Passionist International Bulletin

The Curia InformsPERMISSION TO LIVEFr. Robert Joerger, C.P.General ConsultorThey told him he had six weeks to live.A malignant tumor had spread to hisliver. He was prepared. My father wasa man of deep faith. The hospice nurse toldme I needed to give my father permission todie. My words to him were terrible but tentative,but he rescued me. "I'm going to missyou. I'll see your mother again." Then he said,"You do what you want with your life." I wentto give my father permission to die, and hegave me permission to live!Permission to live. When I read the letters ofour Father and Founder, St. Paul of the Cross,it often occurs to me that he followed his owncharismatic inspiration wherever it led him.His own deep faith inspired him not only togather companions into a community committedto the Cross, but also to endure in hope thesetbacks that are part of any new apostolicventure. And in the end he exhorted his brothersonly "to love one another." Was he givingthem permission to move forward within thisfoundational impulse, to proclaim ChristCrucified and live as brothers, no matterwhere that life might take them as Paul let goof his own? If a father's love can so gift usin our individual lives, cannot a Founder'slove also gift a community in the very sameway?I believe our own Father General did thesame for us in his presentation at our recentSynod in Rome, permitting the group tothink freely and creatively. Much of thesharing following this talk centered on thetheme of "hope". It will be important in thenext stage of this process to ask, "Whatspecifically makes us hopeful?" It couldvery well be the starting point of our dialogues.Some of the best viability studies of religiouslife that I have seen begin by testing theassumptions around religious life. They permitthe religious to think freely and creatively.For example, is there an assumption aboutPassionist community life, i.e., that there isonly one way of being a Passionist community?What if that one way is no longer life-giving,or in fact, drains the energies of its membersand the resources of the Province? Orwhat if a particular mission requires a differentway of coming together? Must we alwayslive in the same physical space in order to bea community, or can we commit ourselves togathering "intentionally" at regular times forfaith-sharing, prayer, mutual support and ameal? Are there other models of common lifethat are supportive and nurturing while, at thesame time, allowing space and time for both aparticular mission to the Crucified and contemplation?Of course, these models arealready operative in many parts of theCongregation.The cupola of the Chapel of St. Paul of the Cross, Rome9