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Fourth day of the novena in honor of St. Francis of Assisi: a man made prayer Francisco4. FRANCISCO A MAN MADE PRAYER
Prayer to implore the Lord's Spirit at work within them to know and do his will:
Prayer before the Crucifix (OrCr)
High, glorious God!enlighten the darkness of my heart.Give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity;wisdom and knowledge, O Lord,to fulfill your holy and true command.Amen.
BIBLE TEXT TO REFLECT
And he came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sits on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Had each a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints. (Rev 5,7-8).
Another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer. He was given much incense to it, with the prayers of all the saints, the offer on the golden altar before the throne. And Angel's hand went up before God the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints. (Rev 8:3-4).
PRAYER BY FRANCISCO Seraphic Father
Prayer is a topic that makes sense, fully embraces and dominates the life and personality of the Seraphic Father St. Francis.Francisco thinks and says, "Christ is necessary for life and is sufficient for life", this is his great intuition and makes "great experience" transformed in assumed life, witnessed and sacrificed. In the encounter with Christ, Francis rediscovers part of its own mystery and rediscovers the possibility of an authentic embodiment of his own humanity. Realization that had sought in other ways: in the idea of becoming a knight and economic interests, toward which seemed directed more than anything, even family tradition.Instead of being a "knight" or "businessman", francisco chooses to be the opposite: "poor and humble." Christ becomes for him living Gospel. AND is humble and fervent prayer that transforms him into "another Christ".
CHRIST PRAYER, PRAYER FOR MASTER FRANCISCO
On the slopes of the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, the apostles ask Jesus: "Lord, teach us to pray" (cf. Lk 11:1). Jesus' answer is: "When you pray say, Our Father" (cf. Lk 11:2, Matthew 6:9).The accompanying prayer life of Jesus, "went up the mountain to pray alone" (Mt 14:23), "got up very early and went out, he went to a field and was praying there" (Mk 1:35) . And Luke 6.12: "He went to the mountain to pray, and spent the night praying to God." Jesus, besides being "man of prayer" is also "master of prayer" "Lord, teach us to pray" (cf. Lk 11:1); invites "always pray and not lose heart" (Lk 18:1), says nly one thing that is "necessary" and therefore commends Mary "has chosen the better part" (Lk 10, 41).
It is prayer that transforms lives
The almost perfect imitation of Christ makes Francisco consists above all in prayer. The grace of prayer given to Francisco through the grace of conversion. Devoutly implored divine mercy deigned to show him what to do. The regular practice of prayer developed Francisco always stronger in the flame of heavenly desires (LM 1.4).When you receive the "gift" of the brothers and calls them "minores" encouraged to seek advice from the Lord. And all three, go to the church of St. Nicholas, where they pray: Lord God, the Father of glory, we pray that, in your mercy, we manifest what we should do. (TC VIII).Another important moment in which Francisco resort to prayer is the meeting in Rome in 1209 with Innocent III, when the pope asked the approval of their "way of life" (2 Cel 16).It was not so much a man who prayed, the more well he was all transformed into living prayer (1 Cel 95). Your safe haven was prayer, not some minute, empty or leaking, but deeply devout, humble and long as possible. If started in the afternoon, could barely leave her in the morning. He was always engaged in prayer, he walked and when he sat, when he ate and drank when (1 Cel 71).Often plunged almost daily and secretly in prayer. He was attracted by the appearance of that 'mysterious sweetness' that often penetrating into the soul, stirred up to prayer until he was in the square or in other public places (TC 8).In Rule warmly calls to prayer: God's servants must always engage in prayer. (1 Kings 7).All of us, brothers, beware that under pretext of receiving bonuses, to-do good works or pending, or deviate lose our mind and heart of the Lord ... We need to pray always without ever getting tired ...With great emphasis invited to pray at work: not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion, it must serve all other temporal things. (2 Kings 5:3).Brother Antonio wrote: I like that the Scriptures teach the friars, provided that such activity does not quench the spirit of devotion as written in the Rule. (CTA Ant).The religious must desire the grace of prayer and because of the burdens of government and the commitments of preaching must not neglect the holy and devout prayer. (PD 73).Preaching should be preceded by prayer, in fact, the preacher must first get into the secret of prayer which then poured in sermons (2 Cel 163).Friar also exercising every day the ministry of reconciliation, must prepare in prayer. Who held the position of top recommended: It applies to pray diligently distribute certain times and know his soul and others to the flock entrusted to him. Thus, in the early hours of the morning must precede the sacrifice of the Mass and recommend long prayer with himself and his flock to divine protection. (2 Cel 185. EP 80).
SOURCES OF PRAYER FRANCISCO
Prayer of Father Francisco has inspired Christological, trinitarian and cosmic. The sources of his prayer are four: the Scriptures, the Cross, Liturgy and Creation.
a). Scripture: enough to go to any text written by Francisco and then we will realize that the source of inspiration is the Word. Specifically in the Office of the Passion of the Lord, we can discover the mysteries of the life of Christ. They meditate through a set of texts collected from various biblical psalms in the Psalter present that Francis knows by heart. The Saint of Assisi has great reverence and esteem for the Word of God, which is the Word of the Father and the Holy Spirit's words are spirit and life.b). The Book of the Cross meditation is "seasoned" with tears in his eyes focused on the passion of Christ, pray also allows simple and illiterate monks, whose prayer is praised by the saint of Assisi: These brothers are my knights of the round table, hiding in remote and uninhabited for more fervently committed to prayer and meditation (EP 72c). Was this meditation that plunged into the joyful Francisco with his Lord, thus becoming "another Christ", because the Cross is the book of life.c). Liturgical Prayer: Francisco affectionately be penetrated by the spirit of the prayer of the Church.Francis insists praying the Divine Office. The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the universal Church. Calls Francisco: All friars, clerics or laymen sena, recite the Divine Office and pray for the living and the dead according to the customs of the clergy. For the shortcomings and negligence of the monks pray daily De Profundis with the Our Father. (I Re 3).d). Another source of prayer of St. Francis is creation. It's great in this aspect Praise to God Almighty. It is the song of thanksgiving, part of what he sees, the wonders of God ... Behold the Canticle of Creatures: Most High Almighty Good Lord, Yours are the praises, glory and honor, and all blessing ... (qty 1).
May our prayer be trusted in the same way that a child trusts in his mother's arms.
Points to ponder:Each and can be freely used the following questions to meditate, or you can use your own, as the source of inspiration is to be always the Holy Spirit.
How important is for me to practice prayer life?I have been truly groundbreaking in my life after the encounter with Jesus Christ?What is the reality of my prayer today?What has it meant for me to lead a life of prayer?How do I live this experience of prayer each day?Am I among those who think that prayer is lost in time?How do I pray?What is the quality of my prayer?I reduce my prayer life marked only times in the fraternity?The Lord asks me live again that encounter with Him in prayer what extent and by what method I'm willing to do it?Paraphrase of the Lord's PrayerOh Holy Father our Creator, Redeemer and Savior dildo!Who art in heaven, the angels and the saints; enlightening to know, for you. Lord, are light; inflaming them to love, for you, Lord, are love, dwelling in them and showering them to enjoy eternal bliss, for you. Lord, you are the supreme good, eternal, from whom all good proceeds, without whom there is any good.Hallowed be thy name Thy clarified whether in news, that we may know what is the width of your benefits, the length of your promises, the sublimity of your majesty and depth of your judgments.Thy kingdom come: to reign in us by grace, and we do get to your kingdom, where the open vision of you, love you perfect, blissful union with you, the fruition of you forever.Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven so that we may love you with all my heart, always thinking of you, with all my heart, always desiring you, with all your mind, directing all our intentions to you, looking at all your honor, and with all our strength, devoting all our strength and sense of soul and body in the service of your love and not something else, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, drawing everyone as our forces, your love, rejoicing as the property of others and compadeciéndolos in our evils, and not being a stumbling block to anyone.The day our daily bread: your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, give us this day: to remember, understand and venerate the love we had and as for us said, did and suffered.And forgive us our debts: by your ineffable mercy, by the power of the passion of your Son and through the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin and all Thy elect.
As we forgive our debtors: and what is not fully forgive, do thou, Lord, that I forgive fully, to really love for you to enemies and devoutly intercede for them before you, not returning evil for evil , and we strive to be helpful at all in you.And lead us not into temptation: hidden or manifest, sudden or persistent.
But deliver us from evil: past, present and future.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Third day of the novena in honor of St. Francis of Assisi
3. Lord, what can I do?FRANCISCO: Go and repair my church!
BIBLE TEXT TO REFLECT13 Therefore, keep the spirit alert, sober living and put all their hope on the grace to receive when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not proceed according to the evil desires you had while living in ignorance. 15 Just as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 according to what is written: Be holy, for I am holy. (1 P 1.13 to 16)Having witnessed the great need that Francisco had to make sense of his life, and after being found by Jesus Christ leaving, now one must be truly love and get down to work. We must emphasize that Francis lived a fairly long period of searching impregnated existential crisis. These processes in the life of any person take time and must mature before it hit with the grace of God and the assistance of the Holy Spirit to do the will of God. It was shortly before starting work as a bricklayer, when Francis was kneeling before the Crucifix of San Damiano, meditating, looking at himself with the inner eyes, those contemplating what we are, works, thoughts, omissions ... indecipherable in the eyes of others, from time to time raised the exterior look to the cross presiding over the church of San Damiano, to which Francis was prostrate, when he suddenly felt the words: "Francis, go and repair my house, because, you see, threatens ruin ". Francisco immediately began working with the trowel and place stones to conceal gaps or cracked unite what to rebuild the chapel of San Damiano. But suddenly, he realized that the church was the Chapel of St. Damian ... realized that the face of Jesus, that Jesus who was watching him from the cross, was more alive, more latent, more conversational. He realized that the Church had a body of men, and men a face of Christ.We face a chain of events quite "normal", which manifested the provisions of Francis and his encounter with Christ Progressive: the numerous visits to the church of San Damiano, prolonged moments of prayer and contemplation of the Crucified Syrian, during of which came the Lord's answer to the heart of Francis.
Encounter with ChristTherefore, Francisco regularly visiting the church of San Damiano and begs the Lord: "High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart, give me true faith. Certain hope and perfect charity. Hit and knowledge oh Lord to fulfill your holy and true command. Amen. >> This was insistent prayer Francisco, pleaded with the Lord to show him his will: Lord tell me what to do!. Francisco is a restless and tormented, but sensible and waiting for a sign from the Lord.One day, during his prayer before the crucifix, Francisco is strongly impressed by the contrast between the dark and dilapidated chapel and light Christ above the altar there. That day did not discover all the theological richness of the Crucifix, but was stunned by its brightness. Until then Francisco was too turned in on itself, but that day was the Christ light. Was it before or after asking: "Enlighten the darkness of my heart"? Who cares! At that time found the darkness and decay of the sanctuary. Was not it a sign from heaven, an answer to your hopes? Francisco understands this: you must restore the church and make a lamp burning before the crucifix. Do not try to find out if the Crucifix Francisco spoke truly, there is no doubt that his heart came a response avid Lord clarity before Christ, was well aware of the darkness of the place where Christ reigned light and living from his dark cross, and realized: "Francis, do not you see my house is crumbling? Go therefore and repárala "(TC 13c; 2 Cel 10). At the same time, in the light of the Crucifix, Francis undergoes further comprising their own darkness and the light of Christ is an answer to his anguished prayer. According to the Legend of the Three Companions, Francisco "really felt in his soul that had been crucified Christ who had spoken" (TC 13c), while Celano says that "the image of the crucified Christ, spreading the lips, speaking from Table Francisco "(2 Cel 10a); Bonaventure says that Francis" heard with his bodily ears a voice coming from the same cross that said three times ... "(LM 2.1 a). Schmucki writes: "The spectacle of the ruined chapel had to produce a vivid impression on the sensitivity Francisco. In such a mood, it was enough to hear the inner voice of God ... to feel called by the crucifix to restore the church. "Here again we see Christ and Francis. Two loving hearts had turned to find and where two needy of love, dialogue and understanding heart to heart and not dwell on how to act, just act, to the letter, without gloss,-as Francisco say after facing the Gospel. Ermita Francisco reconstructed material, but soon understood that it is another church, another house that needs repair. It is the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ that is not entirely in tune with the Head. It has been a strong schizophrenia and now we must insist in season and out and witnessed that is necessary to look and heart to Jesus Christ in order to live in the lofty dignity of the Sons of God. Go task Francisco! Go task to us if we really found also with Jesus Christ.1. Am I aware of the need to discover God's grace in my life?2. Do I feel in me the need to repair the church of God that is my own life and that of others?3. ? I find around me in the face of Christ that I love them and serve them invite?4. My struggles, my crisis, my doubts where do I drive?5. Would you ask the Lord to enlighten me constantly?6. What is my response to this reflection?
Prayer to the Trinity
(LtOrd 50-52)Almighty, eternal,just and merciful God,grant for yourselfto us miserable,do what you want to knowand always to desire what pleases you,so that, inwardly purifiedinternally illuminated and litby the fire of the Holy Spirit,we can continuethe footsteps of your Son,our Lord Jesus Christ,and reach, by Your grace alone,to you, Most High,in perfect Trinityand simple Unitylive and reign and are glorified,Almighty God,for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord, and true living God,and restituyámosle always praise, glory,honor, blessing and all good. Amen.(Office of the Passion of the Lord)
Fear and honor,praise and bless,give thanks and worshipthe Lord God Almightyin Trinity and Unity,Father and Son and Holy Spirit,creator of all things.(Earlier Rule, XXI, 2)
Pray three Our Fathers. Three Hail Mary's and three Glory be to the Father and Son and Holy Spirit
2. EXISTENTIAL DOUBTMEETING CHRIST CRUCIFIED POOR AND HUMBLE
Texts to deepen
Mc 8, 34-9. 1 Lk 9, 23-27 Mt 10, 38-39 Lk 14, 27, 17. 33 Jn. 12, 25-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can a man give in exchange for his life? (Mt 16.24 to 27)
Francisco was a normal man like everyone, with great aspirations, desires fame, thought to have the world at his feet and only lacked one thing: to be an invincible warrior, "to be a prince." You can become famous pro order battlefields for a few feats of arms and conquer by the sword ennobled. Since the dawn of glory shone in his eyes! What would have been him and he, if he had made this dream? Perhaps a powerful of this world. His desire for prestige and dominance, elated by success, he could take to violate many things to achieve their ends.
But in Spoleto, an inner voice summons, questioned him and urges him to return to Assisi. Francisco be convinced and has no other way to backtrack. How ridiculous! What frustration! What a bad name! After all the dreams of grandeur ... This abrupt change was caused astonishment, and rightly so. Imagine the surprise of his friends, his family to see him back. But for some time and yet Francisco was no longer the same, was suffering a lack of meaning in his life, did not know what had come into the world, their existence was meaningless despite the big dreams he had. Despite all appearances was not the same.
The desire for fame, the desire for success and the desire of glory had seized him and dazzled him strongly, but only for an instant. Everything was ephemeral as are fireworks that are beautiful and dazzling look are that: artifice, image, appearance. It was necessary for another breath blew in the life of Francis and invaded to regain the enthusiasm, the joy, the sense of his life.
"Exhausted by long illness, Thomas of Celano tells us he began to think within himself anything other than what it used to." (1C 3). As her strength returned, went back to see the countryside. But behold, this countryside had seen him grow and he loved it, and it meant nothing. He seemed to lose color and fade on arrival. The spell was broken. Whole was broken! Everything left indifferent. He felt cold and withdrew.
Actually this indifference was, indeed, the sign of a deeper disillusionment and that was about all that until then he had seduced and fascinated. All the old values had gone by land. Francisco, the great Francisco discovered the emptiness of his life. An emptiness that nothing in the world can fill. Even the beauty of things.
Francis found himself and his reality. Its empty and terribly distressing reality. He lacked the horizon, lacking joy, lacked the sun shine not only on the countryside of Umbria, but the sun that shone within himself. Francisco begins to sense that something is changing and that what he expected in the war, in the life he led until now was only "vanity of vanities". What to do now, who could tell the way to go?.
Francisco enters within itself, as if it is wrapped in a something that would take more and more true and deep search of its existence. In your search did not find anything but Francisco Someone, or rather he may be found by anyone through Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is revealed in the guise of the Crucified, is the humanity of God more accurately should say "the humanization of God." For hours francisco contemplates Christ on the Cross. No, that God does not look at all like that of ecclesiastical lordships, not the God of feudal wars or holy wars. Nor is it the God of money. It is not the God of the privileged of the new social order. Nor is the God of the powerful of today, not the God of those who feel good in the style of the Pharisees and the scribes of Holy Writ. God is not a ruler.
Quite the contrary. It is in the deepest of trouble in the world, in each of the small, crushed by society of yesterday and today, you can easily recognize in him is his brother. "And being exceedingly rich, wanted, along with the Blessed Virgin, your Mother, to choose poverty in the world" (2 CTAF 5).
The shared the glory of God and it was above all, deign to be small, with children, the humiliated, the beaten and the marginalized of all time. Francisco in his poverty and solitude, discovers, contemplates the unfathomable humanity of God. Inflamed heart, opens this breath of tenderness that penetrates to the background of the soul. Then arises in him a great desire: to share in the spirit of the Lord, follow the Most High Son of God in the human journey, in his humility and poverty, give up wanting to be above the other to be with them, to reach be one of them, the smallest among them: his brother.
Francisco has found true meaning in life and existence, from now on will not rest until becoming another Christ, Christ in a poor, humble and crucified, just as the Son of God, the Word incarnate.
This is the life of Francis and his relationship with God with a God fully human and fully divine with God. In light of the above I invite you to reflect as follows:
High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity. Hit and knowledge oh Lord to fulfill your holy and true command. Amen.
1. What are my greatest aspirations in life?2. What is more I struggle so?3. Where does God in my life and in my plans?4. What I have picture of Jesus Christ?5. Am I willing to transfigurarme another Christ, poor, humble and crucified?
Praise GodAuthor: Saint Francis of Assisi.You are holy, Lord God alone, you do wonders.You are strong, you are great, you are very high.Almighty King You are, You are Holy Father, King of heaven and earth.You are Three and One, Lord God, all good.You are good, all good, supreme good, Lord God, living and true.You are charity and love, you are wisdom.You are humility, you are patience, You are safe.You are quiet, You are joy and gladness.You are justice and temperance.You are all our riches to satisfaction.You are beauty, You are meekness.You are a protector, guardian and defender Thou art.You are strong, you are refreshing.You are our hope, You are our faith.You are the great sweetness ours.You are our eternal life, great and wonderful Lord, God Almighty,
Merciful Savior
Pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Mary and Glory Be.
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE EVANGELICAL ADVENTURE
1. THE CALL!
26 See, brothers, who have been called!: Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. 27 Rather, God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised, what is not to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before God. 30 For him are you in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written: Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. (1 Cor 1.26 to 30)
FRANCIS OF ASSISIBorn in Assisi (Italy), in 1181/82. Son of Madonna Pica and Bernardone, wealthy merchant in cloth. He lived in his hometown cheerful and happy childhood. Jovial character, altruistic, dreamy, gentlemanly, Francisco loved life and his country. At 20 he participated in the war against Perugia Assisi, where he was taken prisoner. Soon after, in the expedition to Puglia left the army after a mysterious dream inviting him to continue "to love you more than the servant" and returned to Assisi. After a dissipated youth in amusement, became resigned to parental property and gave himself to God. He embraced poverty and lived a gospel, preaching to all the love of God. Gave his followers some wise rules, which were then approved by the Holy See. Founded an order of monks and his wife first follower, Santa Clara who founded the Poor Clares, inspired by Him
With this first meditation not only want to see from afar the life of Francis of Assisi, as if we did through a glass, the glass of time. Perhaps the image you have of him is a romantic, medieval, or even dated. Hopefully and in the course of these nine days you can find that it is not.
So we begin this novena with the text of 1 Corinthians to reflect, to give you the opportunity to get inside of you, get away from the bustle of the world, the noise, so many things that take you away from yourself and others.
I suggest the following questions for personal reflection, which are very obvious, but that's why it has lost its meaning and significance. These questions permeate truly want in your life and in your story. Let God speak through them and you'll have an answer to many of these questions you cherish in your heart.
Biblical Text 1 Cor 1.26 to 31
26 Brothers, who have in mind are those who have been called: not many among you are wise, humanly speaking, not many were powerful, not the nobles. 27 Instead, God chose what the world is foolish to confound the wise, what the world is weak to shame the strong; 28 which is despicable and worthless, to annihilate for what it's worth. 29 Thus, one may boast before God. 30 Through him you are in Christ Jesus, who by order of God, became for us wisdom and righteousness, in holiness and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written: "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. "
Prayer of St. Francis before the Crucifix of San Damiano
High and glorious GodHigh and glorious God,
enlighten the darkness
of my heart
and give me true faith,certain hope
and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge.Lord, to serve
Your holy and true command. Amen
1. What I give importance to the call of God on my life?2. At any stage of life I find am I aware of God's presence in every moment?3. Do I count myself among the wise among fools or the Gospel?4. Am I aware that God has justified me for free for your child?5. Am I willing to accept the holiness God gives me? How do you show?6. I live as a person saved?
All this in light of the text of 1 Cor 1.26 to 31, we have read a few moments ago.
- After your reflection prays three Our Fathers and three Hail Mary and Glory- Ask the Lord to give you what you need and be more willingness
FINAL PRAYER
Invitation to restore
all good to the Lord
(Earlier Rule, XVII ,17-18)
And give back all the goods to the Lord
God Most High,and recognize that all are yours,and give thanks for everything,since all the goods he come.And the same Most High,the only true God,holds, it is taxedand he gets all the honors and bows,All praise and blessings,all thanksgiving and glory,for theirs is all good,and he alone is good.
LOVE AND SUFFERING
Then I fell down before YHVH, like last time, I was forty days and forty nights without food or water, for all the sin you had committed doing wrong in the eyes of YHVH to irritate. (SD 9.18).
Well, you have been granted by the grace of Christ ... not only believe in him but also to suffer for him. (Phil 1, 29).
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Rom 12:12).
So, even those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator, doing good. (I Peter 4:19).
And know him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death ... (Phil 3:10).
Undoubtedly, the P. Pius was a man intimately united to Christ, especially in Gethsemane and on the way to Calvary, and in his passion and death themselves. This was the source of the P Pio always drank incessantly for not faint with thirst on the way. A path that God had prepared to go slowly crossing it over a lifetime, making and carrying out the "great mission" that God himself had given him, and for which he had been preparing ever since.
The entire life of P. Pius was to love suffering, because he saw Jesus in the world and carrying the cross and crucified with Him, therefore, was not sickly or masochistic love, but a love that through suffering gave great fruits of conversion , joy, peace and sanctification. A total of atonement love a love that burned constantly repeated: "I am consumed with love for God and love for my brothers" So often told his brothers and spiritual children: "Yes, I love the cross, the cross alone, because I love her always in the back of Jesus. "
Requested suffering and grace was his daily food.
Loved suffering for the benefits.
To the glory of God.
Salvation of the brothers.
Release souls from purgatory.
To identify with Christ on the cross
"Life is not nothing but a continuous reaction against oneself, and not open to the beauty, if not at the price of suffering. Remain always in the company of Jesus in Gethsemane and he will comfort you when you arrive you pray in anguish. "
It seems as if given the reality of today, we faced with a person we aberrant and masochistic, self-centered, he liked suffer because only then was happy. As if suffering were the source of attraction and attention of others Who said such a thing? The world in which we live today is the result of the ephemeral, the fleeting, the superfluous, lies, deceit, to cure the headache with an aspirin, disposable, non-commitment to be well now, have fun at the time, search everything and have been able to feel good. No matter what it is, or what needs to be put on or removed in between, no matter whether to risk his own life, turning to drugs, alcohol, prostitution, cheating, lying, crime , theft, robbery ... and return to the nonsense. Only suffering purifies like fire. It is true that the suffering and pain we must exterminate because they are bad, but the P. Pio teaches us that this is possible only and only love. Because "where love is God and where God is, not lacking anything."No doubt they are one of the great mysteries that lived P. Pius, (pain and suffering) but mostly we find him as one of the most sublime gifts God has given to mankind. Yes Father Pio lived and experienced the suffering adhered fully to the life of our Savior, especially in his Passion. Therefore, the P. Pius was delivered as scapegoat. Al P. I can name Pius atoning Man of all time. Because the atonement, the pain was for him "My food diary, my treat!"
Currently most people have forgotten this aspect of the atonement, we consider ourselves as good as straight or as super-men who are not able to turn to see the filth in which we are immersed. We are unable to be in solidarity with each other, sharing what little they have, but mostly, sadly we are unable to deliver to another a word of encouragement, hope, joy, faith. A smile! In short we are unable to give charity, but even worse, we are unable to receive and share. Many people in our world needs someone to help to atone for their sins! How much do we lack great men like Father Pius, able to get out of themselves and can offer not by him but by his brothers. Is not this a dimension of that adventure was born one day in the heart of the Poverello of Assisi? Is not this the real meaning of our lives as Christians? Suffering is the price to pay for what is done and what is experienced, but also the price to pay for the other. Without forgetting that the other is worth more than gold refined because it was purchased "a blood price of the immaculate Lamb, without spot or wrinkle." Therefore, the P. Pio offered by all. So what we can see in his own words: "My Jesus, saves the day, I offer myself as a victim for all, give me strength, take this heart, fill it with your love, then send me what you want"
Therefore, we can state that Padre Pio's life was marked by suffering. Moreover, although we incomprehensible, Fr Pius loved suffering, he wanted above all to identify with Christ. The P. Pio suffered truly, physically, but more than physical pain or mental suffering were the spiritual: dark night of the soul, aridity, misunderstanding, slander, retaliation prohibitions, how much it hurt when prevented him celebrate Mass in public! Prevented much suffering when I confess! What a pain so great being unable to meet spiritual and sometimes not epistolary his spiritual sons and daughters! above all the wounds suffered much always caused him great pain, indignities, embarrassment, embarrassments, especially when I had to go to the doctor for its consideration. Padre Pio himself tonight will talk about pain and suffering in a letter dated September 11, 1916, within days of his arrival in San Giovanni Rotondo: "The night is becoming ever deeper, ever more storm rough and always fighting plenum. Everything threatens to submerge the poor boat of my mind. No low comfort to my soul. I've become completely blind. All I see nothing clearly my one hand and on the other the goodness and greatness of God "But especially when he had to accept all the prescriptions of the Holy See and the Order for certification and authenticity. The P. Pius was like a prisoner whom everyone had to judge, like a puppet that everyone had to operate at will. However, the P. Pius was clear that "salvation is not achieved if not through the stormy sea that always threatens to destroy us. Calvary is the hill of saints, but there is another mountain passes, called Tabor ". We can say that this was the only and the great hope that kept the P. Pius faithful and firm to continue its great mission on earth. The P. Pius was a mystery to himself. There were many times when even he understood, nor could understand the great mission that God had reserved. He will express himself as follows: "What chaos in the bottom of my heart! What mystery is me myself! These days, when my soul descended into hell. Again the Lord exposed me to the fury of Satan. This infamous apostate heart wants to tear most sacred: Faith haunt me day and night I was bitter. Because of the struggles, the physical and psychic forces are weakening further ... ". However, does not end here as tremendous suffering, no doubt, the P. Pio is still much, much more than gold purified in the crucible. It should look like a beautiful marble statue carved with great detail all because it is like a precious treasure in the eyes of God. Ultimately it has to be "Christed". Because of this, the P. Pio prayed, begged implored God's mercy in these words that we will show the letter dated June 4, 1918, as a new Job tortured screams and cries his mercy: "I can not take more! ... My soul is full of extreme embarrassment ... The Lord's hand was heavy upon me. The Lord is showing all his power to punish and, as a leaf driven by the wind, he rejects me and after me ... can not stand it! ... I feel crushed under the weight of his righteousness. Tears are my daily bread. I shake, I look, but can not find it under the wrath of her justice ... Like Jesus on the cross, crushed under the heavy hand of God's justice, cry, 'My God, my God, why me you forsaken me? '. Out of this neglect I know nothing, to live the life that I do not know. " Given the above the only thing we can appeal to high availability is that P. Pius had to do the will of God. Perhaps many may ask: Grace? Undoubtedly, but above all unconditional availability plan that God had for him God could not have done its work if the P. Pio had not left. So "Love the suffering, which, besides being the work of divine wisdom, reveals even more clearly the work of love"
TO REVIEW OUR LIFE
1. Do I accept every day in my daily life suffering with love and dignity?2. Do I give the redemptive value of suffering and savior who has?3. Am I aware of themselves and atone for the sins of others?4. With Jesus Christ Am I willing to offer myself as a victim for the salvation of mankind?5. Where does suffering in my life?6. Suffering? See it as a gift, a grace or a punishment?7. Am I willing to bear the cross of joy every day?.
PRAY:Oh Jesus,Destroy in me all that is not right for youAnd write your pain in my heartWith the fire of your love.Squeeze hard with you,Soft and forever,To never leave you in your pain.I can stand on your heartIn the sufferings of lifeFor thus my recovery.That my spirit has no other desireTo live with you in the GardenAnd my fill of sentences of your heart.Let my soul be filled with your bloodAnd they feed youWith the bread of your sufferings.Amen.
St. Pius
Pray three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys and Glory ...
PRAY
Oh God that St. Pio of PietrelcinaCapuchin priestyou have given the signal privilegeto participate in a wonderful wayin the passion of your Son,grant us through her intercession,identify in the death of Christto share in his resurrection.Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
