Dear Friends in Christ,
Today, September 23, is the feast of St Padre Pio of Pieltrelcina, a Capuchin Friar canonized by Saint Pope John Paul II in 2002. He is best known for his stigmata, visions, and the gift of healing. One of the most striking virtues he leaves as a legacy is his hope amid his experiences of lifelong sicknesses, suffering from false accusations, and the strife from World War I.
Those who knew him remember the advice that he often gave to penitents and those who came to him for healing: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”
What experience of God’s love did he have that convicted him of this and allowed him to speak with so much certainty to others?
Padre Pio knew this because of his profound life of prayer. The Catechism tells us, “Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget him who is our life and our all” (CCC 2697).
When we forget “him who is our life and our all,” we inevitably turn to false gods and false hopes – of control, self-sufficiency, and other desperate attempts we make to protect ourselves.
Our prayer life roots us in the truths that give security and peace; not because we have everything under control, but because we know that God does.
Yours in heart of Christ,
Glory
