Fr. Pius Devine C.P. 1838-1912

Professed a Passionist 1858
Ordained a Priest 1861
Lecturer in Theology 1861-1868
Rector Of Mount Argus 1869-72

Trip round the World 1872-1875
Across the Andes by mule 1874

Lecturer and Preacher 1875-1900
Illness 1900-1912
Death 29th April 1912

Life of Fr. Pius Devine C.P. - His Vocation 

Father Pius of the Holy Ghost - James Devine - was born at Aclare, Co. Sligo, on the 6^th January 1838. He made his classical studies at the seminary of his native diocese, Achonry, and then went to Maynooth, where, after four years study, he received Minor Orders. Two things happened to make him change the course of his life. The first was a retreat given at Maynooth by Father Vincent Grotti C.P., the founder of Mount Argus, and the second the chance reading of the life of Father Paul Mary Pakenham C.P., the first rector of Mount Argus. He decided to leave the Diocesan clergy and join the Passionist Congregation.  

Father Pius entered the Novitiate in the autumn of 1858, and was professed on September 29^th of the following year. 1n 1861 he was ordained priest at St. Joseph’s, Highgate and immediately commenced that career of Professor of Theology which he was to pursue so successfully through many years. In November 1867 all the students of the Province were gathered in Dublin for their studies. The new monastic building had been opened four years before and there was plenty of room for students. The Retreat was then called St. Paul’s College. The president was Father Ignatius Paoli C.P. afterwards Archbishop of Bucharest, and Father Pius was his “right hand” man and a guiding spirit in raising the ecclesiastical studies there to a very high level. He continued this task as Rector of Mount Argus 1969 to 1972. During his term of office he was sent as Visitor-General to the Passionist houses in the United States.

Round the World

As Rector of Mount Argus, he had felt keenly the inadequacy of the brick chapel beside the brand new monastery finished in granite stone. Before he became Rector plans for a new Church had been drawn up but not proceeded with due to lack of finance. At the end of his term of office in 1872 the Provincial Chapter accepted his suggestion that he go on a Lecture Tour to America to raise money. He set out in July 1872 and was away for three years in which time he had travelled to America, then to South America, crossed the Andes from Chile to the Argentine, returned to the East coast of America. The he moved west to the Pacific coast, from where he set sail for Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. Coming home from Australia he came north through India, Egypt, to Rome, Paris, London and Dublin. He had been round the world.  

Rector of Holy Cross Retreat, Belfast

On his return home he was elected, in 1875, Rector of Holy Cross, Belfast, where he commenced the building of the present monastery. At the close of this term of office, he returned to the work most congenial to him, teaching, which, interspersed with missions in parishes and retreats to religious communities, engaged his gifted and active spirit for the next twenty years of his life.

Ill-health and Death 

In his sixties ill health brought his active life to an end and there followed ten years of illness. Stealthily but surely gout seized upon his strong frame with relentless grip, crippling him so that he could no longer say Mass, and painfully affecting his memory. To his nature, inactivity and helplessness were bitter pills to swallow. Through these years many hours silent and lonely suffering shrunk but did not quell his cheerful spirit. For him patience was its own work and suffering has its reward. The end came without pain and was in perfect peace. He received the last Sacraments on April 26^th and on the 29^th comforted by the presence of his brother, Father Arthur, and in full possession of his senses, he calmly gave his soul to his Maker. The year was 1912 and he was 74 years of age. 

In the eyes of his contemporaries Father Pius’ gifts were great and many. He had received from his earliest years effective training. His knowledge of the classics was that of the old school, and he delighted to fit occasion with an apt quotation. He spoke several modern languages. In Gaelic he was a foremost scholar and authority. It was the tongue of his childhood and that in which his last earthly prayers were breathed to God. In 1885 he translated the Rule of the Passionists into Irish. In the sacred sciences, scripture and theology, he had the large and accurate knowledge that comes with years of teaching. His outlook on all things was broad and on all men was kindly. He wrote a number of books including the ‘Life of St. Paul of the Cross’, the ‘Life of Fr. Ignatius Spencer C.P.’ and ‘Eutropia’ or Instructions for Converts. He also left three handwritten diaries of his travels. The 'Journal of a Voyage to America' during August to October 1870, the 'Second Journey to Rome' during January and February 1871 and his trip round the world to collect funds for Mount Argus 'The Adventures and Misadventures of a Jolly Beggar' 1872 to 1875.