The Passionists, officially named the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (Latin: Congregatio Passionis Iesu Christi), abbreviated CP,[3] are a Catholic clerical religious congregation of pontifical right for men, founded by Paul of the Cross in 1720, with a special emphasis on and devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ.

[3] After serving for a time in the hospital for skin diseases of St. Gallicano, in 1737 they left Rome with permission of the Pope and went to Mount Argentario,[4] where they established the first house of the institute.

In 1769, Clement XIV granted full rights to the Passionists as enjoyed by the other religious institutes, making them not an order but a congregation.

Every Passionist religious is required to honour them, together with the founder, Paul of the Cross, and the other saints of the congregation, whose feasts they celebrate in community.

According to Paul of the Cross, they were founded in order to "teach people how to pray", which they do through activities such as retreats and missions, spiritual direction, and prayer groups.

Today they often also assist local churches in pastoral works, including saying masses, hearing confessions, and visiting the sick.

Unlike the La Sallians or the Gabrielites, Passionists do not usually open schools and universities, except seminaries for their own students wishing to become brothers and priests.

Though Passionists are not required to work in non-Christian areas as missionaries, their Rule allows its members to be posted to missionary work, such as in mainland China (before the Communists took over in 1949), India, and Japan, and in many other nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and elsewhere as dictated by the pope or at the invitation of a local Bishop.

The founder is buried in a chapel attached to the Basilica of Saints John and Paul, and the General Headquarters also hosts an international house of studies for Passionists from around the world.

The habit worn by members is a black rough woolen tunic and mantle bearing the words "Jesu XPI Passio", meaning "Passion of Jesus Christ", and the congregation was historically discalced, wearing sandals rather than shoes.

[11] No special practice besides wearing the Scapular and leading a good Christian life is obligatory in order to participate in the privileges of the confraternity.

[12] The other portion of the scapular hanging at the back, may consist simply of a small segment of black cloth, but at times has an image of the Crucifixion of Christ.