Feast Of Padre Pio

[cappie]

Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione, entered the Capuchin Friars at the age of 16. He set out in this way to respond to God’s love in following Jesus in the humility, the poverty, in the obedience of the Capuchin Franciscan Order. He gave his life to God without reserve. He placed himself totally at the disposal of the Holy Spirit. One phrase from his biography sums up his life. “Assiduously given to prayer, he passed the day and a great part of the night in speaking with God.”

[b]Prayer was the first characteristic of his religious life[/b].

Prayerfulness is the key to his way of life. He was accustomed to say, “Prayer is the strongest weapon that is available to us, prayer is the key which opens the heart of God. We seek God in our reading, but we find God in prayer.” Padre Pio was a man of prayer. Habitual prayerfulness permeated every moment of his daily routine.

[b]Love of The Cross [/b]

St Paul in his letter to the Galatians states that the only thing to boast about is the love of God and of Christ, which are the realities of the Cross, because the love of God and the love of Christ open the way to salvation through the gift of faith. St Paul insists that this is the rule to be followed if one’s life is to be that of a Christian.

Padre Pio has lived to the fullest this rule by his life-long example of faith, of love and of hope. Padre Pio has given witness to the truth that the Cross is the turning point in history. In the words of Pope Paul VI he had the gift to be a representative sealed with the stigmata of our Lord.

The late Pope John Paul said “The witness given by Padre Pio constitutes a powerful reminder of the supernatural dimension and of its distinction from a mere desire for the miraculous.”

[b]The Heart of Each Day.[/b]

If prayerfulness was the secret of the life of Padre Pio, and if the love of the crucified was his strength, the Mass was, in the words of the Pope, “The heart of each of his days.”
This further keystone of the life of Padre Pio was his devotion to the Eucharist together with the expression of the fruit of the Eucharist in his devotion to the ministry of the confessional.
During the Mass Padre Pio was transfigured. It seemed that all passage of time and all dimensions of space between Calvary and Altar had faded. And this happened day after day, month after month, for 50 years. In his Mass one sees the same experience as that of which St Paul writes “I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me.”

Following his Mass, he heard confessions. He gave of his self each and every day in union with Jesus for the salvation of the world. He carried that burden with great love, giving of himself and using his own words, abandoning himself “to the heart of Jesus” and to the “Mercy” of our heavenly Father.

And so it seems to me that there are [b]three petitions[/b] which we might direct to God through the intercession of Padre Pio.

[b]Our first is that we might be prayerful.[/b] That our prayer might be a prayer of praise and of gratitude to God who has made us more aware of the need to pray for the whole of the world so that all may know and accept the love and pardon of the Father.

[b]Our second petition is that our faith be a mature faith[/b] based on the mystery of “the Crucified and Risen Christ” as the essence of the Gospel message May Padre Pio teach us to receive the Law of the Cross with faith and love. May he teach us to draw good from evil and to draw life from death.

[b]Our third petition is that we discover anew the power of the Eucharist[/b], a power which can make us evermore worthy persons both morally and socially. That we come to appreciate evermore the beauty of the Sacrament of Reconciliation with its power to enable us to be truly open and generous towards others, giving them in turn the pardon which God has given to us.

We ask Padre Pio to watch over us and to intercede for us, that we may become more generous in our following of Christ; that we become more desirous of serving God with each passing day, seeking holiness of life which alone can radiate joy, peace and hope to those around us.

Recently Our Holy Father Pope Benedict said, “He who believes is not alone.” Here we have a host of witnesses. We stand before the beloved Cross of Our Blessed Savior, we stand with Our Mother, Our Lady of Grace, and Padre Pio. We are not alone. When the Apostles came down from Tabor, they carried in their hearts a glimpse of God’s Glory. When you return to your homes, share with your families and neighbors the graces of this pilgrimage and the message of our beloved Padre Pio: preghiera e carita e la gioia del sacramento del Perdono.
Prayer, Charity and the Joy of Forgiveness

Edited September 22, 2009 by cappie

[cappie]

PADRE PIO’S PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Stay with me Lord,
For it is necessary to have You present
So that I do not forget you.
You know how easily I abandon you.

Stay with me Lord,
Because I am so weak and I need your strength,
So that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me Lord,
For you are my life,
And without You, I am without fervour.

Stay with me Lord,
For you are my light,
And without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me Lord, to show me your Will

Stay with me Lord,
So that I hear Your voice and follow You

Stay with me Lord,
For I desire to love you very much,
And always be in Your company.

Stay with me Lord,
If you wish me to be faithful to You

Stay with me Lord,
For as poor as my soul is,
I want it to be a place of consolation for You,
A nest of love. Amen

[AccountDeleted]

Cappie, you make me wish I were in Brisbane instead of Melbourne, to hear your homilies! Thank you so much for these posts. Padre Pio was amazing, and such a witness for the power and mercy and grace of prayer.

[cappie]

[quote name='nunsense' date='22 September 2009 - 10:25 PM' timestamp='1253622347' post='1970944']
Cappie, you make me wish I were in Brisbane instead of Melbourne, to hear your homilies! Thank you so much for these posts. Padre Pio was amazing, and such a witness for the power and mercy and grace of prayer.
[/quote]

We have a church in Hawthorn (not the parish church) it's called St Anthony's Shrine 182 Power St Hawthorn. The Guardian is Fr Robert Stewart:



[b]September 23
SAINT PIO OF PIETRELCINA
Priest
Memorial[/b]





[i]Pio Forgione, baptized Francesco, was born at Pietrelcina in the Diocese of Benevento, on May 25, 1887. He entered the Capuchin Order on January 6, 1903, and was ordained to the priesthood in the cathedral of Benevento on August 10, 1910. He arrived at San Giovanni Rotondo in the Gargano mountain range, on July 28, 1916, where he remained, with the exception of a few brief interruptions, until his death on September 23, 1969. On the morning of Friday, September 20, 1918, while praying before the crucifix in the choir of the old church, he received the gift of the stigmata B the open, bleeding wounds which stayed with him for half a century.¬ During his lifetime, as part of his ministry, he founded prayer groups and a modern hospital which he named, The Home for the Relief of Suffering.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 2, 1999, and canonized by the same pope on June 16, 2002.[/i]

[b]INTRODUCTORY RITES[/b] Gal 6:14

May I never boast of anything
except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Through it, the world has been crucified to me
and I to the world.

[b]OPENING PRAYER[/b]

Almighty and eternal God,
by a singular grace you allowed your priest Saint Pio
to participate in the mystery of your Son’s Cross,
and through his ministry,
you revealed the marvels of your mercy.
Grant that, through his intercession,
we may always remain one with Christ in his Passion
so as to joyfully attain the glory of his Resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.


[b]READING I[/b]

(when celebrated as a memorial or feast, either the first or second reading may be used)

True wisdom

From the book of the prophet Jeremiah 9:23-24

Thus says the Lord:
Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom,
do not let the mighty boast in their might,
do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth;
but let those who boast, boast in this:
that they understand and know me,
that I am the Lord;
I act with steadfast love,
and with justice and righteousness on the earth,
for in these things I delight.

The Word of God.


[b]RESPONSORIAL PSALM[/b] 16:1-2.5;7-8;11

R. You are my everything, Lord.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the Lord, You are my lord;
without you I have nothing.
O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup,
my life is in your hands. (R.)

I bless the Lord who counsels me,
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the Lord ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not go astray. (R.)

You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
eternal happiness at your right hand. (R.)

[b]READING II[/b]
I bear the stigmata of Jesus in my body.

From the letter of Paul to the Galatians 6:14-18

May I never boast of anything
except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Through it, the world has been crucified to me
and I to the world.
It means nothing whether one is circumcised or not.
All that matters is that one is created anew.
Peace and mercy on all who follow this rule of life,
and on the Israel of God.
Henceforth, let no one bother me,
for I bear the brand marks of Jesus in my body.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you. Amen.

The Word of God.



[b]ALLELUIA VERSE[/b]

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Reign.




[b]GOSPEL[/b]

You have revealed these things to the little ones.

A reading from the gospel according to Matthew 11:25-30

Jesus said:
All praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
what you have hidden from the learned and the clever
you have revealed to the little ones.
It is true. Father, you have graciously willed it so.
Everything has been given over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son but the Father,
and no one knows the Father but the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome,
and I will refresh you.
Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble of heart.
Your souls will find rest,
for my yoke is easy and my burden light.

The gospel of the Lord.














[b]PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS[/b]

Lord, accept the gifts we bring
in memory of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
May the Eucharist we offer to your glory
help us attain salvation.
Grant this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

[b]PREFACE[/b]

The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You are glorified in your saints,
for their glory is the crowning of your gifts of mercy.
In the life of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina,
you give us an example;
through his intercession, you give us help;
by a communion of grace
you unite us to him in brotherly love.
His witness spurs us on to victory,
to share the prize of everlasting glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
With angels and archangels
and the whole company of saints
we sing our unending hymn of praise: Holy...



[b]COMMUNION RITE [/b] Ps 33:9

O taste and see how good the Lord is;
happy are those who take refuge in God.

[b]PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION[/b]

O God, our Father,
you have nourished us with the food of life.
By following the example of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina,
may we honor you by our faithful service,
and spend ourselves in tireless charity
for the benefit of others.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.


These texts, in Italian, were approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Prot. N. 887/02/L, and used for the canonization of St. Pio of Pietrelcina.