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Dear Friends,

As you know, Padre Pio will be canonized on June 16.

What does he mean to you?

Alex

[ 05-29-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

Alex,

May sound dumb, but part of the reason I like him is because he is a MODERN saint. If you look at our calendar, it looks like the good Lord quit making saints about a thousand years ago. Folks like Padre Pio, Fr. Solanus Casey & Sr. Miriam Teresa Demjanovich show clearly that holiness is something we can aspire to even in this age.

Sharon

Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

Sharon,

I agree with you 100 percent and would like to add one more to your list: St. Therese of Lisieux. Her Little Way is a way that all of us can easily follow.

Padre Pio was a true servant of Christ and of His Church. Anyone who can sit for more than 15 hours hearing confessions day in and day out is an exemplar of the priesthood and of service in general to one's fellow Christians.

In Christ,
mikey.

[ 05-29-2002: Message edited by: Mikey Stilts ]

Padre Pio deserves canonization.

But for me June 16th will be just another day. Perhaps it is because I have always regarded Padre Pio as a saint.

When I research the life of a holy woman or man, I tend to be on the lookout for the criteria which is what the Roman Church examines when a cause for canonization is introduced: Did the individual lead a life of Faith, Hope, and Charity to a Heroic Degree?

In my mind, this is of primary importance because it is here where I can connect with an individual as a role model, (and I always need some!). Even if the cause does not progress to beatification or canonization, taking these examples of heroism of virtue into account when I live day by day makes me a better person.

Now, on the other hand, the mystical phenomena surrounding Padre Pio, as well as most other visionaries, stigmatists, et al. tend to muddle the three important criteria that I consider of primary importance.

People sometimes tend to get caught up in the "wonder-seeking" mentality, and then forget that God can [and does] work through each of us, and the more we ourselves strive to lead lives heroic in virtue, the more God can acomplish.

When I present talks on the saints to CCD groups, I tend to avoid stigmatists and limit the discussion of visionaries to one. I want to impress on the kids, (as well as to other adults) that sanctity occurs in "everyday" walks of life also.

St. Pio, Pray for us!

Slava Isusu Christu!

Stefan-Ivan

When we were in Italy last summer, we went to his monastery for the day. We prayed at his tomb and visited his cell and all. In the museum they has his bloody vestments, altar cloths, gloves, etc.

We hardly knew a thing about him going there but leaving we learned so much about this man, like how the devil and demons would frequently beat the daylights out of him at nite.

We now venerate him in our family with much respect and prayer.

Christ is Risen!

You know even as an Eastern Orthodox Christian, Father Pio has always been a Roman Catholic that I felt exemplified what a Saint was.

I sometimes think that the Latin term of Canonization is a poor term. After all, a Saint is a Saint at the moment of death---it just takes us a while realize their sanctity---I prefer the Orthodox term of "Glorification"---at last we finally realize that the saint was a Saint and glorify God for his/her witness.

Your brother in Christ,
Thomas

Dear Sharon,

Not at all dumb. John Paul II agrees that we need more modern exemplars. He has given us many "newbies".

One of my recent favorites is St Katherine Drexel, who turned her back on a life of luxury and priveledge.

Her work crossed racial and ethnic lines during America's days of deepest segregation. Perhaps she can be thought of as an example for some of our "nationalists" or "ultra ethnics"?

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Beloved Friends!

I didn't quite expect to be blessed by such wonderful statements from all of you!

Our brother Thomas' statement touched me as he is Orthodox.

St Padre Pio prayed the Rosary or the Rule of the Mother of God constantly, sometimes saying 20, 30 or even 40 complete 150 Hail Mary sets a day!

And he invited everyone to follow him in the path of constant prayer.

His great and sobering saying was, "He who prays hard will be saved, he who prays little is in danger and he who does not pray will be damned."

His prayer beads continue to exude a wonderful fragrance to this day.

I've also met so many people whose lives have been touched by the intercession of St Padre Pio.

Way back when I viewed a video of St Padre Pio.

He spent up to 14 hours hearing confessions each day.

People of all walks of life, including celebrities, were lining up to go to confession to the Stigmatist (and he holds the record for having the Stigmata - 50 years).

An Italian businessman who hadn't been to Church for years was talked into going to confession to the saint.

When he went into the confessional, Padre Pio said, "When was your last confession?"

"Thirty years ago, approximately," was the answer.

"Well, where were you?" Padre Pio said.

"I was in Venice," the man replied. And it was at that point, he later said, that he also realized that he was very far from God!

Padre Pio realized he was finally repenting and told him to find a priest that could spend some serious time with him to sort his life out.

The businessman later became one of the greatest promoters of veneration for Padre Pio. As was another former Freemason who wrote articles and books about the saint.

Padre Pio will be canonized on my baptismal anniversary.

He reminds me and all of us of the need for continual renewal in Christ through prayer, in the first instance.

Alex

Thomas:

Thanks for sharing with us your Orthodox appreciation of Padre Pio's holiness and sanctity.

He could be an example for both the Orthodox and Catholics.

Anent the Orthodox preference for "glorification"
over "canonization," it might not be trite to reiterate here that the process of canonization, by itself, includes glorification and exaltation.

AmdG

Dear Amado,

Yes, and "Canonization" is also a term that is used by the Orthodox.

I think Padre Pio's great constancy in prayer is what makes him compare so favourably to Eastern Saints and the Eastern way of holiness.

Alex

Dear Alex:

And thank you for reminding us of Padre Pio's devotion to prayer, especially his constant meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary.

But St. Padre Pio sounds a bit harsh to my Roman Catholic ears.

Could we settle for "San Pio" or "Santo Pio"? Or, "St. Pius of Pietrelcina?"

AmdG

Dear Amado,

Whatever Mother Angelica says in this, and other matters, is O.K. by me!

Alex

AmdG
I know this was addressed to Alex but I have to say despite the title to which he will be entitled I think most of us will continue to refer to him as Padre Pio

Dear Angela and Amado,

A pilot once survived a plane crash and went to his mother with an interesting story.

He told her that a "flying monk" had come out of nowhere in the sky as he was falling, without a parachute, had grabbed him and placed him on the ground.

He saw a picture of Padre Pio on his mother's dresser and said, "Mama, that's the monk who saved me!!"

As he was still alive, his mother told him to go and see him.

The young pilot met Fr. Pio and told him his story.

Padre Pio then told him that that was the "second time" he had saved him from death.

He then related another set of circumstances that only the young pilot thought he knew about . . .

Alex

There is a biography on the life of Padre Pio in which a section of the book recalls experiences of Orthodox Christians with Padre Pio. Padre Pio would talk to them about the lack of unity among the Orthodox Churches and how it was necessary to be united to the Catholic Church. These Orthodox Christians would later become Catholic.

I'll let you know about the title of the book next time I see it.