Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016

St. PIO’S MADONNA PIO’SCORNER

“Whatareyoudoing?”Iasked.

“Cleaningthehouse,”hesaid.

* * * *

Itwasabeautiful,sunnyday.Weweremeetinginabighomewithmanyhallways.Itwasamulti-storyhome.Wewereonthelastfloor.Wehadofferedaretreat.Wehadmanypeopleenjoyingtheexperience.Wesoonrealizedmanypeoplewerehungry.Andweshouldofferthemsomethingtoeat.

Quickly,Ipeekedintotheyard.Infrontofuswasagreatorchardwithmanyvegetables.Thereweresweetchilipeppers-green,yellow,redandorange.Thereweretomatoes,largecucumbersandpumpkins.Westartedtogatherthem.Whenwetouchedthem,theyfellintoourhandsreadytobecutandeaten.Theharvestwasabundant.Ifeltlikeeatingthem.

Iwentdeepintotheorchardandfilledmanybaskets.ItseemedthemoreIcut,themoretherewastocut,asthoughtheorcharddidnothaveanend. As I moved through the orchard, I found myself facing a house next to the garden. Next to the roof of the house was a Mr. Barbón, dressed in a Franciscan habit. I found myself sitting on a swing rocking back and forth. I was happy and peaceful. He smiled. He smiled looking at the sky. The sun illuminated his face.

I approached him. I came so close I could see the details in his face – white eyebrows, the hairs in his nose. But, he kept rocking on his swing.

DECEMBER, 2019

“Whenawomanasked,‘TeachmeashortcuttoreachGodquickly,’PadrePioanswered:‘Theshortcut…istheVirgin.’‘TheHolyVirgin,’heinsisted,‘istheperfectexampleofGod’smercyonearth.SheactsasHisdouble.’Hetoldanotherpriest,‘SheistheonewhobringsusarayofGod’simmensityandofdivinepowers.’”1

TherelationshipbetweenSt.PioandMotherMarywaslifelong.Asachild,FrancescoForgione(PadrePio),conversedwithJesusandMaryoften.Suchapparitionsweregiventopreparehimforthespiritualworldhewouldlivein.

Asanadult,hewouldsayofHer,“Ifeellikeasailingship,pushedbyourheavenlyMother’sbreath.EvenifIamlostonthehighseas,I’mnotworried.Ican’tsaywhereIstart,norwheremyvariousworkswillend,butIneverfeeluncertainbecauseIamspirituallydirectedbyHer.Sheaccompaniesmeintheconfessional,toletmeaidmybrothersandsisters,andSheshowsme,alreadycoveredbytheveilofHerpity,thenumberlesssoulswaitingforanabsolutionwhichwilldestroyallevilsandbethecreatorofallgood.”2

Shewouldneverleavehim. He would often refer to Her as the Madonna.

“PadreTarcisioZullodaCervinaraandPadreMarianodaMaglianoSantaCrocewereinPadrePio’sroom.Theytookthecourageandaskedhim:'Father,istheMadonnaatthismomentinthisroom?'PadrePio'sanswer:"Wrongformulation.Youshouldhaveasked'DidtheMadonnaeverleavethisroom?'"3

Often,inhisdemonicattacks,MotherMarywasbyhisside.ShewouldallowtheattacksonhimaswemustallfacetemptationandbattletheEvilthatGodallowsintheworld.But,inHerloveforPadrePio,Shetemperedtheattacksbyinterveningatkeymoments.Inonesuchattack,ademonthrewSt.Piotothefloor.Whenotherpriestsheardhiscriesandcommotion,theyenteredhisroom.Theyfoundhimonthefloorbruised,bleeding,

1. Ruffin, Bernard C. Padre Pio: The True story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2018. (3rd Edition). 2. Ibid. 3. Ingoldsby,M.(1978).PadrePio.HisLifeandMission.Dublin:VeritasPublications.

His appearance was attractive.

“Who are you?” I asked. He turned to me and smiled, and kept rocking. Then he said, “I am Padre Pio.”

I asked, “What are you doing here?”

He answered, “Caring for the house…caring for the house.”

Then I woke up. The experience left me peaceful with an emotion unexplainable.

It was a beautiful dream. I went to look for a photo of Padre Pio and more information to see if it was him. After this dream, a few interesting details came to light.

We had just consecrated our ministerial service to God along with other prayer groups and their evangelical work in the eparish. A few days later, when one of the evangelical ministries was praying in the Presence of the Eucharist, several people thought they saw Padre Pio walking the corridors where we came to gather.

* * * *

Astheyearspass,Icontinuetothinkandmeditateonthedream.Icanbelievewithfaiththatmyfamilyenjoyshispowerfulintercession,thathetakescareofthishousehold.Theharvesthasbeenabundantandisnotfinishedbearingfruit.Thereareblessingstocomeformyfamilyandministries.

Fromtimetotime,Istopandmeditateonthisexperience,especiallyonthedaysthatprecedeSeptember23.Itakeatourofmylifeandexperiences.Icanseehisintercessionandcountonit.Ideeplyappreciate

andhisheadonapillow.Atthemomentofimpact,Sheplacedapillowunderhisheadtosoftentheblow.

SheaidedhiminthetaskofabsolutionintheConfessionalwherehewasabletorecitehismanyRosaries.OnseveraloccasionsPadrePioconfidedtohisintimatesthattheBlessedVirginremainedbesidehimwhileheheardconfessions.

Shewashishelpinhissufferingandneed.PadreOnoratoaskedPadrePioifhesawtheMadonna.PadrePioreplied,“ShecomestomewheneverIneedher.”PadreMarcellinoremarked,“PadrePiosolveseverythingwiththehelpofourLady,orbylettinghersolveit.”5

ShewaswithhimintheMass.ToEnzoBertani,hesaid,“EverymorningtheVirginMaryisatthealtar,togetherwithJesus,ortheSeraphicFatherSaintFrancis.”From1921to1923PadrePio,byorderoftheHolyOfficeoftheVatican,hewastosayMassalone.YearslaterPadrePiotoldPadreEusebio,“Iwasneveralone.OurLadyalwayskeptmecompanyduringMass.”6

Padre Pio wrote on August 15, 1929, Feast of the Assumption, “This morning I approached the

altarwithphysicalpainsandinternalanguish.Ifeltlikedying.Iwaspermeatedbyadeadlysadness.AtthemomentofconsumingtheSacredHostIsawclearlytheHeavenlyMotherwithBabyJesusinherarms.Theybothtoldme,‘Calmdown!Weareherewithyou.Youbelongtousandweareyours.’FromthatmomentIfeltdrownedinanindescribableseaofsweetnessandlove.”7

HewasknownforadvocatingHerRosary.ItwashisweapontofightHellwith.“Itismyweapon.Withthis,Iwinbattles.”8

PadreFernandodaRiesesaid,“TheRosarywasPadrePio’sfavoredprayer.Heprayeditmanytimesaday,decadeafterdecade.Hehadalwaysarosarywrappedaroundhishandorarm,asitwasajewelorashield.HehadotherRosariesunderthepillowandonthenightstand.HecalledtheRosaryhis‘weapon’.Hehadmadearesolutionyearsearliertosay‘dailynolessthanfivecompleterosaries.’”9

HewasneverwithoutaRosaryinhishand.

On February 6, 1954 at 9:00 PM, when Father Carmelo asked how many Rosaries St. Pio had prayed, St. Pio replied, "I still have 2 rosaries to pray today. I said only 34 so far. Then I will go to bed.”10

4. Allen,Diane.Pray,HopeandDon’tWorry:TrueStoriesofPadrePioBook1.SanDiego,PadrePioPress:2012.5. Iasenzaniro,M.(2007).Charismaticpriest.Testimonies.SanGiovanniRotondo:EdizioniPadrePio.6. Ibid. 7. FernandodaRiesePioX,(2010).PadrePiodaPietrelcina,crocifissosenzacroce.EdizioniPadrePio. 8. Allen,Diane.Pray,HopeandDon’tWorry:TrueStoriesofPadrePioBook1.SanDiego,PadrePioPress:2012.9. FernandodaRiesePioX,(2010).PadrePiodaPietrelcina,crocifissosenzacroce.EdizioniPadrePio.

hisprotectionandcareformyhouseandmyfamily.Heisthecaretakerofmysoul.IthasbeentenyearssinceIdreamtofPadrePio.IthinkIcannowdiscernthesymbols,thedetails,thefruitsinthegarden,andwhattheymeantome.ItisthebeautyofthehumanheartwhenitopenstothegraceofGod.Yes,theSpiritualChildrenofPadrePioarelikethis:agoodfruit,amaturefruitreadytobetakentoitsplaceofdestination,tofulfillSt.Pio’smission,andgrowinvirtueanddesiresofholinesswherethepiousfatherwithhisintercessiontakesusintoaprofoundmatureconversion.Wehopetogrowspiritually,thatasaresult,wecanwalkwithourfeetontheEarthwhilelookinguptotheskywithdeepdesirestoreacheternallife.Thishelpsusplaceoureyesonwhatismostimportant.Aswegrow,wediscoverthatLifeisfullofvanities.Werealizewearepassingthroughthislife,andwemustseizeeverymomentandeverysecondtomovetowardGod.Weexperienceagreatpainforourfaults,offaithandcharity,andwanttogrowinperfection.

The true Spiritual Children of Padre Pio are a strength wherever they are. And he, Padre Pio, is there taking care of them, interceding for them. Father Pio takes care of his houses. And not only his earthly houses, but his spiritual ones, “The Souls.” His only wish as a Spiritual Father is that we reach full union with God.

-AnitaMunoz

ToPadreMichelangelo,hereplied,"TodayIsaid32or33rosaries.Maybe1or2more."ToPadreMarianoPaladinodaMaglianoSantaCroce,hesaid,"About30.Maybesomemore,butnotless."PadreMarianoasked,“Howdoyoudoit?”St.Pioreplied,“Whatisthenightfor?"ToDonPierinoGaleone,hesaid,“Between15and20.”11ToPadreTarcisioZulloaskinghowmanyRosarieshesaideveryday,“Ifisnotagoodday,about30.”12

PadreAlessioParenteaskedPadrePiowhyhewouldconstantlysaytheRosaryandnootherprayers.PadrePioreplied,“BecausetheMadonnaneverrefusesmeanythingthatIaskthroughprayeroftheRosary.”13

Hislastwordwas,“Mary.”

TheMadonnawaswithhimtotheend.SittinginthearmchairclutchinghisRosary,afewminutesbeforedying,PadrePiosaid,“Iseetwomothers.”14Hismomhaddiedmanyyearsbefore.Inthelastmomentsofhislife,PadrePiowasseeingtheboththeVirginMaryandhisbirthmother,Peppa,together.

Hisverylastwordswere,“Jesus.Mary.”15

ToseparatetheMadonnafromPadrePioistoseparatehissoulfromGod.Thetwoareinseparable.ShewasaMothertohimwhenhisbirthmothercouldnotbe.Intheend,theybothcameforhim,together.

Forus,asSpiritualChildrenofPadrePio,wemustnurtureourownrelationshipwiththeMotherofGod.WecannotknowPadrePiowithoutknowinghisMadonna.ToHerhasbeengivenalltheGracesofHeaventodisperseasSheseesfit,accordingtotheFather’swill.

MaywestrivetoknowtheMadonnaasPadrePiodid,sothatShemayassistusinourDarkNight.

___________________________________________________________________________________

10. FernandodaRiesePioX,(2010).PadrePiodaPietrelcina,crocifissosenzacroce.EdizioniPadrePio.

11. Galeone,P.(2009).PadrePiomiopadre.CiniselloBalsamo:EdizioniSanPaolo.

12. FernandodaRiesePioX,(2010).PadrePiodaPietrelcina,crocifissosenzacroce.EdizioniPadrePio.

13. Allen,Diane.Pray,HopeandDon’tWorry:TrueStoriesofPadrePioBook1.SanDiego,PadrePio

Press,2012.

14. FernandodaRiesePioX,(2010).PadrePiodaPietrelcina,crocifissosenzacroce.EdizioniPadrePio.

15. Ingoldsby,M.(1978).PadrePio.HisLifeandMission.Dublin:VeritasPublications.

“ManysoulsgotoHellbecausethereisnoonetosacrificethemselvesandprayforthem.”OurLadyofFatima

-ParishPriest -PPPG

-ParishSpirituality -Family

-Teens -Spouses

-Unborn/Parents -Pope’s

TheFutureoftheVeryYoungThateverycountrytakethemeasuresnecessarytoprioritizethefutureoftheveryyoung,especiallythosewho

aresuffering.

FEASTDAYS

-3 Francis Xavier

-9 Juan Diego

-12 Lady of Guadalupe

-13 Lucy

-14 John of the Cross

-25 Birth of our LORD

“TheHolyGhostpouredHisloveintoHer;ShewastheonlycreatureworthyorcapableofreceivingthisloveinunlimitedmeasurebecausenoothercreaturehadsufficientpuritytocomesoneartoGod.”PadrePio

Continuetoworkwithinaparishministry

-AttendReconciliation

-NovenatoImmaculate Conception

-AttendAdorationonehour

-AttendOneDailyMass

-OfferStressofHolidayToGod

-DailyRosary