I suspect there’s not a person over the age of reason (I’m not sure what that is these days) that has not been wounded. That wound might be as insignificant as a scratched knee or it could be as tragic as the death of a parent or loved one. I often wonder what this wounding is all about. Sometimes I get an answer but more often, I just have to wonder why.

Jason Gray a 44 year old folk singer who is also wounded—he suffers from a speech impediment, although you’d never suspect that by listening to his recordings—shares his insight to that question with the above recording, The Wound is Where the Light Gets In.

Jason is not the first person in history to address wounds. Another person, Paul Danei (1694-1775) an Italian also struggled trying to understand why people suffered from poverty or were marginalized and ignored. His response was to found a religious group of men and women who devote their lives to answering that question for themselves and others. Catholics in the United States celebrate his life today by naming today his special day remembering his contributions in helping us all understand suffering. Way to go Paul and thanks for helping me answer my question, why do we suffer. We Are the Passionists will tell you all about this modern day religious community of priests, brothers, sisters and laity who follow in the footsteps of Paul Daneii.

Dan O’Donnell, a layman has covenanted with the Chicago Community. In addition to the standard covenant, Dan promises to work at connecting all partners known and unknown, to a conscious following the the way of Jesus, the way of the cross which Dan believes transforms all failure, democratizing the human journey

CPP

We are a community of laymen and laywomen who, with vowed Passionists, seek to share in the charism of St. Paul of the Cross through prayer, ongoing spiritual formation, and proclamation of the message of Christ Crucified.