Hopelessly Devoted

HOPELESSLY DEVOTED Padre Pio By John Mark Willcox O ne of the most well-known and controversial men of our faith is Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, O.F.M., Cap.; also simply known as Padre Pio. He has always held a special part of my heart because of his brave suffering with ill health, the persecution he endured for his holiness, and the thousands of lives he changed through the sacrament of reconciliation. There was an incredible demand on his time and energy from adoring Catholics world-wide during most of his lifetime, and yet he was still able to accomplish so much for the Gospel. We also share May 25th as our date of birth which makes him even more special to me.

Padre Pio lived a devout life dedicated to God despite the many physical ailments he endured including the stigmata which he received at an early age. Those fortunate enough to attend the Masses he celebrated reported feelings of spiritual transcendence and pure joy. People traveled from around the world to his Capuchin monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo in Italy just to have Padre Pio hear their confession, which in itself, became a life-changing event in the religious journey of thousands of the faithful.

One of Padre Pio’s greatest admirers was St. John Paul II, who beatified Padre Pio in 1999, canonizing him to sainthood in 2002. This helped bring to an end a long-standing conflict between Rome and the mystic. Rather than dwell on his incredible life of service to the people of God, I have chosen to focus on Padre Pio’s words that live on in well-known quotes of his public speaking, preaching and teaching: • Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter. • Prayer is the oxygen of the soul. • God enriches the soul which empties itself from everything. • If God sees blemishes in even the angels, can you imagine what He sees in me? • Walk the way of the Lord in simplicity, do not torment your spirit. Speak the truth, only the truth. • Do you not see the Madonna always beside the Tabernacle? • My past, O Lord, to Your mercy; my present, to Your love; my future to Your providence. • God will not allow you to be lost if you persist in your determination not to lose Him. • Doubting is the biggest insult to divinity. • After my death I will do more. My real mission will begin after my death.