Meditations on the Rosary for St. Pio

[son_of_angels]

I wrote these meditations, possibly for a prayer group, on the Sorrowful Mysteries for the Memorial of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. See what you think of them, pray with them, and/or just read them and tell me what you think.

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
1. The Agony in the Garden
Jesus, in his final agony, lived within himself the agony of the Crucifixion, and offered himself freely for us, saying “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” Let us recall how St. Pio, especially in his offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, experienced within himself a shadow of that same fervor, that same anxiety, which gripped the heart of our Savior. He gave himself, as we must give ourselves, to the love of our Heavenly Father, Whose only Son daily pours out his tears and gives himself on the Altar of Sacrifice, so that we can be free from all sin.
2. The Scourging
As Mary considered the horrible scourging of Christ, our Lord, she suffered within her heart that same crucifixion, and by that suffering, which fulfilled Simeon’s prophecy, the sword of our Redemption pierced her heart. We recall that we, who address and venerate the Blessed Mother as “Our Lady of Sorrows,” cannot help but consider how each flagellation which struck Christ was an atonement for our own sin, and, with equal devotion, consider how the suffering of our Lord instructs us to “take up our cross” and follow, joining him on the mystery of the Redemption. Help us to join with St. Padre Pio, who willingly forsook the world to embrace the consecrated life, and embrace the cross which Christ sets before us.
3. The Crowning with thorns
The Apocalypse tells us of the crowned splendor of the Saints in heaven, who continually see the face of God the Father. Yet while we are here, we are called to a different crown, which only the Crucified Lord may bestow. This is the crown of self-mortification, by which we die to the world only to live for Christ. This is the crown which true saints bear while on earth. We pray to St. Pio that he, who obtained this earthly crown, may offer the merits of his heavenly crown for us, so that we can offer ourselves a holy and living sacrifice to God.
4. The Carrying of the Cross
Each event in the passion of our Lord Jesus, brings us nearer to the Sacred Heart of Christ, who did not merely assent to a mortal death for us, but humbled himself to bear every burden of the flesh which mankind could possibly bear, beginning with his temptation in the desert, and culminating in the burden of the Cross. Let us join with St. Pio, who did not only give his consent to the will of God, but in his life modeled the full meaning of it.
5. The Crucifixion
We remember St. Pio, whose hands were pierced by the same fiery love which pierced the hands of Christ, and offered the Father a sacrifice for all mankind. These same scars were given by sin, but accepted by a charity beyond all words to describe. May St. Pio offer the merits which he gained by his own flesh, marked by the stigmata of our Lord, that we may be pierced at heart to true conversion.

Edited September 21, 2005 by son_of_angels

[Theoketos]

With your premission I would like to use this for my youth group this Sunday.,,

[cappie]

They are excellent.

For our Order Padre Pio is a Feast Day

Long before he died, Padre Pio had become known and loved throughout the world. After his death on September 23, 1968, a hundred thousand people thronged to his funeral in San Giovanni Rotondo. Today, at least six million pilgrims a year travel there to pray at his tomb.

It is Padre Pio’s love, not his supernatural gifts, that explain such drawing power, Pope John Paul II has observed. Padre Pio “was bread broken for men and women starving for God the Father’s forgiveness.” His wounds—“the work and sign of divine mercy, which redeemed the world by the cross of Jesus Christ”—speak of God’s love and issue an appeal to all of us: “Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

[son_of_angels]

Sorry about taking such a long time to respond. YES!!! use them, use them, use them.

[son_of_angels]

A you a Cappuchin then cappie, or a Friar of the Renewal?

I totally agree, but the miraculous signs worked on him should neither be overlooked. These things are gifts to draw us to his love, and hopefully now to his patronage.

Not with the same adoration, but with the same fervor, should we consider the mysteries of this man's existence, as they point us to the mysteries of Christ. Perhaps I'm odd, but when I pray to the saints, I don't often look at images of them, but at a Crucifix, because it is in Christ, and by his blood, that any of their miracles came. Every miracle of a saint comes from the divine Person of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit.

[cappie]

[quote name='son_of_angels' date='Sep 22 2005, 06:48 AM']A you a Cappuchin then cappie, or a Friar of the Renewal?

I totally agree, but the miraculous signs worked on him should neither be overlooked.  These things are gifts to draw us to his love, and hopefully now to his patronage.

Not with the same adoration, but with the same fervor, should we consider the mysteries of this man's existence, as they point us to the mysteries of Christ. Perhaps I'm odd, but when I pray to the saints, I don't often look at images of them, but at a Crucifix, because it is in Christ, and by his blood, that any of their miracles came.  Every miracle of a saint comes from the divine Person of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit.
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Capuchin [url="http://www.capuchinfriars.org.au/"]Link[/url]

[cappie]

Padre Pio was no grim martyr personality. He found comfort and strength in prayer, especially in the Eucharist. He never lost his sense of humor and fondness for puns and ironic observations. He had a large stock of funny stories which he liked to share with his friends. One favorite concerned a practical joke he had played on another boy while both were training to be Franciscans. One night, Pio had spotted his fellow student walking through a dark room where, as in many monasteries of the day, a human skull lay on a table as a sober reminder of mortality. Crouching stealthily behind the table, Pio waited till the boy was passing by, then flapped a towel around in ghostly fashion and groaned a “mysterious lament.” No one who heard Padre Pio tell this story could doubt that he had been gratified by the result!

Later in life, as well, Pio was good for a practical joke. In 1945, when all the friars were getting cholera vaccinations, Pio convinced another friar to join him in pretending that the shots were excruciatingly painful. Their act—complete with the other friar’s feigned shriek of fright—was so convincing that one of the priests waiting to be vaccinated actually fainted!

[son_of_angels]

(slaps knee) Ha! I love it.

[cappie]

[b]Padre Pio's five maxims for living a devout life [/b]


"The first one I desire you to cherish is from St Paul: 'All things work together for the good of those who love God' (Rom 8:28).


"The second maxim that I desire you to keep for ever engraved on your heart is that God is our Father; and what do you have to fear as the daughter of such a father whose providence would not let a hair of your head be harmed?


"The third maxim is that you must observe what the divine Master teaches his disciples: 'What do you lack?' The disciples answered that they lacked nothing. When you were troubled even at the time when you unfortunately did not feel much confidence in God, tell me, were you never oppressed by anxiety? You will answer, 'No'. So, I will reply, 'Why do you not have the strength to overcome all the other trials?'.


"The fourth maxim concerns eternity. Living these brief and fleeting moments should not matter much to the children of God, since they will live for eternity in glory with God."

"The fifth maxim that I implore you to keep fixed in your mind is that of the Apostle St Paul: 'Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Gal 6:14). Treasure in your heart the crucified Jesus Christ and all the crosses of the world will seem like roses. Those who have been pricked by the crown of thorns of the Saviour, who is our Head, do not feel the other wounds.

"All I am asking you at the moment is to help me with your prayers to God; and know that I will always do the same for you and for your family and for all the souls who worked for my liberation. My gratitude and acknowledgment to God for them will be eternal".

[cappie]

[Seven77]

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

Feast day of St. Pio!

Here are some pictures of the Saint:
[url="http://caccioppoli.com/Padre%20Pio%20foto.htm"]http://caccioppoli.com/Padre%20Pio%20foto.htm[/url]

I really like them!

[cappie]

PADRE PIO’S PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Stay with me Lord,
For it is necessary to have You present
So that I do not forget you.
You know how easily I abandon you.

Stay with me Lord,
Because I am so weak and I need your strength,
So that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me Lord,
For you are my life,
And without You, I am without fervour.

Stay with me Lord,
For you are my light,
And without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me Lord, to show me your Will

Stay with me Lord,
So that I hear Your voice and follow You

Stay with me Lord,
For I desire to love you very much,
And always be in Your company.

Stay with me Lord,
If you wish me to be faithful to You

Stay with me Lord,
For as poor as my soul is,
I want it to be a place of consolation for You,
A nest of love. Amen

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

[img]http://caccioppoli.com/padre%20Pio%20fotografie/padre%2010%20%282%29.jpg[/img]
sorry it's so big...

[Noel's angel]

this one is cute:

[img]http://caccioppoli.com/padre%20Pio%20fotografie/Pio6%20(2).jpg[/img]

[son_of_angels]

Those are awesome.

Does anyone know of a St. Pio prayerbook? If there's not one, given the number of prayers, miracles, and the innumerable merits of venerating this Saint, there definitely should be.

[the_rev]

Son of Angels would you be interested in writing reflections with the intercession of St. Pio for all the mysteries?

[the_rev]

[url="http://www.padrepio.com/onlineordering/padrepiobookstore.htm"]http://www.padrepio.com/onlineordering/padrepiobookstore.htm[/url]

Maybe there is a st. pio prayer book here.

[Cow of Shame]

[quote name='cappie' date='Sep 21 2005, 05:13 PM']Capuchin 
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You're named after monkeys?

[son_of_angels]

I would indeed, although it might take me a little while.

I will write some on the Glorious and Joyful, and perhaps a commentary on the Prayers of the Divine Mercy Chaplet in light of St. Pio.

Look for them all in weeks to come I suppose.