Yesterday’s Companions

Yesterday’s Yesterday’s CompanionsCompanions

Anthony DaneiAnthony Danei


• Brother of St. Paul of the Cross and Ven. John Baptist

• Born 4th February 1710• Baptised 6th February 1710• Anthony of the Passion with the community• Received the habit 10th - 14th June 1730• Dismissed 30th October 1742• Returned to the Passionists 20th November 1743• Dismissed August/September 1744• Died on 26th April 1792 at Castellazzo


Paul of the CrossPaul of the Cross

John Baptist of St. Michael the ArchangelJohn Baptist of St. Michael the Archangel Fulgenzius of JesusFulgenzius of Jesus


Agnes GraziAgnes Grazi


• Born 28th January 1702 a twin with her brother Vincent

• The Grazi family were prominent in Orbetello. They had a large home in the town and vineyards nearby.

• Agnes attended Paul’s mission at Talamone, which was probably the first parish mission Paul and John Baptist conducted.

• From then until her death she became Paul’s dearest disciple, “his beloved and first disciple”


• His letters to Agnes Grazi give a wonderful example of Paul as spiritual director and leave for us precious insights into his own life of prayer and suffering.

• We have 166 of Paul’s Letters to Agnes • Agnes died on 7th June 1744 (42 yrs)• She is buried at Presentation Retreat on Monte

Argentario


In questo palazzo della nobile famiglia GraziS. Paolo della Croce

trovo la prima casa di benefattorri della sua Congregatione e la prima discepola nota per santita di vita

AGNESE GRAZI 28th January 1703 - 7th June 1744I Passionisti d’Italia and del mondo

In attestato dei riconoscenza perenneOrbetello, 18 ottobre 1998

Thomas FossiThomas Fossi


• Thomas was born on 29th December 1711 on the island of Elba

• He and his wife Victoria had eight children• Thomas met the Passionists when Paul of the

Cross and John Baptist conducted a mission on the island in July 1735. Thomas was 24 years old.

• Paul guided his prayer and spiritual life from this time

• His wife Victoria died in February 1767


• He then joined the Passionist Congregation receiving the habit on 4th June 1768

• He was ordained on 21st December 1768 and professed a Passionist on 17th June 1769

• He lived with Paul of the Cross at the Monastery of St. John and Paul’s in Rome

• He conducted many parish missions• After Paul’s death in 1775, Thomas returned to

the Presentation Retreat at Monte Argentario where he died on Easter Sunday, 27th March 1785

Anthony FrattiniAnthony Frattini


• Born in Rome on 5th February 1729• First met Paul of the Cross in 1744 at the

Carmelite Convent in Sutri. Anthony had a sister in the community – Sr. Maria Luigia

• He was “a grand friend” of Paul of the Cross• Worked for the Pope as Administrator• Instrumental in the Passionists becoming

established at the “Hospice of the Crucified” and Sts. John and Paul’s in Rome


• When Paul of the Cross died on 18th October 1775 at Sts. John and Paul, Anthony was present. Immediately after Paul’s death he went to inform the Pope.

• Paul of the Cross granted Anthony and his family special honours

• Anthony died in Rome on 14th March 1797 and is buried in St. John and Paul’s Basilica.

• His portrait still hangs in the Generalate in Rome


Life of St. Paul of the Cross by St. Vincent Strambi (p. 342,343)

The Prayers of the Dying were responded to by all the religious, by Anthony Frattini and several others. Directly Fr. Paul expired

Anthony went to inform the Sovereign Pontiff

Letters of St. Paul of the Cross (#2609, 30th August 1775)In order to correspond to the obligations that the entire Passionist Congregation, and especially this Retreat, owe to Anthony Frattini

and all his family, since he contributed such great alms to bring the Congregation to Rome, I leave as a testamentary memorial the prescription that on the day of the death of Anthony and of his wife, Agatha, for whom I pray to the Lord with all my heart that they have a long life, the funeral shall take place in this church, and that all the religious will offer the suffrages that are prescribed for the religious of the Congregation, and moreover, that every year on the anniversary of the death of Anthony, there be an anniversary Mass for his soul and for the deceased of his family.

Bartholomew Bartholomew CalderoniCalderoni

Bartholomew CalderoniBartholomew Calderoni

• Brother Bartholomew of St. Aloysius• Batholomew was born on 20th December 1732 at

Orbetello• He received the Passionist habit at 18 years of

age on 21st December 1750 and was professed a Passionist on 21st December 1751 on Monte Argentario

• Confidant of St. Paul of the Cross• Cared for Fr. John Baptist during his last illness

at Vetralla

Bartholomew CalderoniBartholomew Calderoni

• Cared for Paul of the Cross in his last years at Sts. John and Paul’s Monastery, Rome

• Invaluable witness for the saints canonisation processes

• He died on 11th February 1796 at Sts. John and Paul in Rome

Bartholomew CalderoniBartholomew CalderoniLetters of St. Paul of the Cross (#1780 22nd January 1769)

Whereas our beloved brother in Christ, Bonaventure of St. Aloysius, professed lay brother, has exercised toward us his continual charitable assistance, especially in the long and grave illness of Father John Baptist of St. Michael the Archangel, our blood brother of blessed memory, whom he assisted with highest charity until his last breath in this life; and after his death he assisted with great charity our poor person, especially in the very grave illness in the year 1767, and continues to assist and serve us day and night in the many bodily ailments and in our need because of the broken down old age in which we find ourselves; therefore as an act of true gratitude, we have resolved to free him from all duties, granting him the faculty that we will no longer be in office as General Superior – Brother Bartholomew may choose a room in any Retreat in our Congregation that most suits him, or where he is inspired to go by God, to attend purely to his proper perfection …..

AnthonyAnthony – – BartholomewBartholomew – Agnes – – Agnes – AnthonyAnthony - - ThomasThomas

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