 As Passionists, we embrace the crucified Christ in the crucified of our world. As the people of the United States prepare to head to the voting booth, we invite you to take to heart the important issues of our time in light of the Gospel and the solidarity and courage that come from the Passionist charism.
In the spirit of St. Paul of the Cross, grounded in our Passionist values, let us pray deeply that we may carefully discern our election choices, working together to bring God’s reign of justice, peace, and love to our world.
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 Every Passionist has a special role in furthering God’s work in fostering harmony, unity, and peace by creating communities where everyone has a place at the table.   We human beings are created for community in a “world in which all men and women, thanks to justice and love, affirmation and respect, know wholeness, well-being, and fullness of life” (Holy Cross Province Statement on Cultural and Racial Diversity, 6) The Passionist Way reminds us this will only happen when we “[cultivate] goodwill toward one another and actively [seek] one another’s good.”  “Our Lord Jesus Christ, after His resurrection stood in the midst of His disciples and said: ‘Peace be upon you, alleluia.’ “...Let us, then, pray with all fervor for this peace which our divine Redeemer came to bring [us]. May He banish from souls whatever might endanger peace. May He transform all into witnesses of truth, justice and love. May He illumine with His light the minds of rulers, so that, besides caring for the proper material welfare of their peoples, they may also guarantee them the fairest gift of peace. “May Christ inflame the desires of all to break through the barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to understand one another, and to pardon those who have done them wrong. Through His power and inspiration may all peoples welcome each other to their hearts …, and may the peace they long for ever flower and ever reign among them” (John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, 170-171).    “We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it. We have had enough of immorality and the mockery of ethics, goodness, faith and honesty. It is time to acknowledge that light-hearted superficiality has done us no good. When the foundations of social life are corroded, what ensues are battles over conflicting interests, new forms of violence and brutality, and obstacles to the growth of a genuine culture of care for the environment” (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 229).   “The Passionist Family…, counting on God’s grace, joyfully affirms, celebrates, and actively promotes cultural and racial diversity for the sake of honoring God’s intention from the very first moment of creation and for advancing the reign of God” (Statement on Cultural and Racial Diversity, Passionist Family of Holy Cross Province, 2). Often, we can be fearful of those who are different from us, especially if we have no or limited experience with people of a different culture or race. Our charism and Catholic Social Teaching teach us that “every human being, without exception, brings something unique and unrepeatable of God to life in the world and is, therefore, a living, breathing sacrament of God’s goodness and glory” (Statement on Cultural and Racial Diversity, 4).  As we prepare for the 2024 election, let us pray that our attitudes, language, decisions, and actions will be faithful to the crucified Jesus who by His Cross “tore down the walls of separation” so that all may be one (Passionist Constitutions, 26).
 As we consider our electoral options, we remember that each issue must be evaluated in light of our Catholic affirmation of the fundamental dignity of every human person.   As the people of the United States prepare for the 2024 presidential election, we, the members of the Passionist Solidarity Network, offer a series of prayerful reflections on the important commitments we have made over the years to live the Passionist charism in our own lives and decisions. As Passionists, we embrace the crucified Christ in the crucified of our world, including our crucified Earth. In this time of discernment, we invite you to take to heart the important issues of our time in light of the Gospel and the solidarity and courage that come from the Passionist charism. Just as St. Paul of the Cross saw the name of Jesus written on the foreheads of the poor of his time, so too are we called to see the face of Christ in our sisters and brothers and Earth herself. We want to be painfully aware of their sufferings and to actively accompany them to a place of justice, dignity, well-being, belonging, and peace. We invite you to join us in prayer over the next weeks. Watch for our posts inspired by the documents that shape our lives as the Passionist Family. In the spirit of St. Paul of the Cross, grounded in our Passionist values, let us pray deeply that we may carefully discern our election choices, working together to bring God’s reign of justice, peace, and love to our world.  |
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