St. Padre Pio's Gifts: Part Three

Hi, dear friend. Today I'll continue sharing with you what my friend Dorothy M. Gaudiose wrote about St. Padre Pio in her little pamphlet, "Padre Pio." (I obtained written permission from her to quote it.) Dorothy worked for St. Padre Pio for three years at his monastery in Italy, and she was my dear friend too. Here is my Part Three of what she wrote:

"In addition to the Stigmata [the five ever-bleeding wounds of Christ Crucified which Padre Pio bore in his hands, feet, and side for fifty years], Padre Pio possessed other supernatural gifts, namely:

"(1. PERFUME [which I spoke to you about last week].

"(2. CONVERSION: Padre Pio converted thousands of persons, some well-known personalities. When atheists, bitter enemies of the Church, and habitual sinners change their conduct at a word or a look from Padre Pio--or sometimes the mere mention of his name or virtue--we have something as extraordinary as a miracle, a moral miracle of grace that everyone can see and understand. Padre Pio made Christianity real. Almost all who professed a change through Padre Pio's ministry persisted and, despite inevitable highs and lows in their spiritual life, grew as practicing Christians.

"(3. BILOCATION: After several years, Padre Pio never left the monastery where he was stationed, but he was seen by persons around the world. For example, a saintly priest, Don Luigi Orione, met Padre Pio praying at the tomb of Pope St. Pius X in Rome. And many people saw Padre Pio at the canonization of St. Theresa of the Little Flower at the Vatican in 1925, but Padre Pio had never physically left the monastery. A famous case is that of General Luigi Cadorno, the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian armies of World War I, who--discouraged by a terrible battle defeat-- decided to commit suicide. Padre Pio appeared to him in bilocation and told him such an act was foolish, thereby saving the General's life. Once, when questioned by a doctor about bilocation, Padre Pio replied, 'It is a prolongation of the personality.'"

Next week, my dear friend, I will share with you more of St. Padre Pio's supernatural gifts given to him by God. In the meantime, if you have a need, tell your Guardian Angel (yes, you have one who never leaves you, no matter what!) about your need and ask him to take your message to St. Padre Pio in Heaven. Padre Pio has promised he will do for you whatever he can. "Pray, hope, and don't worry," as he always said.