St. Paul of the Cross
He was born at Ovada in Liguria in 1694. As a young man he helped his father who was a merchant. However, aspiring a life of prefection, he left all behind, gathered a group of associates in caring for the poor and the sick. He became a priest and worked even more earnestly for the salvation of souls by founding homes, exercising zeal, and practicing penance. He died in Rome on October 18, 1775.
In one of his letters he wrote:
"Be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitaitng the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love. Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy. For if a man is united inwardly with the Son of the Living God, he also bears his likeness outwardly by his continual practice of heroic goodness, and especially through a patience reinforced by courage, which does not complain either secretly or in public. Conceal yourselves in Jesus crucified, and hope for nothing except that all men be thoroughly converted to his will."
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