Paul De La Croix

Paul De La Croix, generally known as Paul Francois de Danei, founder of the Order of the Passionists (q.v.), was born Jan. 3, 1694, at Ovieda, Geneva. He was early consecrated to a life of piety, and while still a layman was entrusted by his bishop with teaching the catechism to children; and this incited Paul to the design of establishing an order for the conversion of souls. To this end he assumed a mendicant dress of black, to which he attached the emblems of Christ's passion, and with bare feet and head he retired in 1720 to a hermitage, where he prepared himself by, rigid mortifications to write the rules of the new society, with the aid of his younger brother, Jean Baptiste. He then repaired to Rome, where he was ordained priest by Benedict XIII, and returned to establish his order, of which he was elected general. He died Oct. 18,1775, and was canonized in 1852. See Abregi de la Vie de P. de la Croix Tournay, 1857, 12mo).