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Padre Pio/en: Difference between revisions
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One of the things Padre Pio was most famous for was his ability as a confessor. Kenneth Woodward writes: “Most of Padre Pio’s energies were devoted to intense prayer, celebrating Mass and, above all, hearing confessions.” People from around the world flocked to his doorstep to have him hear their confessions. Woodward says: | One of the things Padre Pio was most famous for was his ability as a confessor. Kenneth Woodward writes: “Most of Padre Pio’s energies were devoted to intense prayer, celebrating Mass and, above all, hearing confessions.” People from around the world flocked to his doorstep to have him hear their confessions. Woodward says: | ||
<blockquote>Padre Pio is credited with the gift of “reading hearts”—that is, the ability to see into the souls of others and know their sins without hearing a word from the penitent. As his reputation grew, so did the lines outside his confessional—to the point that for a time his fellow Capuchins issued tickets for the privilege of confessing to Padre Pio. Sometimes, when a sinner could not come to him, Padre Pio went to the sinner, it is said, though not in the usual manner. | <blockquote> | ||
Padre Pio is credited with the gift of “reading hearts”—that is, the ability to see into the souls of others and know their sins without hearing a word from the penitent. As his reputation grew, so did the lines outside his confessional—to the point that for a time his fellow Capuchins issued tickets for the privilege of confessing to Padre Pio. Sometimes, when a sinner could not come to him, Padre Pio went to the sinner, it is said, though not in the usual manner. | |||
Without leaving his room, the friar would appear as far away as Rome to hear a confession or comfort the sick. He was endowed, in other words, with the power of “bilocation,” or the ability to be present in two places at once.<ref>Kenneth L. Woodward, ''Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn’t, and Why'' (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996), p. 156–57.</ref> | |||
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Sometimes Padre Pio treated those who came to him for confession sternly. One of his devotees wrote: | Sometimes Padre Pio treated those who came to him for confession sternly. One of his devotees wrote: | ||
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Many people were transformed who came to hear Padre Pio celebrate the Mass. The same devotee writes: | Many people were transformed who came to hear Padre Pio celebrate the Mass. The same devotee writes: | ||
<blockquote>When the hour of Mass approaches, all faces are turned toward the sacristy from which the Padre will come, seeming to walk painfully on his pierced feet. We feel that grace itself is approaching us, forcing us to bend our knees. Padre Pio is not an ordinary priest, but a creature in pain who renews the Passion of Christ with the devotion and radiance of one who is inspired by God. | <blockquote> | ||
When the hour of Mass approaches, all faces are turned toward the sacristy from which the Padre will come, seeming to walk painfully on his pierced feet. We feel that grace itself is approaching us, forcing us to bend our knees. Padre Pio is not an ordinary priest, but a creature in pain who renews the Passion of Christ with the devotion and radiance of one who is inspired by God. | |||
After he steps to the altar and makes the Sign of the Cross, the Padre’s face is transfigured, and he seems like a creature who becomes one with his Creator. Tears roll down his cheeks, and from his mouth come words of prayer, of supplication for pardon, of love for his Lord of whom he seems to become a perfect replica. None of those present notice the passage of time. It takes him about one hour and a half to say his mass, but the attention of all is riveted on every gesture, movement and expression of the celebrant. | |||
At the sound of the word “Credo” pronounced with such tremendous conviction, there is a great wave of emotion through the throng. And the most recalcitrant of sinners is carried along as on a stream that is bringing him to the confessional and the renunciation of his old way of life.<ref>Ibid., pp. 39–40.</ref> | |||
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== Miracle-worker == | == Miracle-worker == | ||
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Author Stuart Holroyd relates just a few of the many stories of Padre Pio’s miraculous intercession. He writes: | Author Stuart Holroyd relates just a few of the many stories of Padre Pio’s miraculous intercession. He writes: | ||
<blockquote>During World War I, an Italian general, after a series of defeats, was on the point of committing suicide when a monk entered his tent and said: “Such an action is foolish,” and promptly left. The general didn’t hear of the existence of Padre Pio until some time later, but when he visited the monastery, he identified him as the monk who had appeared at a crucial moment and saved his life. | <blockquote> | ||
During World War I, an Italian general, after a series of defeats, was on the point of committing suicide when a monk entered his tent and said: “Such an action is foolish,” and promptly left. The general didn’t hear of the existence of Padre Pio until some time later, but when he visited the monastery, he identified him as the monk who had appeared at a crucial moment and saved his life. | |||
During World War II an Italian pilot baled out of a blazing plane. His parachute failed to open but he miraculously fell to the ground without injury, and he returned to his base with a strange story to tell. When he had been falling to the ground, a friar had caught him in his arms and carried him gently down to earth. His Commanding Officer said he was obviously suffering from shock, and sent him home on leave. | |||
When he told his mother the tale of his escape, she said: “That was Padre Pio. I prayed to him so hard for you.” Then she showed him a picture of the Padre. “That is the man!” said the young pilot. | |||
He later went to thank the padre for his intervention. “That is not the only time I have saved you,” said Padre Pio. “At Monastir, when your plane was hit, I made it glide safely to earth.” The pilot was astounded because the event the Padre referred to had happened some time before, and there was no normal way he could have known about it.<ref>Stuard Holroyd, ''Psychic Voyages'' (London: Danbury Press, 1976), p. 44–45.</ref> | |||
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== His service today == | == His service today == | ||