Friday, 23 September 2011

Padre Pio "Who do you say I am"

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From: Nivard ..   
Sent: Friday, 23 September 2011, 10:56 

Subject: Padre Pio  
"Who do you say I am?"

Luke 9:18-22 
Today we have the Memorial of St Padre Pio. The following words, from his diary, were meant only for his confessor.  
He writes:   
Jesus tells me that, in love, it is he who delights me, but in suffering, on the other hand, it is I who give pleasure to him.

Ah, dear Father, pardon me for using this sort of language; Jesus alone can understand what I suffer when the painful scene of Calvary is enacted before my eyes.

Who could resist Jesus? I realise that I have made him suffer exceedingly, by my failings, that I have made him weep too much by my ingratitude, that I have offended him too grievously.


Extract: ‘Magnificat’ September 2011 Vol. 1, No. 12.   
www.magnificat.com

Today we have the Memorial of St Padre Pio. The following words, from his diary, were meant only for his confessor. They were not meant for publication.
FULL TEXT:

He writes: Jesus tells me that in love it is he who delights me, while in suffering, on the other hand, it is I who give pleasure to him. Now, to desire good health would mean seeking happiness for myself instead of trying to comfort Jesus. Yes, I love the cross, the cross alone; I love it because I see it always on Jesus' shoulders. By this time Jesus is well aware that my entire life, my whole heart is consecrated to him and to his sufferings.


Ah, dear Father, pardon me for using this sort of language; Jesus alone can understand what I suffer when the painful scene of Calvary is enacted before my eyes. It is equally incomprehensible how Jesus can be consoled not merely by those who sympathise with his torments, but when he finds a soul who for love of him asks no consolations and only wants to be allowed to share in his sufferings.


When Jesus wants to make me under-stand that he loves me, he permits me to relish the wounds, the thorns, the anguish of his Passion. When he wants me to rejoice, he fills my heart with that spirit which is all fire and he speaks to me of his delights. But when he wants to be delighted, he speaks to me of his suffer­ings, he invites me in a tone which is both a request and a command to offer my body that his sufferings may be alleviated. .


Who could resist him? I realise that I have made him suffer exceedingly by my failings, that I have made him weep too much by my ingratitude, that I have offended him too grievously. I want nobody but Jesus, I desire nothing else (which is Jesus' own desire) than his sufferings. Allow me to say it, since no one can hear us, I am ready even to be deprived for' ever of the tendernesses which Jesus lavishes on me, I am prepared to bear his hiding his beautiful eyes from me as long as he does not hide from me his love, for this would cause my death.

SAINT: PIO OF PIETRELClNA († 1968) was an Italian Capuchin priest who during his lifetime enjoyed a vast reputation for sanctity.

‘Magnificat’ September 2011 Vol. 1, No. 12.
Pio of Pietrelcina (Saint)  
From Letters, Vol. I. Correspondence with his Spiritual Directors, Father Gerardo Di Plumeri, OFM.Cap., Ed. 1984, Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary, San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia), Italy. Used with permission-
padrepioinscotland.org.uk 

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