Yesterday’s Companions

Anthony Danei

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

Anthony Danei

Paul of the Cross John Baptist of St. Michael the Archangel Fulgenzius of Jesus

Anthony Danei

Agnes Grazi

Born 28 th 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”

Agnes Grazi 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 7 th June 1744 (42 yrs) She is buried at Presentation Retreat on Monte Argentario

Agnes Grazi In questo palazzo della nobile famiglia Grazi S. Paolo della Croce trovo la prima casa di benefattorri della sua Congregatione e la prima discepola nota per santita di vita AGNESE GRAZI 28 th January th June 1744 I Passionisti d’Italia and del mondo In attestato dei riconoscenza perenne Orbetello, 18 ottobre 1998

Thomas Fossi

Thomas was born on 29 th 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 Thomas was 24 years old. Paul guided his prayer and spiritual life from this time His wife Victoria died in February 1767

Thomas Fossi He then joined the Passionist Congregation receiving the habit on 4 th June 1768 He was ordained on 21 st December 1768 and professed a Passionist on 17 th 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, 27 th March 1785

Anthony Frattini

Born in Rome on 5 th 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

Anthony Frattini When Paul of the Cross died on 18 th 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 14 th March 1797 and is buried in St. John and Paul’s Basilica. His portrait still hangs in the Generalate in Rome

Anthony Frattini 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, 30 th 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 Calderoni

Brother Bartholomew of St. Aloysius Batholomew was born on 20 th December 1732 at Orbetello He received the Passionist habit at 18 years of age on 21 st December 1750 and was professed a Passionist on 21 st December 1751 on Monte Argentario Confidant of St. Paul of the Cross Cared for Fr. John Baptist during his last illness at Vetralla

Bartholomew 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 11 th February 1796 at Sts. John and Paul in Rome

Bartholomew Calderoni Letters of St. Paul of the Cross (# nd 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 …..

Anthony – Bartholomew – Agnes – Anthony - Thomas

Yesterday’s Companions Prepared by Gary Perritt, C.P.