Padre Pio's Gift of Perfume

As a continuation of what I told you last week that my dear friend Dorothy Gaudiose wrote about St. Padre Pio, here is what she said about his gift of perfume. (She worked for him in Italy for three years, wrote two books about him published by Alba House, and was a dear friend of mine.)

"There emanated from Padre Pio, from his stigmatized hands or even his clothes or objects touched by him," said Dorothy, "a sweet perfume that reminded you of a combination of roses, violets, and lilies; other times of an odor of carbolic acid or a disinfectant. It occurred when someone was near or even at a great distance or when you had been thinking of Padre Pio or speaking of him. It indicated his presence or was a sign of some grace bestowed by God through his intercession."

Since St. Padre Pio can still receive your prayers and intercede for you with Jesus, why don't you take your concerns to him and ask him to do what he can for you? Don't be surprised if you receive the consolation of a sweet odor that seems to have no origin. In the meantime, dear friend, "Pray, hope, and don't worry," as St. Padre Pio always said.

Next week I'll tell you about his gifts of conversion and bilocation.

You Can Count on God's Promises

I am going to share just a few thoughts from St. Padre Pio that I believe would most help you today.

St. Padre Pio knew Scripture so well, it was implanted by the Holy Spirit in his heart and soul. Padre Pio always trusted God's promises in Scripture. For example, often he would quote the verse that says that "God will not test you beyond that which you are able to bear but will, with the testing, also provide a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 paraphrased)

Padre Pio always believed this Scripture too: "When I am weak, Christ is strong in me." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 paraphrased)

And, Padre Pio believed Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

You, too, my friend, can claim those same promises. Have a blessed day!

She Who Knew Padre Pio

My dear friend Dorothy M. Gaudiose knew Saint Padre Pio and worked for him at his monastery in Italy for three years. She wrote two books and also gave many talks around the country about Padre Pio. She says the following in a little pamphlet she wrote, (I have her written permission to use any and all of it):

"Before I give you a brief summary of Padre Pio's life," w

The Name of Jesus

According to Saint Padre Pio who bore the five ever-bleeding wounds of Christ Crucified for fifty years--yes, 50 years--the name of Jesus is the most powerful in all eternity.

"The eternal Father decreed that all creatures should be subject to Him: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. [Philippians 2:10] This is what the apostle tells us and this is true," says St. Padre Pio. "Jesus is adored in heaven, and at this divine name," he continues, "moved by gratitude and love, the blessed in heaven never cease to repeat what St. John the Evangelist beheld in a vision: They sang a new song, he says, saying 'worthy art Thou, O Lord, to take the scroll and to open its seals, for Thou wast slain and by the blood didst ransom people for God' [Revelation 5:9]

"This most holy name," says St. Padre Pio, "is venerated on earth; and all the graces for which we ask, in Jesus' name, are fully granted by the eternal Father: Whatever you ask in My name, the divine Master tells us, I will do it. [John 14:13-14]"

Therefore, my friend in Christ, what are you waiting for? Ask our heavenly Father for what you need--but ask for it "in Jesus' name," and believe that you will receive it. Believe. As St. Padre Pio always said, "Pray, hope, and don't worry."

Don't worry, my dear friend. Jesus is with you and He loves you. I do too.

The Gift of Perfume Shared by Many Saints, Including St. Padre Pio

When my daughter-in-law Jill Bertanzetti and I were attending a Saint Padre Pio convention in New Jersey, suddenly she smelled the aroma of flowers, but none were in sight. No one was near her wearing perfume. She said it was Padre Pio telling her that he had heard her prayers and that he was going to intercede with Jesus for her. Now, let my dear friend Dorothy Gaudiose tell you more about the "gift of perfume" shared by many of the Saints, including St. Padre Pio:



"In the history of the Saints, a perfumed odor is not new," says Dorothy in her book Prophet of the People. "St. Dominic's hands gave off a perfume when people kissed them, and St. Helena had the gift of perfume when she received Holy Communion. Some Saints' bodies gave the perfumed odor after death, such as in the cases of St. Coletta and St. Martin de Pores."



Dorothy Gaudiose worked for Saint Padre Pio in his monastery in Italy for three years, and she said that his "gift of perfume," if you were blessed to experience it after asking for his intercession, was meant to encourage you, or to focus your intention on some immediate danger, or to remind you of his presence, or to encourage you to ask for his advice and guidance. What my daughter-in-law Jill experienced, you can experience, too, my dear friend. Just say a little prayer to Padre Pio and ask for his help. Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow, you will smell a sweet scent that seems to have no nearby origin. Know that St. Padre Pio has heard your prayers and is going to intercede for you.



In the meantime, dear friend, remember what he always said: "Pray, hope, and don't worry." Amen!



P.S. Dorothy was a personal friend of mine for years before her death. She was instrumental in getting me to write my first book about Padre Pio, which was subsequently published by Pauline Books & Media. Then I went on to write books about Padre Pio for Our Sunday Visitor and also for The Word Amond Us Press. You see, St. Padre Pio and his friends, like Dorothy, can help you too. They are so much closer to the Source of Life now that they are in Heaven.



May God richly bless you, my dear friend. Amen!

Take Heart, My Friend, and Do Not Fear

If you are fearful or suffering in any way today, my friend, take heart; even the Saints experienced some degree of fear at times, often suffered greatly, and sometimes wondered why God allowed such misery. Yes, even St. Padre Pio sometimes complained about his constant pain caused by the ever-bleeding stigmata, the five wounds of Christ Crucified in Padre Pio's hands, feet, and side. One day, according to Dorothy M. Gaudiose, (author of Prophet of the People, a biography of St. Padre Pio), one of Padre Pio's fellow friars at the San Giovanni Monastery in Italy said to him, "Look what has come for you." He handed Padre Pio a small brown box. "A present from Switzerland, Padre Pio."
St. Pio, then thirty, opened the box and smiled as he pulled out a pair of soft, cloth shoes. "This is very thoughtful," he said to the friar.
"Yes," agreed the friar. He knew that the gift would help Padre Pio's swollen, stigmatized feet to hurt less when he walked.
When St. Pio arrived in his cell (the small room assigned to him which he used as his bedroom), he put on a pair of soft brown socks and then slid the new soft shoes over them. Indeed, they would help cushion his feet which were always swollen. Often he prayed that God would take away the visible stigmata and leave St. Pio only the pain, which he gladly bore for the salvation of souls. (See Colossians 1:24 and St. Paul's agreement with this philosophy.) You see, the visible stigmata brought fame to St. Padre Pio which he hated. He wanted to remain hidden in the monastery, praying and suffering for the salvation of souls. But God's will had to be done, and so the visible stigmata remained, and the crowds increased until they reached many thousands each year. By the time St. Padre Pio died, millions of people had traveled from all over the world to see Padre Pio; to hear his Mass; to confess their sins in his confessional; to ask for him to heal them, by God's grace; to see Padre Pio's ever-bleeding stigmata; and to receive his blessing.
Now, let us return to St. Pio's cell on that day in which he received the gift of cloth shoes: According to Dorothy Gaudiose, who worked for three years in Italy for St. Pio and who told me to write my first of many published book about St. Padre Pio (all by God's grace), that day when Padre Pio exited his cell wearing his new cloth shoes, he heard "a lot of commotion. ''They are coming by the thousands,' said a friar to him in the hallway. Padre Pio nodded. 'I know.' He began to look worried. 'Do you think it will get out of control?' The brother shrugged his shoulders. 'Some say it already is. The police are outside every day now, watching the crowds. Did you know that?' Padre Pio raised his eyebrows in surprise and reluctantly ventured on." (Prophet of the People, pages 59-61)
For fifty years St. Padre Pio bore the ever-bleeding wounds of Christ. And he always told everyone who suffered, who worried about loved ones, who feared the future, who suffered misery of any type, "Pray, hope, and don't worry." My dear friend, I hope you find comfort and peace by following his advice.
May God richly bless you. Amen!

You and the Infant Jesus

Last week I shared with you some of Saint Padre Pio's quotes relating to the Infant Jesus. Knowing that with God there is no time as we know it, only eternity in which God sees all past, present, and future events, and knowing that Jesus Christ is the "same yesterday, today, and forever," according to Scripture, it is true that we can, at any time, go in prayer to the Infant Jesus just as well as to the adult Jesus--and to the Resurrected Jesus and to the Ascended Jesus and to the Jesus of eternity. So now, let us go to the Infant Jesus, through Saint Padre Pio's words, and there find consolation for our own hearts, whether they are light with joy or heavy with the miseries of this world.

If you are suffering:

"May the Infant Jesus inspire you more and more to love suffering and despise the world," says St. Padre Pio to you, my friend. "May His star enlighten your mind more and more, and may His love transform your heart and render it worthy of His divine satisfaction." (Letters, Volume 3, page 392)

If you need comforting, and if you need encouragement to go with your needs to the Infant Jesus:

"May the Infant Jesus bless you, comfort you, reward you for what you are bearing for love of Him, and make you holy!" says St. Padre Pio to you. "These and other prayers still, have been, and will be mine for you before the holy crib of the Infant Jesus. May He be pleased to grant them all! . . . Don't let temptations frighten you. They are the trials of those souls whom God wants to test when He sees them strong enough to sustain the battle weaving with their own hands the crown of glory. . . . Drive away, once and for all, every perplexity and anxiety, and enjoy in peace the most sweet pains of the Beloved." (Letters, Volume 3, pages 438-440)

If you need Christ's Holy Spirit:

"May the Infant Jesus, reborn in your heart, always reign there; may He transform your heart totally and fill it with His divine Spirit," says St. Padre Pio to you. "Be tranquil as regards your spirit and do not fear because it is Jesus who molds it; it is Jesus who reigns there." (Letters, Volume 3, page 387)

If you need God's enlightenment to chase away the darkness:

"May the Infant Jesus inspire you more and more to love suffering and despise the world," says St. Padre Pio to you, my dear friend. "May His star enlighten your mind more and more, and may His love transform your heart and render it worthy of His divine satisfaction. . . . Therefore, open wide your heart and let the Lord work freely in you. Expand your soul before the divine Sun and let the Lord work freely in you. Expand your soul before the divine Sun and let its beneficial rays dissipate the darkness which the enemy frequently thickens in it." (Letters, Volume 3, page 392)

Saint Padre Pio's blessing for you today and every day:

"May the heavenly Child always be in the midst of your heart; may He sustain it, enlighten it, vivify it, and transform it to eternal charity! . . . Remember the words the divine Master one day said to the apostles and which He says to you today: Let not your heart be troubled [John 14:1]. Yes, let not your heart be troubled in the hour of trial, because Jesus promised His real assistance to those who follow Him." (Letters, Volume 3, pages 439-441)

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year, dear friend!