FORMATION 2006
Foreword and Segments
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session
NO 2
topic:
“Padre pio”
Capuchin Priest, Mystic, Confessor, Stigmatic.
opening prayer:
As for the Order Prayers
introduction:
At Padre
Pio's canonization Mass in 2002, Pope John Paul II referred to that day's
Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30) and said: “The Gospel image of 'yoke' evokes the
many trials that the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo endured. Today we
contemplate in him how sweet is the 'yoke' of Christ and indeed how light the
burden are whenever someone carries these with faithful love. The life and
mission of Padre Pio testify that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted with
love, transform themselves into a privileged journey of holiness, which opens
the person toward a greater good, known only to the Lord.”
word of god
The Gospel according to
Matthew 11: 25-30
The Word of God is now read aloud slowly and prayerfully
At
that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have
revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All
things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son
except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to
whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will
give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light."
Allow a few moments
reflective silence and then read the following:
St.
Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (1887-1968)
Feastday -
September 23
Pope John
Paul II canonized Padre Pio of Pietrelcina on June 16, 2002. He praised the
new saint for his prayer and charity, also stressing Padre Pio's witness to
the power of suffering. If accepted with love, the Holy Father said, such
suffering can lead to "a privileged path of sanctity."
Born
Francesco Forgione, Padre Pio grew up in a family of farmers in southern
Italy. Twice (1898-1903 and 1910-17) his father worked in Jamaica, New York,
to provide the family income. At the age of 15, Francesco joined the Capuchins
and took the name of Pio. He was ordained in 1910 and was drafted during World
War I. After he was discovered to have tuberculosis, he was discharged. In
1917 he was assigned to the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo, 75 miles from the
city of Bari on the Adriatic. On September 20, 1918, as he was making his
thanksgiving after Mass, Padre Pio had a vision of Jesus. When the vision
ended, he had the stigmata in his hands, feet and side.
Life
became more complicated after that. Medical doctors, Church authorities and
curiosity seekers came to see Padre Pio. In 1924 and again in 1931, the
authenticity of the stigmata was questioned; Padre Pio was not permitted to
celebrate Mass publicly or to hear confessions. He did not complain of these
decisions, which were soon reversed. However, he wrote no letters after 1924.
His only other writing, a pamphlet on the agony of Jesus, was done before
1924.
Padre Pio
rarely left the friary after he received the stigmata, but busloads of people
soon began coming to see him. Each morning after a 5 a.m. Mass in a crowded
church, he heard confessions until noon. He took a mid-morning break to bless
the sick and all who came to see him. Every afternoon he also heard
confessions. In time his confessional ministry would take 10 hours a day;
penitents had to take a number so that the situation could be handled. Many of
them have said that Padre Pio knew details of their lives that they had never
mentioned.
Padre Pio
saw Jesus in all the sick and suffering. At his urging, a fine hospital was
built on nearby Mount Gargano. The idea arose in 1940; a committee began to
collect money. Ground was broken in 1946. Building the hospital was a
technical wonder because of the difficulty of getting water there and of
hauling up the building supplies. This "House for the Alleviation of
Suffering" has 350 beds. A number of people have reported cures they believe
were received through the intercession of Padre Pio. Those who assisted at his
Masses came away edified; several curiosity seekers were deeply moved. Like
St. Francis, Padre Pio sometimes had his habit torn or cut by souvenir
hunters.
One of
Padre Pio’s sufferings was that unscrupulous people several times circulated
prophecies that they claimed originated from him. He never made prophecies
about world events and never gave an opinion on matters that he felt belonged
to Church authorities to decide. He died on September 23, 1968, and was
beatified in 1999.
For the next five minutes silently read and
reflect on the readings.
Underline what you
consider to be key words and/or phrases for you.
the
sharing
Share your insights in discussion of the following:
conclusion
Leader:
One of Padre Pio’s sayings
is:
"The life
of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no
flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of
pain",
and so we pray:
All: Lord God,
Help us to always strive to overcome self-
interest and seek to be all you call us to be. Amen.
closing prayer:
As for the
Order Prayers at the Closing of the Meeting
