We are the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, better known as the Passionists,  founded by  Saint Paul of the Cross (1694-1775), in 1720. According to the wishes of our founder, the Congregation was to be both apostolic and contemplative, and was to have the Passion of Christ at the heart of its preaching and spiritual life. This strikes us particularly clearly in the Passionists’ fourth vow which, in addition to the vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience, is ‘to promote among the Faithful a grateful remembrance of, and devotion towards, the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ’. Thus, regardless of individual differences, all of us, Passionists profess a common essential element in our spiritual life with which we wish to comply in our vocation as religious. Our model for this, is Saint Paul of the Cross who especially in his letters constantly emphasizes the particular importance of contemplating the Passion of Christ for the Christian vocation and for the striving for holiness. We have particularly distinguished ourselves in the realm of holiness…. The fact that more than fifty Passionists have been canonized, beatified or pronounced venerable is impressive and quite unique in view of the age and size of the Congregation. It underlines the earlier observation of just how highly the striving for holiness is regarded within our Congregation.