Pio of Pietrelcina
Feast Day 23 September Patron of Priests, the Sick and Suffering

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Excerpts from the pope's audience after declaring Padre Pio a saint in heaven.

What is the secret of such great admiration and love for this new saint?  He is first of all a "friar of the people," a traditional characteristic of the Capuchins.  He is also a saint who is a miraculous healer, as the extraordinary events which are part of his life attest.  However, above all Padre Pio is a religious who is deeply in love with the crucified Christ.  He even shared physically in the mystery of the Cross during his life.

He liked to link the glory of Tabor with the mystery of the Passion, as we read in one of his letters:  "Before exclaiming with St. Peter 'Oh how good it is to be here,' it is necessary first to climb Calvary, where one sees only death, nails, thorns, suffering, extraordinary shadows, abandonment and fainting."

The Mass of Padre Pio!  It was an eloquent reminder to priests of the beauty of the priestly vocation.  For the religious and the lay people who flocked to San Giovanni Rotondo even at the early morning hours, it was an extraordinary catechesis on the value and importance of the Eucharistic sacrifice.

Holy Mass was the heart and the source of his whole spirituality: "There is in the Mass, " he used to say, "the whole of Calvary."  The faithful who crowded round his altar were profoundly impressed by the intensity of his "immersion" in the Mystery, and perceived that "the Father" participated in his person in the Redeemer's sufferings.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina presented himself to everyone - priests, men and women religious and lay people - as a credible witness to Christ and to his Gospel.  May his example and intercession spur everyone to greater love for God and concrete solidarity with his neighbor, especially those who are in greatest need.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Padre Pio called by the beautiful name of "Our Lady of Grace" (Santa Maria della Grazie), help us to follow in the footprints of this religious who is so beloved by the people!

Novena To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

(This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all those who asked for his prayers.  You are invited to recite it daily, so as to be spiritually united with the prayer of Saint Pio.)

Part I: O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you".  Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.   Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Part II:  O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, He will give it to you".  Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of...

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.   Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Part III: O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away".  Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of, (mention your request).

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.   Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender mother and ours.

Hail, Hoy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.  to you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.  To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.  Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.  O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Amen.
St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

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