Padre Pio : teaches us to be merciful

Padre Pio will always remain a Friar who will attract people or faithful from all walks of life. Yesterday evening celebrating a Mass in honor of the feast of Madonna delle grazie, saw a huge crowd for the mass. Most of the pilgrims were outsiders, I mean foreigners and one could feel the devotion and faith of these pilgrims who have come from such a long distance to pay homage to Padre Pio. I know that Padre Pio will definitely be a saint of all those who would like to be in communion with Jesus. Padre Pio is one of those beautiful examples for all of us to be always in dialogue and communion with Jesus. The hours that he spent in confessional were proofs of his constant dialogue and closeness to the Lord. He is a perfect example of patience and perseverance. He never lost an opportunity to be with the Lord and what he received from the encounter and communion from the Lord he shared with people who came to him for confession.

Here in San Giovanni many faithful stand in queue to make confessions. The Capuchin Friars make all the possible arrangements for the confessors who are available through out the day. The penitents after waiting for long in the queue do come out happy and contented, come out convinced that the Lord has showered upon them the Mercy. It is true.....when one repents and makes a good confession we do have the feeling of being liberated .....brought close to Jesus and in communion.....Padre Pio would guide the penitents to make a good confession in order to experience the touch of God's mercy and then remain always under that grace.....to continue growing in that grace till our last breath. Padre Pio gave his entire life making the mercy of God available to those who would ask for it. So ask and you shall receive it in abundance. But Padre Pio would always ask the penitents to be persons of continuous prayer....prayer deep and solid.....prayer not out of compulsions but from a deep desire to be united with the Lord.....Padre Pio would always have recourse to the Jesus for Mercy and compassion....he would ask every moment.....this was the source of his being a channel of Mercy.....

Let us pray accepting that Prayer is God's gift to all of us....prayer unites us with the Lord and to one another.....prayer is an access to the heart of God and also to the others....prayer opens the doors of mercy and grace.....it also opens the door to reach to the unreachable......prayer allows us to understand the other in sin and suffering.....