He Saw Visions of Christ on the Cross | St. Paul of the Cross | Catholic Saint of the Day

Let’s get LIT…urgical 🔥 Before he was a saint, Paul of the Cross was just a young Italian man with a fire in his soul — but no idea where to pour it. He was born into a devout Catholic family and had a deep love for Jesus from an early age— especially the suffering Christ. But he struggled to figure out his calling. Should he be a merchant? A soldier? A priest? Then one day, during prayer, God gave him a vision: He saw himself clothed in a black habit with a white emblem of the Passion on his chest. Christ was calling him to start a new religious order — one that would live simply, preach boldly, and keep the memory of the Passion alive in every heart. So he gave up everything. He rejected wealth, turned down marriage, and even refused the priesthood until the time was right. For years, he wandered Italy in a black habit, with no followers, no money, and no support — just a burning love for the crucified Christ and a message that couldn’t be silenced. Eventually, he was ordained and founded the Congregation of the Passion — known today as the Passionists. He preached wherever he could — in churches, on the streets, in homes and prisons — calling souls back to God through the wounds of Christ. He had mystical visions, gifts of healing, and even experienced ecstasies — moments of deep union with God where he lost all sense of time and space. But what made Paul truly powerful wasn’t the miracles. It was his love. He comforted the dying, wrote thousands of letters offering spiritual direction, wept with sinners and reminded them that Jesus loved them so much… He suffered to bring them home. Even as illness wracked his body, Paul of the Cross never stopped preaching Christ crucified. He died at age 81, worn out by love. 🕊 Founder of the Passionist order 📖 Spiritual director, mystic, and one of the greatest preachers of the 18th century ✝️ Devoted his entire life to keeping the Passion of Christ alive in every heart 🔔 Follow for daily liturgical drops that go harder than a Good Friday homily 👉 Talmid Studios™: AI-assisted, faith-led, human-crafted. #catholic #stpaulofthecross #passionofchrist #liturgicalcalendar #catholicsaints