99th Year Anniversary of the Receiving of the Stigmata of Saint Padre Pio

Today is the 99th year anniversary of the receiving of the stigmata of Saint Padre Pio.

On September 20, 1918, accounts state that the pains of the transverberation had ceased and Padre Pio was in "profound peace." On that day, as Padre Pio was engaged in prayer in the choir loft in the Church of Our Lady of Grace, the same Being who had appeared to him and given him the transverberation, and who is believed to be the Wounded Christ, appeared again, and Padre Pio had another experience of religious ecstasy. When the ecstasy ended, Padre Pio had received the visible stigmata, the five wounds of Christ. This time, the stigmata were permanent. They stayed visible for the next fifty years of his life.

In a letter to Padre Benedetto, his superior and spiritual advisor from San Marco in Lamis, dated October 22, 1918, Padre Pio describes his experience of receiving the stigmata:

On the morning of the 20th of last month, in the choir, after I had celebrated Mass I yielded to a drowsiness similar to a sweet sleep. [...] I saw before me a mysterious person similar to the one I had seen on the evening of 5 August. The only difference was that his hands and feet and side were dripping blood. This sight terrified me and what I felt at that moment is indescribable. I thought I should have died if the Lord had not intervened and strengthened my heart which was about to burst out of my chest. The vision disappeared and I became aware that my hands, feet and side were dripping blood. Imagine the agony I experienced and continue to experience almost every day. The heart wound bleeds continually, especially from Thursday evening until Saturday. Dear Father, I am dying of pain because of the wounds and the resulting embarrassment I feel deep in my soul. I am afraid I shall bleed to death if the Lord does not hear my heartfelt supplication to relieve me of this condition. Will Jesus, who is so good, grant me this grace? Will he at least free me from the embarrassment caused by these outward signs? I will raise my voice and will not stop imploring him until in his mercy he takes away, not the wound or the pain, which is impossible since I wish to be inebriated with pain, but these outward signs which cause me such embarrassment and unbearable humiliation....the pain was so intense that I began to feel as if I were dying on the cross.

Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us.

IN UNION WITH DIVINE LOVE Day 119

Message from Padre Pio
Wash your imperfections and falls with sincere tears of contrition... which will always be greater than your ingratitude.

Reflection
Have I ever cried in Confession?

Scriptural Reading
Psalm 137:1,5-6
By the rivers of Babylon we sat mourning and weeping when we remembered Zion. ... If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither. May my tongue stick to my palate if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem beyond all my delights.

Prayer
Father God, I deserve this misery! I deserve all this for having so lazy, so forgetful, so negligent! I deserve all this for refusing to believe, for refusing to care, for refusing to love! I deserve all this for having so insatiable! I deserve to be punished! Please Lord, please Lord, do not forget me! Help me! Amen.

IN UNION WITH DIVINE LOVE Day 118

Message from Padre Pio
When you fall, do not stay there prostrated in body and spirit. Humble yourself greatly but without being discouraged. Lower yourself without degrading yourself.

Reflection
When I am inclined to sin, am I more fearful of the social stigma when I am caught than of God's justice? If caught, am I more fearful of not gaining back my reputation, than of trying to gain God's mercy? If caught, am I more preoccupied with making excuses than going to sacramental Confession?

Scriptural Reading
Romans 8:14-17
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, Abba, "Father!" The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Prayer
Father God, now I understand that humility recognizes your supremacy as well as your loving desire to fill me with what I have lost in disobedience. I need not lose hope and wallow in the mire of self-disintegration because I need not prop myself up. You are always there for me, to make me a precious child again and to lead me to your kingdom where you live forever and ever. Amen.

IN UNION WITH DIVINE LOVE Day 117

Message from Padre Pio
Place your heart in the open side of the Savior and unite it with the King of the hearts who is within it as on a royal throne, in order that he might receive homage and obedience from all other hearts.

Reflection
How can I be a true martyr, an effective witness of the love of God?

Scriptural Reading
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Prayer
May I be pierced with vile words, be stoned with false gossip, and be nailed with evil acts, but may I beseech you to grant me this one grace, that I love those who would harm me because of you. Amen.

IN UNION WITH DIVINE LOVE Day 116

Message from Padre Pio
Speak to, pray to, and embrace the Beloved of souls, better than if you had been able to receive him in the sacrament.

Reflection
Isn't it delightful to be able to embrace the newborn baby Jesus? Isn't taking Holy Communion like embracing our Beloved Savior?

Scriptural Reading
Luke 2:28-31
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples..."

Prayer
Dearest Savior, as I bloom to the prime of my health, I long to hold you in my arms and kiss your fragrant holy breath. As I wither to the dusk of my years, I long to be held in your arms and to be kissed by the lips that breathes life. Amen.

IN UNION WITH DIVINE LOVE Day 115

Message from Padre Pio
Fly in spirit before the tabernacle, when you cannot go there with the body and there, express your ardent desires.

Reflection
Do I still spend time to think about or at least talk with my heart to the Prisoner of Love?

Scriptural Reading
Psalm 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you store my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.

Prayer
Noble Prisoner of Love, thank you for being such a good Shepherd, for being here for me who, in spite of my intellect and free will, is always lost in the pastures of secular society. Amen.

IN UNION WITH DIVINE LOVE Day 114

Message from Padre Pio
He will come to stay united to your soul always, through his grace and holy love.

Reflection
Why should I ever despair of having no friends in the world?

Scriptural Reading
Psalm 34:19-20
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delivers from them all.

Prayer
My Friend, thank you for being a shoulder to cry on, for having the Heart to listen to my petty complaints, for keeping your strong arms around me, for giving your lap for me to rest on. Thank you! Amen.