Childhood of Jesus on every occasion by work, example and through his many writings. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II, 1st October 1989. He is buried in the Passionist Church of St. Angelo, Vetralla (Viterbo).

BLESSED CHARLES OF MOUNT ARGUS

On January 5th each year Passionists celebrate the Feast of Blessed Charles Houben or as he is also known Blessed Charles of Mount Argus.

Blessed Charles was born in Munstergeleen, Holland in 1821, and joined the Passionists at Ere, Belgium when he was twenty four years of age. He was ordained a priest in 1850 and assigned to the Passionist Community in England. On 6th July 1857 he became a member of the Passionist Community at Mount Argus in Dublin, Ireland. He died in 1893 and is buried in St. Paul's Church, Mount Argus.

During the last week of November 2005 word reached the Passionists that the Vatican Medical Council had expressed unanimously their positive vote regarding the miracle attributed to Blessed Charles. This was the most difficult step on the way to canonization. The way is now clear for his canonization and we await further progress and the timetable to canonization.

The Miraculous Healing of Mr. Dormans 

Mr. dJ.H.A. Dormans comes from Munstergeleen in Holland, birthplace of Blessed Charles. On March 29, 1999, his doctor had him taken in to the emergency room of the Maasland Hospital in Sittard. What he had experienced as abdominal pains turned out to be a ruptured appendix. Complications emerged. The oozing acid had damaged the small intestines to such an extent that, every other day, the inside of his abdomen had to be rinsed out under full anesthetic. From the outset Mr. Dormans had surrendered his faith into the hands of Blessed Charles, praying for a positive outcome to his disease, and a blessing on the hands of the physicians who were treating him.

But somebody up there had other plans. On a visit a couple of days later, Mr. Dorman's family doctor was looking at him and saying to him: "Father Charles has performed his miracle, now it's up to the medical staff here". His health continued to improve with every passing day. The surgeon said: "It is beyond me that you are sitting here, opposite me, and still alive!" The medical team decided to perform further surgery and reserved a full day in the operating room on October 27. When they went in, however, they found that all they had to do was connect the small intestines and close a little hole. Everything else was already healed in a natural way.

Blessed Bernard Mary of Jesus (Caesar Silvestrelli before becoming a Passionist) was born in Rome, November 7, 1831, of the noble Silvestrelli-Gozani family. He was Baptized the same day, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation on June 7, 1840. He was ordained a Priest on Monte Argentario, December 22, 1855. He made his religious profession as a Passionist on April 28, 1857 at the novitiate at Morrovalle where his companion was the future Saint Gabriel of Our Mother of Sorrows. 

He held a numbe rof offices: Director of Students, Master of Novices, Rector, Provincial Consultor and, during the years 1878-88 and 1893-1907, Superior General. Unfailing in upholding the spirit of the Congregation, he invigorated the Passionists with a great apostolic spirit. Under his careful and ever vigilant guidance six new Provinces were founded, and those which had been suppressed by the governments of Italy and France were reorganized. Having resigned the office of Superior General, he received from the Pope the title of "Honorary General" for life. 

He retired to the Passionist Monastery at Moricone where he died, December 9, 1911 after a serious fall. He was eighty years of age. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 16, 1988.