From Behind Monastery Walls to A World View: Passionist Bulletin 1943-1947 A Historical Analysis and Reflection
by Father Rob Carbonneau, C.P.
World War II forced people of the United States to think world. Communication between allies and families became a priority. In their own way, the Passionist priests and brothers of Holy Cross Province (Chicago, Illinois and points west) faced the same desires. On May 3, 1943, they commenced publication of Passionist Bulletin-several had the title C.P. Bulletin. Editors residing at the Passionist Novitiate St. Paul, Kansas clarified the intent of the enterprise. It read in part: "There is a wealth of material found in the past numbers of our Bolletino and Acta Congregationis [both published in Rome] that has never been translated and we feel confident would be extremely interesting and inspirational. Our Missionaries often do wonderful work that comes to the knowledge of only a few of the Brethren. Our Army-Chaplains need our prayers and appreciation. Many little facts take place in the quiet of our Retreats, which if made known would do much for good-fellowship. Our Holy Rule contains a wealth of ascetical material, which if studied and worked out would bring us all to the conclusion that we need hardly any other spiritual reading besides its pages. It not seldom happens that we receive a death notice of one of our own whom we did not even suspect that he was sick."
The following essay highlights Passionist Bulletin. Likewise it accentuates a selection of themes that reflects both daily Passionist monastic life and public ministry as well as the concentrated effort of Chicago-based Passionists to connect with their international brethren during and immediately after World War II.
Readers should know that 28 issues of Passionist Bulletin were published between May 3, 1943 and November 21, 1947. In 1948 Volume 1 of The Passionist was published. New editor Father Vincent Mary Oberhauser, C.P. changed the format and shortened the name. A table of contents for both versions can be found at www.cpprovince.org/archives in the Passionist Publications section. -the editor
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