Saint Padre Pio: Part Five

Well, dear friend, here I am again, sharing with you more of Saint Padre Pio's fascinating and holy life. I have been using Dorothy M. Gaudiose's little pamphlet for the facts about his life, because while she was on earth she was a close friend of mine, and because she worked for him at his monastery in Italy for three years and knew him well. In fact, her two books about him were published by Alba House. I have her written permission to quote her pamphlet, so here is my Part Five for you:

So far I've shared Dorothy's personal observations and collected facts about Saint Padre Pio's spiritual gifts of perfume, conversion, bilocation, and miracles. Today I'll share with you about his gift of discernment of spirit.

"DISCERNMENT OF SPIRIT: Padre Pio knew the condition of your soul," said Dorothy Gaudiose. "He knew how you stood before God. To a young woman, Padre Pio said, 'Since you had the courage to imitate Mary Magdalen in her sins, now have the courage to imitate her penances!' [The woman had not told Padre Pio that she had been having an affair with a man who was not her husband, but Padre Pio had read her soul and knew of her sin.]

"A woman driver," continued Dorothy, "who had blasphemed but had not confessed this sin to Padre Pio, was reminded by him of the circumstances of her transgression.

"On another occasion," said Dorothy, "Padre Pio merely looked at a certain man and said, without knowing his sinful history, 'Oh man of Genoa, you live by the sea, but you have a dirty face!' by which he was referring to the condition of the man's soul.'"

Now, who gave Saint Padre Pio all these gifts to which Dorothy refers and which she witnessed while living near him in Italy? God, of course, is the Giver of those gifts, and God worked through Padre Pio to help and heal and comfort all who came to him, especially repentant sinners. God can "read" your soul, too. In fact, God knows all about you. But don't let that frighten you. Oh no. Jesus said He didn't come for those who were righteous, but rather He came for those--like you and like me--who need a Savior. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Next week I'll share with you about Saint Padre Pio's gift of prophecy. In the meantime, my dear friend, "Pray, hope, and don't worry," as Padre Pio always said.