September 23 2019 - St. Padre Pio - The perpetual struggle against self

Padre Pio was one of eight children from a poor peasant family in the small Italian village of Pietrelcina. His parents named him Francesco in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Francesco was very devout even as a child, and at an early age felt drawn to the priesthood. He became a Capuchin novice at the age of sixteen, and took the name Pio in honor of Pope Saint Pius V, the patron Saint of Pietrelcina. and after seven years of study was ordained a priest.

On September 20, 1918 Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when he, like his namesake, St. Francis, received the marks of the crucifixion on his hands. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds—they neither healed nor became infected, but would ooze blood continually until his death fifty years later.

The wounds of the stigmata were not the only mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio. The blood of his stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers, he could read people’s souls, people would come to him in confession, and he would know their sins before they confessed them, he was capable of bilocating—on several instances he appeared in the United States while he was also still in Italy.

Yet, when Pope Paul VI visited Padre Pio’s tomb about five months after he died, he said the greatness of Padre Pio was not in these extraordinary mystical phenomena. The greatness of Padre Pio was in the fact that he was a humble friar, who humbly celebrated Mass, heard confessions from dawn to dusk; he was a man of suffering and prayer.

When asked if the wounds of his holy stigmata caused him suffering, he said, “well, the Lord didn’t give them to me for decoration.” 

And speaking of the suffering involved in the spiritual life, he said, "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". Many are called to spiritual greatness, but few are willing to accept the suffering involved, the effort involved, and the surrender to God.

May the example and intercession of Padre Pio help us to seek that spiritual greatness the Lord wants for each of us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For perseverance in holiness, especially for our Pope, Bishops, and Priests, and that the lives of all Christians may shine with the light of good and holy works for God.

In thanksgiving for the many miraculous healings experienced through Padre Pio’s intercession, and for continued healing of those who seek his aid.

That all the sick and suffering may know the aid of heaven.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests, deacons and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

April 28 2018 - St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen - Disgust with the world's corruption

Have you ever become so fed up with the corruption in the world, that you just wanted to leave everything to become a monk? Well, that’s kind of what our saint today did.

His birth name was Mark, like the evangelist, whom we celebrate tomorrow, and he was born in the southern German town of Sigmaringen. Mark studied law and philosophy at the University of Freiburg, earning his Doctorate in Law. During his time at university, he was already known for his modesty, meekness, sobriety, chastity, and for wearing a hair-shirt a
s a penance.

After achieving his law degree, he traveled throughout Europe, where his piety became more evident. He visited the hospitals and churches, he spent hours in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and was generous to the poor, even giving away the clothes his was wearing.

At the end of six years of travel, he came to Alsace, France, where he came to be known as the ‘poor man’s lawyer’. But he became so disenchanted with the evils associated with his profession that he became determined to enter the religious life. I think many good pious young people today, experience a similar disgust with our modern culture, and find in the priesthood or religious life the fulfillment they long for.

He entered the Capuchin Franciscans where he was given the religious name, Fidelis, which in Latin means, “faithful one”. He was ordained a priest, and in addition to his Sacramental work, he cared much for the weak and needy.

A bishop in Switzerland invited the Capuchins to come preach to the people who had abandoned Catholicism for Protestantism. Father Fidelis was asked to head this dangerous mission—dangerous, because religious tensions were high.

Initially, Fidelis and the other preachers were met with success, which the people attributed the prayers and penances of Fidelis.

In the spring of 1622, Father Fidelis was approached by a group of Calvinists. They called for him to renounce Catholicism to which he responded: "I am the one who made every effort to fight against your errors; I am he who has proclaimed to you the Catholic faith, to which I adhere with utter conviction and affection, I have come to you to root your sad heresies, but not to adopt them myself; see to it that you will not regret this act." The Calvinists then stabbed and bludgeoned the holy friar to death.

What a model of Easter faith for us! Devotion to charity, evangelization, and courage. He was truly Fidelis, faithful unto death. May his heroic faith and heavenly intercession increase our faith, hope, and love for the building up of the body of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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God the Father was glorified in the death and resurrection of his Son. Let us pray to him with confidence.

God the Father bathed the world in splendor when Christ rose again in glory, may our minds be filled with the light of faith.

Through the resurrection of His Son, the Father opened for us the way to eternal life, may we be sustained today in our work with the hope of glory.

Through His risen Son, the Father sent the Holy Spirit into the world, may our hearts be set on fire with spiritual love.

May Jesus Christ, who was crucified to set us free, be the salvation of all those who suffer, particularly those who suffer from physical or mental illness, addiction, and grief.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.