Sep
20
2021
By Anonymous (not verified)
He was a wise child of Our Lady, a faithful son of the Church, and one of the great wonderworkers in our Catholic heritage.
Saint Padre Pio (1887-1968) offers us evidence, an example, and a challenge. He is proof in the modern age that saints and sanctity are both possible and historical, that miracles really did (and do) happen, and that not everything in this world is explainable by modern science. He is an example to all Catholics of the truth of our faith, of the power of the Holy Spirit, of the Real Presence of God in our Sacraments.
But he is also a challenge to us, summoning us to greater virtue, to greater faith, hope, and love. All things are possible with God. Saint Padre Pio's bilocations, his prophesies, his ability to read hearts and to tell sinners their own most secret sins, and more - wonders of healing, of communication, of protection - all of it reminds us that we who share his faith in Jesus Christ could also be sharing in his wonders, if only we are open to the will of God.
The great Dominican theologian Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange once said that the virtue that moves us most swiftly along the path to holiness is generosity. If we have true generosity with God and neighbor, everything else will come quickly and easily. Our Lady can help us be generous, she who said a total and complete yes to God every single instant of her life. She will help transform us by her intercession and shine before us as a model, the Star of the Sea allowing us to navigate through any storm.
Saint Padre Pio knew her powerful intercession well, and relied on it. He prayed the Rosary throughout the day, often saying Rosaries while he was occupied with his ministry. He knew the power of that prayer, and the one who'd given it to the Church.
He turned to her in every need, for every sort of intention. He knew his spiritual mother, and spoke to her regularly. She obtained for him many favors, and worked wonders for and through him.
We need the intercession of both Our Lady and of St. Padre Pio more than ever today. We need to turn to them for our family and friends who have fallen away from the practice of their faith. We need to take up the daily Rosary for peace in the world, and dedicate ourselves to both practicing and promoting devotion to the Immaculate Heart, especially the First Saturdays. We need to follow in St. Padre Pio's footsteps and offer prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, doing reparation for the many ways the modern world falls prey to the devil's snares and temptations.
Most of all, we need to trust God as Our Lady and St. Padre Pio trusted. We need to be faithful as they were faithful, hopeful as they were hopeful, and loving as they are loving, all founded on prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. We need to be the change in the world that we wish to see, as the saying has it. If we wish to see grace transforming lives and hearts, we need to remain open to God's grace transforming our own minds and hearts. We can't give what we haven't got.
So let us ask Our Lady and St. Padre Pio to give us a share of their virtue, of the grace of their prayers. Let us ask them to enrich our hearts with the gifts of God, not solely for our own sakes, but for the sake of the life of the Church and the salvation of the entire world.
Saint Padre Pio (1887-1968) offers us evidence, an example, and a challenge. He is proof in the modern age that saints and sanctity are both possible and historical, that miracles really did (and do) happen, and that not everything in this world is explainable by modern science. He is an example to all Catholics of the truth of our faith, of the power of the Holy Spirit, of the Real Presence of God in our Sacraments.
But he is also a challenge to us, summoning us to greater virtue, to greater faith, hope, and love. All things are possible with God. Saint Padre Pio's bilocations, his prophesies, his ability to read hearts and to tell sinners their own most secret sins, and more - wonders of healing, of communication, of protection - all of it reminds us that we who share his faith in Jesus Christ could also be sharing in his wonders, if only we are open to the will of God.
The great Dominican theologian Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange once said that the virtue that moves us most swiftly along the path to holiness is generosity. If we have true generosity with God and neighbor, everything else will come quickly and easily. Our Lady can help us be generous, she who said a total and complete yes to God every single instant of her life. She will help transform us by her intercession and shine before us as a model, the Star of the Sea allowing us to navigate through any storm.
Saint Padre Pio knew her powerful intercession well, and relied on it. He prayed the Rosary throughout the day, often saying Rosaries while he was occupied with his ministry. He knew the power of that prayer, and the one who'd given it to the Church.
He turned to her in every need, for every sort of intention. He knew his spiritual mother, and spoke to her regularly. She obtained for him many favors, and worked wonders for and through him.
We need the intercession of both Our Lady and of St. Padre Pio more than ever today. We need to turn to them for our family and friends who have fallen away from the practice of their faith. We need to take up the daily Rosary for peace in the world, and dedicate ourselves to both practicing and promoting devotion to the Immaculate Heart, especially the First Saturdays. We need to follow in St. Padre Pio's footsteps and offer prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, doing reparation for the many ways the modern world falls prey to the devil's snares and temptations.
Most of all, we need to trust God as Our Lady and St. Padre Pio trusted. We need to be faithful as they were faithful, hopeful as they were hopeful, and loving as they are loving, all founded on prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. We need to be the change in the world that we wish to see, as the saying has it. If we wish to see grace transforming lives and hearts, we need to remain open to God's grace transforming our own minds and hearts. We can't give what we haven't got.
So let us ask Our Lady and St. Padre Pio to give us a share of their virtue, of the grace of their prayers. Let us ask them to enrich our hearts with the gifts of God, not solely for our own sakes, but for the sake of the life of the Church and the salvation of the entire world.
CRBK