Readings
I - Ecc. 3: 1-11
II - Lk. 9: 18-22
PADRE PIO (Memorial)
In today’s Gospel passage, to the question Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” the disciples responded saying, “The Christ of God”. Jesus from there proceeds to explain to them about the suffering and rejection that he has to endure on account of the same. The persons of God are destined for suffering because they go against the values of the world replacing with the values of the kingdom.
The Church celebrates the feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, popularly known as “Padre Pio”. He was born in Italy in the year 1887. He was ordained a priest in 1910. Because of his tuberculosis disease, he was at home for six years. His devotion during the celebration of the holy Eucharist was enormous. He spent hours in the confession solely to bring people back to God. He breathed his last saying, “Jesus, Mary”. He was a mystic. He got the sacred stigmata in his body in the year 1918 on account of which he had to endure physical, psychological and social suffering. People flocked to him out of curiosity and confusion about his stigmata, the reporters for the media wrote in volume mocking the same, his own fellow priests were hesitant to believe and accept. Padre Pio endured all for the sake of the Lord. As Christians when we are accosted with suffering, face it courageously with and in the Lord. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Padre Pio, Pray for us”.
