Feast of St Padre Pio, the Priest who Prays.

Feast of St Padre Pio, Capuchin Priest & Mystic. 

"When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up.

"Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture.

"Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.

"And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a ­hundredfold.” 

"After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

"Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. 

"He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

“This is the meaning of the parable.

"The seed is the word of God." 

"Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. 

"Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.

"As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit.

"But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” (Luke 8: 4 - 15).

Saturday 23rd September 2023 of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Pio Pietrelchina better known as Padre Pio. (1887 - 1968). 

Italian Capuchin Priest. Stigmatist. A highly gifted confessor and counseling guru. Padre Pio died in 1968 and was canonized in 2002 by Pope St John Paul II in the lifetime of many people reading this.

Padre Pio entered the Capuchin Monastery at the age of 15. A mere boy, he had little in the way of this world's goods, education or spiritual riches. He soon showed immense appetite for genuine riches or spiritual treasures. And in accordance with the spiritual law laid down by Jesus, Padre Pio grew into a giant.

"To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” (Luke 8: 18).

“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9: 22).

Padre Pio knew what it is to suffer. He suffered almost constantly from ill-health throughout his long life. He was maligned by some members of the Church hierarchy and even by his confreres.

In all these sufferings, Padre Pio never doubted for a moment his faith in Divine Providence. His devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Rosary sustained him in the many crisis of his life. He describes himself as "a priest who prays." St Padre Pio is one of the most popular saints in the Roman calendar.

"PRAYER IS THE BEST WEAPON WE HAVE; IT IS THE KEY TO GOD'S HEART." (ST PADRE PIO). 

Pray for the grace of Perseverance especially in Prayer. 

In the Parable of the Sower, we note that although the Sower is an experienced Farmer, he did not eliminate from sowing on all the adverse soils and go straight to the good soil. God's merciful love touches every creature. 

"My way is one of gentleness, of mercy, and of compassion. I offer My Cross to souls, but I never impose it, and when a soul begins to say “Yes” to the sweet and terrible exigencies of My love, I fit My Cross to her shoulders, and then help her to carry it step by step, increasing its weight only as that soul grows in love and in the fortitude that comes from the Holy Spirit." (IN SINU JESU, September 23, 2011, Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina).

In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us  mercies from her Son Jesus. 

For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10

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