AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY FILM ON THE LIFE OF ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS

The preparatory phase of the upcoming Tricentenary of the Congregation (22 November 2020–01 January 2022) will be officially inaugurated during the 47th General Chapter in the context of the celebration of First Vespers of 19 October 2018, the Solemnity of St. Paul of the Cross. On this occasion the film “St. Paul of the Cross”, a documentary-fiction about the life of the Founder will have its premier showing.

The film is a production of the American television network EWTN with the patronage of our Congregation. The Superior General, Fr. Joachim Rego, delegated the Commission for the Third Centenary of the founding of the Congregation to study the possibility of sponsoring this film. The Commission gave a favourable opinion in view of the director’s experience and, above all, in light of the potential of reaching the audience of EWTN (more than 240 million English-speakers, as well Spanish and German audiences), something that we would otherwise never succeed in achieving. Although the work was filmed in English, EWTN will also produce the Spanish language edition. Passionists will be able to translate the film into any other language at the cost of dubbing or subtitles.

The film creatively combines documentary and scripted parts. Paul as a young man is played by the American actor Jason Davis, and Paul as an old man by Elmo Antonelli. Great care was taken by the director to present the spiritual thought of St. Paul. Fr. Adolfo Lippi, CP (MAPRAES) was the theological consultant.

The preview in Rome will take place on October 19 at 6:00 P.M. in the Basilica of Sts. John and Paul.