LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE:
THE WAY OF PADRE PIO
THE WAY OF PADRE PIO
Living The Christian Life: The Way of Padre Pio
Mary Pyle, in a letter to a friend, said, “When your children want explanations about Padre Pio, just tell them that he loves Jesus so much, and Jesus loves him so much, that they have become very much alike. Jesus has given Padre Pio His wounds so that they can both suffer together to make us all be good.”1
Can one be so close to Jesus, that He will give them His wounds so they can suffer with Him to make those they pray for, good? If so, how do they take on such a task?
C. Bernard Ruffin, in his biography of Padre Pio, “Padre Pio: The True Story,”2 complied a list of ten guidelines for living the Christian Life. They are The Way of Padre Pio.
Put your trust in Christ as your personal Savior
God is a Gentleman. He will not perform within a soul without its permission. He is also the Hound of Heaven, and will relentlessly pursue a soul until its passing. It is not enough to believe there is a God. The devil believes and trembles. The difference between you and Satan is that Satan will not humble himself before God and seek His face. We can, and must, humble ourselves if we wish to be the person God wants us to be. In completing these ten tasks, we are seeking His face and placing our trust in Him so that we may become the person He wants us to be.
Realize that you have no righteousness of your own
St. Paul wrote in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me dwells no good thing, that is, my sinful nature. I have the desire to do what is right, but I cannot carry it out.” Even in this simple task of seeking Him, it is not within us to do so. We fight it through distractions, work, play and relaxation. If we do these tasks, it is because we have allowed God to move us. Our simple yes is His permission to work in us. Padre Pio explained, “The Scripture says that we of
ourselves cannot say the name of Jesus except through the action of the Holy Spirit.”3 Ruffin writes further, “God gives us the ability to please Him. People cannot do it on their own.”4
Beware of the devil and resist him
Satan’s power lies in his ability to remain unacknowledged. In this, he is able to disguise himself in the forms of media, music, science and even religion. Of his purpose, St. Catherine of Siena writes the words Jesus gave her, “I have appointed the Devil to tempt and to trouble My creatures in this life. I have done this, not so My creatures will be overcome, but so that they may overcome, proving their virtue and receiving from Me the glory of victory.” 5 Of his power, she continues, “My love permits these temptations, for the Devil is weak. He can do nothing by himself unless I allow him. I let him tempt you because I love you, not because I hate you. I want you to conquer, not to be conquered, and to come to a perfect knowledge of yourself and of Me.”6
Padre Pio warns us of his presence and hold in our lives. “If all the devils would take bodily form, they would blot out the light of the sun.” 7“The devil enters a soul through only one door: our will power. Satan is like a chained dog. He cannot go future than the chain.”8
We are no match for him. Satan has had thousands of years to perfect his trade. He is patient, the Hound of Hell.
Pray to God and say, in every circumstance, “Thy will be done"
In layman’s terms: I surrender my will to You. In doing so, we allow Him to work in us to accomplish His will in others.
Father Dolindo Routolo (1882-1970), of which Padre Pio said, “The whole of paradise is in your soul,” was given by Jesus the Novena of Surrender to the Will of God. Consisting of nine days, each day primarily moves the reader to surrender themself and their circumstances to God. “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Take care of everything.” These words convey blind surrender of mind, body and soul.
“If you say to Me truly: ‘Thy will be done,’ which is the same as saying, ‘You take care of it,’ I will intervene with all My omnipotence, and I will resolve the most difficult situations.”
St. Faustina said it this way, “Jesus, I trust in You.”
Can the will of God change? “It is true that God’s power triumphs over everything, but humble and suffering prayer prevails over God Himself.”9
In an interview with a fellow priest, Ruffin quotes, “He expressed his belief that some things are degreed from eternity, but other things depend upon the prayers of human beings.” 10 Offer yourself in prayer and suffering constantly, and pray that He may use you to fulfill His will in the lives of those you pray for.
Love the Cross
The Cross is God’s redemption for us. It allows us to come to Him by accepting His substitution for us on the Cross. God has deemed the only way to expiate sin is to offer suffering. Pain cleanses sin. It alters the nature that created it (i.e., Purgatory). God desires us to be like Him in nature and deed...by way of the Cross. St. Pio reminds us of this: “The heavenly Father wants to make you resemble His divine Son in His anguish in the desert and on Calvary.”11 In accepting the Cross, or suffering in our lives, we become Christ-like, and offer our pain in atonement for others, thereby, completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church. (Colossians 1:24). This is called Redemptive Suffering, or the act of allowing suffering to redeem another.
St. Pio continues, “I know, my dear son, that you are suffering, but resign yourself because when suffering is endured in a Christian spirit, it will sanctify you...Jesus Himself suffers in you and through you and with you.”12 We offer our suffering as a sacrifice to be united with Christ’s sacrifice to save others. This leads us to the next task.
Offer every action up to God
In offering everything to God, everything becomes an act of love. If you cannot offer the act, it is perhaps not an act to do. The acts we offer should unite us to Jesus and make us more like Him. St. Pio wrote in one of his letters, “Physical and spiritual ills are the most worthy offering you can make to Him who saved you by suffering.”13 In this, he was called to be a Victim Soul, one who offers his own life for another by taking on another’s consequences of sin, and allow God to work in their life.
Never worry
“The devil uses worry to befoul our good works because of our lack of confidence in God’s goodness.”14 Worry shows a lack of trust, which greatly offends God. It hinders the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Aspire to the heavenly prize
We walk in this world, but live in the next. Our hope is where our loved ones are. Of a child who had passed on, St. Pio said, “Your child is in paradise, watching over you, assisting you, smiling on you, and preparing a place for you.” 15 Of suffering and pain, “No suffering, no matter how low the motive on which it rests will go unrewarded in eternal life.”16“For where your heart is, there is your treasure.” (Luke 12:34)
Love the Madonna
“When a woman asked, ‘Teach me a shortcut to reach God quickly,” St. Pio answered, ‘The shortcut... is the Virgin.’”17 “She is the perfect example of God’s mercy and acts as His double.”18 In a vision to the Venerable Mary of Agreda, Jesus said, “I desire to make known to mortals how much intercession of her is worth.” 19Gabriel Amorth, Chief Exorcist for the Vatican, said of a demon during an exorcism, “Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end.” 20
St. Bonaventure wrote, “Men do not fear a powerful, hostile army as much as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.” 21
Rejoice in the LORD
There is the hope that God will not abandon us to this world. In this hope is our joy. It lies in the hope of seeing our loved ones who have passed on; it lies in the value our pain has in the ability to use suffering to help others in their journey to God. It lies in the goodness, protection and guidance God bestows on us. Our hope is our joy.
******
The Spiritual Children of Padre Pio understand the importance of his teaching, of becoming so close to Jesus He can share His wounds with them, and help those they pray for. As we follow these guidelines, perhaps we may get a glimpse of the person God wants us to be along The Way of Padre Pio.
___________________________________________________________
1. Allen, Diane. Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry: True Stories of Padre Pio Book 1. San Diego, Padre Pio Press: 2012.
2. Ruffin, Bernard C. Padre Pio: The True story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2018. (3rd Edition).
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. Charlotte: TAN Books,2014.
6. Ibid.
7. Ruffin, Bernard C. Padre Pio: The True story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2018. (3rd Edition).
8. Iasenzaniro, F. M. (2006). The "Padre" saint Pio of Pietrelcina. His mission to save souls. Testimonies.San Giovanni Rotondo: Edizioni Padre Pio.
9. Ruffin, Bernard C. Padre Pio: The True story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2018. (3rd Edition).
10. Ibid.- 18. Ibid.
19. Agreda, Mary of (Trans. By Fiscar Marison). The Mystical City of God. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1978.
20. Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. Charlotte: TAN Books,2014
21. Ibid.
Mary Pyle, in a letter to a friend, said, “When your children want explanations about Padre Pio, just tell them that he loves Jesus so much, and Jesus loves him so much, that they have become very much alike. Jesus has given Padre Pio His wounds so that they can both suffer together to make us all be good.”1
Can one be so close to Jesus, that He will give them His wounds so they can suffer with Him to make those they pray for, good? If so, how do they take on such a task?
C. Bernard Ruffin, in his biography of Padre Pio, “Padre Pio: The True Story,”2 complied a list of ten guidelines for living the Christian Life. They are The Way of Padre Pio.
Put your trust in Christ as your personal Savior
God is a Gentleman. He will not perform within a soul without its permission. He is also the Hound of Heaven, and will relentlessly pursue a soul until its passing. It is not enough to believe there is a God. The devil believes and trembles. The difference between you and Satan is that Satan will not humble himself before God and seek His face. We can, and must, humble ourselves if we wish to be the person God wants us to be. In completing these ten tasks, we are seeking His face and placing our trust in Him so that we may become the person He wants us to be.
Realize that you have no righteousness of your own
St. Paul wrote in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me dwells no good thing, that is, my sinful nature. I have the desire to do what is right, but I cannot carry it out.” Even in this simple task of seeking Him, it is not within us to do so. We fight it through distractions, work, play and relaxation. If we do these tasks, it is because we have allowed God to move us. Our simple yes is His permission to work in us. Padre Pio explained, “The Scripture says that we of
ourselves cannot say the name of Jesus except through the action of the Holy Spirit.”3 Ruffin writes further, “God gives us the ability to please Him. People cannot do it on their own.”4
Beware of the devil and resist him
Satan’s power lies in his ability to remain unacknowledged. In this, he is able to disguise himself in the forms of media, music, science and even religion. Of his purpose, St. Catherine of Siena writes the words Jesus gave her, “I have appointed the Devil to tempt and to trouble My creatures in this life. I have done this, not so My creatures will be overcome, but so that they may overcome, proving their virtue and receiving from Me the glory of victory.” 5 Of his power, she continues, “My love permits these temptations, for the Devil is weak. He can do nothing by himself unless I allow him. I let him tempt you because I love you, not because I hate you. I want you to conquer, not to be conquered, and to come to a perfect knowledge of yourself and of Me.”6
Padre Pio warns us of his presence and hold in our lives. “If all the devils would take bodily form, they would blot out the light of the sun.” 7“The devil enters a soul through only one door: our will power. Satan is like a chained dog. He cannot go future than the chain.”8
We are no match for him. Satan has had thousands of years to perfect his trade. He is patient, the Hound of Hell.
Pray to God and say, in every circumstance, “Thy will be done"
In layman’s terms: I surrender my will to You. In doing so, we allow Him to work in us to accomplish His will in others.
Father Dolindo Routolo (1882-1970), of which Padre Pio said, “The whole of paradise is in your soul,” was given by Jesus the Novena of Surrender to the Will of God. Consisting of nine days, each day primarily moves the reader to surrender themself and their circumstances to God. “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Take care of everything.” These words convey blind surrender of mind, body and soul.
“If you say to Me truly: ‘Thy will be done,’ which is the same as saying, ‘You take care of it,’ I will intervene with all My omnipotence, and I will resolve the most difficult situations.”
St. Faustina said it this way, “Jesus, I trust in You.”
Can the will of God change? “It is true that God’s power triumphs over everything, but humble and suffering prayer prevails over God Himself.”9
In an interview with a fellow priest, Ruffin quotes, “He expressed his belief that some things are degreed from eternity, but other things depend upon the prayers of human beings.” 10 Offer yourself in prayer and suffering constantly, and pray that He may use you to fulfill His will in the lives of those you pray for.
Love the Cross
The Cross is God’s redemption for us. It allows us to come to Him by accepting His substitution for us on the Cross. God has deemed the only way to expiate sin is to offer suffering. Pain cleanses sin. It alters the nature that created it (i.e., Purgatory). God desires us to be like Him in nature and deed...by way of the Cross. St. Pio reminds us of this: “The heavenly Father wants to make you resemble His divine Son in His anguish in the desert and on Calvary.”11 In accepting the Cross, or suffering in our lives, we become Christ-like, and offer our pain in atonement for others, thereby, completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church. (Colossians 1:24). This is called Redemptive Suffering, or the act of allowing suffering to redeem another.
St. Pio continues, “I know, my dear son, that you are suffering, but resign yourself because when suffering is endured in a Christian spirit, it will sanctify you...Jesus Himself suffers in you and through you and with you.”12 We offer our suffering as a sacrifice to be united with Christ’s sacrifice to save others. This leads us to the next task.
Offer every action up to God
In offering everything to God, everything becomes an act of love. If you cannot offer the act, it is perhaps not an act to do. The acts we offer should unite us to Jesus and make us more like Him. St. Pio wrote in one of his letters, “Physical and spiritual ills are the most worthy offering you can make to Him who saved you by suffering.”13 In this, he was called to be a Victim Soul, one who offers his own life for another by taking on another’s consequences of sin, and allow God to work in their life.
Never worry
“The devil uses worry to befoul our good works because of our lack of confidence in God’s goodness.”14 Worry shows a lack of trust, which greatly offends God. It hinders the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Aspire to the heavenly prize
We walk in this world, but live in the next. Our hope is where our loved ones are. Of a child who had passed on, St. Pio said, “Your child is in paradise, watching over you, assisting you, smiling on you, and preparing a place for you.” 15 Of suffering and pain, “No suffering, no matter how low the motive on which it rests will go unrewarded in eternal life.”16“For where your heart is, there is your treasure.” (Luke 12:34)
Love the Madonna
“When a woman asked, ‘Teach me a shortcut to reach God quickly,” St. Pio answered, ‘The shortcut... is the Virgin.’”17 “She is the perfect example of God’s mercy and acts as His double.”18 In a vision to the Venerable Mary of Agreda, Jesus said, “I desire to make known to mortals how much intercession of her is worth.” 19Gabriel Amorth, Chief Exorcist for the Vatican, said of a demon during an exorcism, “Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end.” 20
St. Bonaventure wrote, “Men do not fear a powerful, hostile army as much as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.” 21
Rejoice in the LORD
There is the hope that God will not abandon us to this world. In this hope is our joy. It lies in the hope of seeing our loved ones who have passed on; it lies in the value our pain has in the ability to use suffering to help others in their journey to God. It lies in the goodness, protection and guidance God bestows on us. Our hope is our joy.
******
The Spiritual Children of Padre Pio understand the importance of his teaching, of becoming so close to Jesus He can share His wounds with them, and help those they pray for. As we follow these guidelines, perhaps we may get a glimpse of the person God wants us to be along The Way of Padre Pio.
___________________________________________________________
1. Allen, Diane. Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry: True Stories of Padre Pio Book 1. San Diego, Padre Pio Press: 2012.
2. Ruffin, Bernard C. Padre Pio: The True story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2018. (3rd Edition).
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. Charlotte: TAN Books,2014.
6. Ibid.
7. Ruffin, Bernard C. Padre Pio: The True story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2018. (3rd Edition).
8. Iasenzaniro, F. M. (2006). The "Padre" saint Pio of Pietrelcina. His mission to save souls. Testimonies.San Giovanni Rotondo: Edizioni Padre Pio.
9. Ruffin, Bernard C. Padre Pio: The True story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 2018. (3rd Edition).
10. Ibid.- 18. Ibid.
19. Agreda, Mary of (Trans. By Fiscar Marison). The Mystical City of God. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1978.
20. Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. Charlotte: TAN Books,2014
21. Ibid.
Comments on the book The Way of Padre Pio
“…beautiful book…
“I am coming time and again to some pages already read…I am really enjoying, praying, mediating many of its pages. Thank you for your work and for helping many of us to better understand Padre Pio’s life and teaching.”
"There is no doubt you are that you indeed are explaining the understanding of our spirituality."
October 23, 2023
Monsignor Juan Pablo Cerillos
Servants of Suffering
“…your way of weaving his (Pio) words with those of Jesus and the saints gives a wholistic view of who he has become for many. His reminder of the role of suffering in our lives should we choose to be true disciples of Jesus is part of the invitation to follow Him. What is more important is how his life has brought your life more in union with Jesus’ life. Grateful for the opportunity to read and be blessed by how this man chose to live his life fully freely and faithfully to Jesus even in the midst of his suffering. I found it reflective, affirming and an invitation to a deeper life with Padre Pio walking with you.”
October 20, 2023
Father Rich Danyluk
Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, CA
“…helping and inspiring, urging me to be a better disciple and priest.”
December 30, 2023
Father Bill Gural
Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, CA
“I have enjoyed reading your book and learning many things including intercession. I was aware of what it was, but not to the extent of someone suffering as much as Padre Pio did. I've also pondering many other things.”
Jan. 20, 2024
Sean Sammons, Protestant
“I certainly agree that this would work well in CCD; however, I can also say that it is perfect even for many men and women who in theory know their faith and are at least showing up for Sunday and Holy Days of obligation. To me, your book is wonderfully written and in a very accessible style. I can honestly see many being brought to the fullness of discipleship, which is to say, redemptive suffering, by your book. That is why I was thinking that a discussion guide, with points for reflection, questions to answer, etc would be most useful. I truly believe that much good reflection and prayer can come from your book.”
January 19, 2024
Father Matthew Furgiuele
Servants of Suffering
St. Joseph’s Parish, East Jordan, Michigan
“…beautiful book…
“I am coming time and again to some pages already read…I am really enjoying, praying, mediating many of its pages. Thank you for your work and for helping many of us to better understand Padre Pio’s life and teaching.”
"There is no doubt you are that you indeed are explaining the understanding of our spirituality."
October 23, 2023
Monsignor Juan Pablo Cerillos
Servants of Suffering
“…your way of weaving his (Pio) words with those of Jesus and the saints gives a wholistic view of who he has become for many. His reminder of the role of suffering in our lives should we choose to be true disciples of Jesus is part of the invitation to follow Him. What is more important is how his life has brought your life more in union with Jesus’ life. Grateful for the opportunity to read and be blessed by how this man chose to live his life fully freely and faithfully to Jesus even in the midst of his suffering. I found it reflective, affirming and an invitation to a deeper life with Padre Pio walking with you.”
October 20, 2023
Father Rich Danyluk
Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, CA
“…helping and inspiring, urging me to be a better disciple and priest.”
December 30, 2023
Father Bill Gural
Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, CA
“I have enjoyed reading your book and learning many things including intercession. I was aware of what it was, but not to the extent of someone suffering as much as Padre Pio did. I've also pondering many other things.”
Jan. 20, 2024
Sean Sammons, Protestant
“I certainly agree that this would work well in CCD; however, I can also say that it is perfect even for many men and women who in theory know their faith and are at least showing up for Sunday and Holy Days of obligation. To me, your book is wonderfully written and in a very accessible style. I can honestly see many being brought to the fullness of discipleship, which is to say, redemptive suffering, by your book. That is why I was thinking that a discussion guide, with points for reflection, questions to answer, etc would be most useful. I truly believe that much good reflection and prayer can come from your book.”
January 19, 2024
Father Matthew Furgiuele
Servants of Suffering
St. Joseph’s Parish, East Jordan, Michigan
The Way of Padre Pio | |
File Size: | 465 kb |
File Type: |
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUPS, HIS MISSION AND HIS TEACHINGS
2018
2018