Maite about Padre Pio                                                        

Padre Pio is a fascinating saint, although he tried so much to live a hidden life, the world caught its attention to him from the day he started bleeding. He suffered a mystical and physical passion with Christ which is something one would call out of this world. No doctor could explain. On Fridays his hands would bleed throughout the weekend till Sunday and then closed again ...every week the same procedure, all this could sound like a spooky story.

Apart from that though he was known for his long hours in confession. Although his health was very poor and he would have much trouble sleeping, he was known to stay at the confessionary for 16 hours at a time. Quickly word spread of his extraordinary gift in reading the heart....so people came from near and far to confess, they would be line up to eight hours. He was known for his prophetic  gifts and gentle heart especially for the sick and needy.

I have often prayed novenas to him never to have been left disappointed. There is so much to discover in this mans life and all the miracles God could make through this wonderful servant that always stayed humble.

I don’t want to tell too much of him as not to take away the surprise. His life is as extraordinary as unbelievable ...but true. If you do read a little of him and are left inspired to invoke his intercession I promise, you will find a great man that will take you in the same spirit as a true father by the hand in all the obstacles of your life.

Maite

"May you've done all sins of the world, Christ will forgive you. Your many sins will be forgiven, because you've loved so much." (Padre Pio)

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Portrait - Padre Pio

On the 25th of May in 1887 Padre Pio was born in Piertelcina ( Southitaly ) as a son of poor farmers. His parents baptised him, after the example Francis of Assisi, Francesco.

His surrounding early realised, that a great faith was growing in this little boy, because he started dedicating his life to prayers since he has been very young. At the age of five Jesus, Mary, angels but also of demons already appeared to Francesco. He rather was alone with his guardian angel, whom he saw by his side even then, than play tricks on someone. Because of him, Padre Pio would say later, he always held the path of God.

With sixteen years Francesco followed God's call and joined the order of capuchins, where he should get the name Pio after his time as novice. But during this time the young monk was troubled by countless visitations of the devil. The more the teenager's wish of a monastery life grew, the scary apparitions grew likewise. Again and again he heard voices forcing him to disobedience to God.

Immediately after he had followed his divine calling, he was tormented even awfullier. His brothers heard a deafening noise out of the cell of Padre Pio every night. For the beginning nobody suspected that he fought with the devil. He even wasn't left alone at day. Again an again demons and terrible figures appeared to him. Besides psychically tortures he was exposed to...Pio was also shattered by physically maltreatments. Often he suffered from punches, held back injuries like scratches and bruises. Often his brothers found him laying in his bed sweaty and pale, when they has ran to his cell because of the peculiar noise.
The devil´s physical anger Padre Pio especially felt when he was praying for somebody. Also he wrote about a night, in which he was hit on and on, almost get beaten up.

But despite all these cruelties and scares the religious monk always expressed obedience and loyalty to his Lord. Even if all this seemed to him like a punishment of God, it couldn't persuade Pio from loving Him.
His duties and tasks Padre Pio never neglected in spite of the sufferings. He finished his theology studies and in 1910 he received the sacrament of the ordination. Reading the holy mess and confessing were parts of his duties, which he fulfilled with his whole heart. He could converse many through his speeches, because he preached the Gospel with so much affection and love to God.
His special adoration he gave to holy Mary. He prayed up to 15 rosaries a day.

In 1916 Padre Pio moved to the community of San Giovanni Rotondo, which is known by millions of Christians today. Here the miraculous incidents occurred.

Even years before Padre Pio has felt a mysterious pain in his hands, feet and his side. But there weren't any wounds recognizable. In August 1918 he had the first vision, in which a figure armed with a sword appeared to him. It happened while he confessed a boy. The figure raised its weapon to strike and suddenly Padre Pio felt the sword's blade drilling through his heart. Scared and full of pain he instructed the boy to leave him alone. At 5th of the same month the monk finally received the stigmatism, from which pain he would suffer till the end of his life.
In the choir of the monastery Santa Maria della Grazie another vision appeared to the monk. He saw a similar figure pouring fire jets down on him, which injured him at his hands, feet and his side. Awakened from the following faint Padre Pio realised this hasn't been a dream. He was signed with the wounds of Jesus Christ. The blood never really clotted. It only slowed down to bleed a little bit. But every day while reading the mess the pain rose and from the wounds ran much blood again. Also doctors told about a smell spread by the wounds. Often the people surrounding the priest realised a smell of jasmine and violets which always had been handed down about Saints. It's therefore known as the smell of Holiness.

From now on even more suffers were imposed on the sickly man. His prayers didn't help him to relieve him from the wound's pain. Instead he stood the countless medical inspections prescribed from the church and remarks which called the priest a liar. He tried to keep it secret from the public, wore gloves during the messes and stood an operation without anaesthesia once because he was afraid that the doctor would inspect his wounds.

But after the occurrences around Padre Pio were known outside the monastery the silence had its sudden end. Many people, also jealousy and sceptical ones, went on a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo to see the "holy" monk with his stigmatisms. They has heard from healings through Padre Pio and hoped for his help.
One day for instance he gave the eyesight to a little girl, who has been born without pupils. A young man, who couldn't walk because of a complicate leg fracture, was healed through Padre Pio. In another example he released a boy, who suffered from type and who was mutilated. As the child got up after his confession his sickness and deformities were vanished. Many more he could save through his prayers.

To his God given mercies also counted the gift of prophesy. In 1947 a young priest visited Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo. Pio prophesied him he's going to be the head of the Catholic Church one day. In 1977 this priest became famous as Pope John Paul ll. Even the attempt on his life in 1981 Padre Pio has predicted him at that time.
As well several people testified that they have seen Padre Pio outside the monastery. For instance at the canonization of Saint Theresa to the child Jesus. A brother, Padre Alberto, one day saw Padre Pio talking to himself. He stood at the window and it seemed as if he would give the absolution to someone. Some days later a telegraph from Turin arrived, in which somebody expressed one's thanks for sending Padre Pio to him. But Pio never has left the monastery after entering this order. This phenomenon is called bilocation. Padre Pio was able to be at two places at the same time.

Often deceased, who asked him for his intercession with the Lord appeared to him. There were investigations, if the people the monk has talked with really had existed. Names, places and causes of death were concurring with Padre Pio's statements.
Padre Pio was able to communicate with guardian angels as well and because of that he kept many from misfortune. There are numerous reports in which different people explain how Pio sent them a guardian angel. They didn't have to wait long for an answer. A woman, for example, who sat in the monastery's chapel, pleased her guardian angel to request the help of Padre Pio, so that her sister didn't need to die. Suddenly she heard him calling: "Who's calling me at this late time? What problem do you have?" After she has explained him her sorrow, he drove to her sister immediately and healed her.

Padre Pio also was capable of looking right into the people's hearts. He saw with mere look, if their love to God was true or faked. Sometimes he even didn't have to see somebody for judging him. One day a man with his wife came to San Giovanni Rotondo and he had the plan to kill her. As he walked into the church he also passed the confessional of Padre Pio. The priest ran out of it, grabbed the man by his arm and said: "Get out of here! Don't you know, you shouldn't dirty your hands with another's blood?" The next day the distracted and remorseful man came back to the confessional and confessed his sins. Padre Pio promised him he would become father soon, if he was a good Christ from now on. Little time later the couple returned to San Giovanni Rotondo to baptise their child.

His whole life through Padre Pio trusted God and His will, took all the suffering. Because of his emotional messes and charities he could disseminate his deep faith. Converted countless people and became an example for many.

On his deathbed he prayed to his Lord till the end. He was weak because of pain and age. His brothers were deeply touched to see this old man that way. They pleased for his early release, took care of the wounds, which he has borne for 50 years.

Some days before his death the bleedings arose. When Padre Pio passed away it lasted about ten minutes and the stigmatisms were completely disappeared without scars.

His death at 25th September in 1968 was received with great grief. Millions of people which Padre Pio has given the blessing as a priest every day admired him even at that time.
So it didn't last long till the investigations for a beatification began.

In 1999 a huge crowd of pilgrims came to the Saint Peter's Square to accompany the ceremony.
In 2002 Padre Pio, the man of God, was canonized by Pope John Paul ll.

Today millions of Christians still come to San Giovanni Rostondo to pray at Padre Pio's grave and still he helps them from heaven above.

„The cross will never push you down. Its weight may bring you in swaying, but its power will keep you upright." (Padre Pio)

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Maite about St. Joseph

ST.JOSEPH is one of the saints I invoke most in my daily life. He is a tender loving providing father and the most listening protector and intercessor.

I know I can always turn to him for the simplest of things, any worry or anxiety. Especially during difficult trials, I know my call to him never is let in vain.

If one thinks of it, he was very courageous and devoted man. He took unto him a virgin that consecrated herself to God and accepted with love to nurture and protect her child. He must have had a strong faith, because when the angel appeared to tell him to flea to Egypt, he left everything, walked through storm and weather all the way to Egypt. He was a carpenter, a hard working man, that's why they call him the patron of workers. So for those seeking work, I can only recommend, he's the one to ask for help.

He's a tender man, because it requires self abundance for a man to take an adoptive child unto him. He was a great friend and Mary and he loved each other like spouses. Yet there was her mystery, he kept unto the hands of God.
He is a very strong help for all women in difficulty. He will always come to help to the abandoned woman and child, especially children, that feel unloved by their own parents or are orphans. He will heal all wounds in this domain and send down true fatherly love. St. Joseph is a pillar to me as I lost my father recently and Mom had to leave me when I was small. He has been my strength and I know, my Dad and Joseph both do a lot up there for me.

Joseph is more than a great saint for me. He is a role model of fatherhood, manhood and true strength. I can only recommend a young girl that is newly dating a young man, before she gets into a deep relationship with him, to ask herself, if he would respect her like St. Joseph did Mary. Would he leave everything to protect you from harm the way he did for Mary?
He's known to send woman, who pray for a good husband, great spouses. It worked for me and my cousins.

I can only encourage anyone, who has faith or non to pray a nine day novena with ones petition. If it is for the better of oneself and for others I am 100% sure you will not be left unanswered.

God is love,
Maite

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Maite about Valentines Day

Valentines Day is a day I am especially fond of because I am a woman like any other woman, meaning I like to get flowers and all the attention from the person I most love - Florent my husband.
However St. Valentine is not just a day exclusively for the romantic love. It's a day where I can remember to love others not only with words but with gestures and that means everyone. We can give a little flower to our friends or call to just say "Thank you for being who you are". What's really important is to know it's a day that has a patron Saint with a special gift who can inspire us to be better to those around us. That's why I have attached some info on this special person.

Happy St. Valentines Day ;)
Maite

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Portait St. Valentine

There are many stories about the origin of the Valentines Day. One, that is most persistent, is about the bishop Valentine of Terni (Italy), who lived in the third century.
It is told, he has given flowers out of the cloister garden to lovers and marriages, which were contracted by him, were born under a lucky star.

Later Valentine lived as a priest in Rome, where Claudius II. reigned, who was involved in many bloody campaigns. Some day he realized that no men wanted to sign into his army and he assumed that the Romans don't want to leave their wives and families for wars. So Claudius cancelled all engagements and didn't allow any other marriages.

The priest Valentine couldn't accept this prohibition and secretly married Christian couples and helped persecuted Christians, what was a crime at that time.
For that reason he was imprisoned. As he then tried to convert the emperor Valentine was condemned to death and around 270 he was stoned and beheaded.
The legend tells that Valentine wrote a farewell message to the jailer's daughter, to whom he has talked very often in his time of imprisonment, with the signature "From your Valentine".

In 496 the Day of Valentine was established by Pope Gelasius.
The Saint Valentine is honoured as martyr and the patron of lovers.