Saint Padre Pio Tells Us How to Pray

According to Dorothy Gaudiose, a close friend of mine who worked three years for Saint Padre Pio at his monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy: one day an elderly woman in a long black dress grabbed Padre Pio’s sleeve while he stood in the monastery hallway after saying Mass. “Please tell me how to pray,” she pleaded with him. “I’m always distracted by something.”

“Don’t be voluntarily distracted,” Padre Pio told her kindly, “but if you are distracted unintentionally, continue to pray, and you will have great merit, for Our Savior knows that you are not an angel praying to Him, but a poor woman. Go on praying without ceasing. And when you find it difficult to concentrate, don’t waste more time stopping to consider the why and the wherefore. It’s like a traveler who loses his way. As soon as he realizes he is on the wrong road, he immediately sets himself on the right road again. So you must continue to meditate without stopping to reflect on your lack of concentration.”

According to Dorothy, Padre Pio advises that we place ourselves in God’s Presence whenever we pray. “The first reason for that,” he said, is to render to God the honor we owe Him. This can be done without Him speaking to us or us to Him. Our obligation of honoring God is fulfilled in recognizing that He is our God and we His humble servants, prostrate in spirit, awaiting His commands. … The second reason is that we may speak to Him and hear His voice through His inspiration and illumination. … When God answers us, He spreads over us a thousand precious soothing and fragrant oils which bring great joy to the soul.” (Dorothy Gaudiose, Prophet of the People)

May you, my sweet friend in Christ Jesus, enjoy the beautiful fruits of prayer, all the days of your life. And remember what Saint Padre Pio always said, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” Amen.