Inspirational Friday: Feast of Padre Pio!

Today is the feast day of the miracle worker and bearer of the Stigmata of Christ, Padre Pio. He was born in Pietrelcina, Italy and became a priest, on September 20, 1918, while hearing confessed received the gift of Stigmata, a gift that would last to end of his life. Mystic, Miracle-worker, confessor, priest, friend to all, and saint, are just a few of the words that describe Padre Pio.

A woman named Teresa Venezia gave a story on her meeting of Padre Pio: 
“After confession I waited in the cloister corridor to be able to kiss his hand as he passed by. (The faithful always desired to kiss the stigmatized hands of P. Pio, as they considered this a great privilege and blessing –editor). When Padre Pio arrived he did not stop near her, so she was unable to kiss his stigmata. She immediately felt very saddened and deeply lamented about this in her heart. Suddenly, the Saint turned back, walked up to her, held out his hand, and like a father with a light smile he gruffly said: "Go ahead then and kiss it, before I give you a little smack."
 (Testimony of Teresa Venezia, Tolve, Italy, October 19,1986)

1. The Picture: 

“Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” 
― Padre Pio

2. The Quote:

 “Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God's heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips, but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should only speak to Him with your heart.” 
― Padre Pio

3. The Prayer: 

Prayer for Healing to Saint Padre Pio

Beloved Padre Pio,

Today I come to add my prayer to the thousands of prayers offered to thee every day by those who love and venerate thee. They ask for cures and healings, earthly and spiritual blessings, and peace for body and mind. And because of thy friendship with the Lord, He heals those thou doth ask to be healed, and forgives those thou forgiveth.

Through thy visible wounds of the Cross, which thou didst bear for fifty years, thou were chosen in our time to glorify the crucified Jesus. Because the Cross has been replaced by other symbols, please help us to bring it back in our midst, for we acknowledge it is the only true sign of salvation. As we lovingly recall the wounds that pierced thy hands, feet and side, we not only remember the blood thou didst shed in pain, but thy smile, and the invisible halo of sweet-smelling flowers that surrounded thee, the perfume of sanctity.

In thy kindness, please help me with my own special request:

[mention here your petition, making the Sign of the Cross]

Bless me and my loved ones. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Pio

O God, Thou didst give Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin priest, the great privilege of participating in a unique way in the Passion of Thy Son, grant me through his intercession the grace of . . . [name your request] which I ardently desire; and above all grant me the grace of living in conformity with the death of Jesus, to arrive at the glory of the resurrection.

Glory be to the Father . . . [three times].

Amen.

Ta, Ta For Now!