ST.PADRE PIO on Purgatory, Guardian Angel, devil
Close encounters of a special kind with Padre Pio:
The Souls in Purgatory, The Guardian Angel, the devil.
Everybody who met Padre Pio seemed convinced that he had a direct connection with the afterlife,
and asked about a dead relative or friend. It was fascinating there was always an answer.
Gerardo De Caro had long conversations with Padre Pio in 1943. In his written notes he testifies:
"Padre Pio had an exact knowledge of the state of a soul after death, including the duration of the pain until reached total purification."
“More souls of the dead from Purgatory than of the living climb this mountain to attend my Masses and seek my prayers.”
"The souls in Purgatory pray for us, and their prayers are even more effective than ours,
because they are accompanied by their suffering.
So, let's pray for them, and let's pray them to pray for us."
"You will be surprised to find in Paradise souls you never expected to be there."
"Most of the saved pass through Purgatory before arriving at the fullness of beatitude."
Dec. 30, 1937 Padre Pio was praying in the choir with the other friars. Suddenly he said: "Let's pray for our Provincial Father
Padre Bernardo Apicella who is in agony." Noboby knew that he was sick. The day after they were told that he had suddenly died.
Pope Pius XII died in Castelgandolfo on October 9, 1958. On that day Padre Pio told a friar: "Pius XII is in heaven. I saw him during Mass."
Padre Pio was in a room at the convent. A man came: "I am Pietro Di Mauro. I died on September 18, 1908, in this room during a fire.
The Lord let me come from Purgatory. If tomorrow you say the Mass for me, I will go to Paradise."
Padre Pio reported: "I was agitated. I told the superior Father Paolino da Casacalenda what had happened and asked
to celebrate the Mass for Pietro." Father Paolino gave the permission and later went to consult the registry at City Hall.
In that date a fire had killed a man with that name.
Padre Pio to Cleonice Morcaldi, a month after the death of her mother: "This morning your mom flew to Paradise. I saw her during Mass."
Padre Pio reported to Padre Anastasio di Roio: "one night I was alone in the choir and I saw a friar cleaning the altar late at night.
I asked him to go to bed since it was so late. He said: "I'm a friar like you. I did here my novitiate and when assigned to take care of the Altar,
and I passed many times in front of the Tabernacle without making the proper reverence. For this sin I am in Purgatory, and the Lord sent me to you.
You decide how much longer I have to suffer in those flames." I told him: until the Mass in the morning. He said "Cruel" and disappeared.
I still have a wound in my heart.
I could have sent him immediately to Paradise, instead he had to stay one more night in the flames of Purgatory."
Padre Pio told Padre Onorato Marcucci who was helping him. "Last night I was not well and didn't make you sleep.
I have been thinking how to compensate you, so I took a plenary indulgence for your mother to send her to Paradise."
The following statement is taken from the book of John McCaffery "Tales of Padre Pio", Kansas City, 1979, pag. 67
There is no similar statement in any other book about Padre Pio.
However, given the reliability of the source i leave it to the reader.
John McCaffery in conversation with Padre Pio, and the cover of his book
"I believe that not a great number of souls go to hell.
God loves us so much. He formed us at his image. God loves us beyond understanding.
And it is my belief that when we have passed from the consciousness of the world,
when we appear to be dead, God, before He judges us, will give us
a chance to see and understand what sin really is.
And if we understand it properly, how could we fail to repent?"
Florence Fine Ehrman'd father contracted in 1965 a severe form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He asked for Padre Pio's prayers. Her father died in January 1966.
She went to Padre Pio in October 1967 asking if her father, a devout Jew, was saved. "Julius Fine is saved, but we need to pray a lot for him."
One night in 1944 the friars heard loud voices coming from downstairs saying "Viva Padre Pio". The superior Padre Raffaele da S. Elia a Pianisi told the doorkeeper
Fra Gerardo da Deliceto to let those people out and lock the door properly. Fra Gerardo went downstairs, didn't find anybody, and the door was double locked as it was supposed to.
He went back to report. Padre Raffaele was puzzled and went straight to Padre Pio asking if he knew something.
"Oh! Those were soldiers who had died on the battleground, and came to thank me for their salvation."
In 1945 Fra' Modestino asked Padre Pio a comparison between a fire on hearth and the flames of Purgatory. "They compare like fresh water and boiling water."
One day Padre told his doctor: "I'm praying for the good death of my great-great grandfather". But he died more than one hundred years ago!"
"Remember that for God there is no past and no future, and everything is present. So God made use at that time of the prayers I'm saying now."
In 1922 Bishop Alberto Costa asked Padre Pio if he had ever seen a soul in Purgatory. "I have seen so many of them that they don't scare me anymore."
A friar testified: We were all in the dining room when Padre Pio got suddenly up and walked at steady pace to the door of the convent. He opened it and started having a conversation.
The two friars that went with him didn't see anybody and started thinking that something might be wrong with Padre Pio. On the way back to the dining area Padre Pio explained.
"Don't worry. I was talking to some souls on their way from Purgatory to Paradise. They came to thank me that I remembered them today in the Mass."
Nina Campanile's brother Pasqualino died in combat on September 26, 1916. Her mom sent Nina with her teacher Vittorina Ventrella to ask Padre Pio if
Pasqualino was saved. " Yes he is saved, but he needs your prayers." She asked again on Christmas 1918. "He is up there!"
Carmela Marocchino's brother Padre Vittore da Canosa died suddenly on January 29, 1958. Carmela asked Padre Pio why the sudden death.
"Do you know what Jesus did of your brother? Jesus went into the garden, and there were many flowers, and one was more beautiful
than the others. He leaned on the most beautiful and picked it. " Is he saved?" Yes, but we need to pray." On July 29 she asked again if he was saved.
"My daughter, we priests are more responsible in front of God. Let's continue praying."
On December 29, 1958 she asked again were her brother was. "He is in Paradise."
Carmela Marocchino asked Padre Pio if her parents were safe. "Even if your parents are in Paradise we need to continue to pray. If they don't need prayers the suffrages are applied to other souls."
Padre Francesco Napolitano reported what he had heard from Orazio, Padre Pio's father. Orazio went to spend some few days with hi son in 1926. He was assigned the cell #10. When he tried to enter the cell, two friars stood in front of the door, not letting him in. He explained who he was, to no avail. When he made a step to force himself in, the disappeared. He was terrorized, and went to Padre Pio. "Dad, don't get agitated, those are two poor friars in Purgatory. They have to serve their Purgatory in the spot were they disobeyed the rule of St. Francis."
Padre Francesco Napolitano reported that in 1945 Fra' Pietro, entering his cell at night, saw a young friar sitting on his desk, with the head down like he was meditating. He asked who he was, but he disappeared. Terrorized, he run to Padre Pio. Padre Pio accompanied him back to his cell and said: "That young friar is a poor novice who is serving his purgatory in this cell. But don't worry he will not bother you again, and you will never see him again."
"The souls in Purgatory repay the prayers that we say for them."
"When we pray for the souls in Purgatory we will always get something back."
"The souls in Purgatory pray for us."
Padre Giuseppe Antonio da San Marco in Lamis was ill in the Foggia convent. On December 30, 1936 Padre Pio was asked to pray for him because his heath was deteriorating. That night somebody knocked at Padre Pio's door. Padre Giuseppe entered in the room. "How are you doing? They told me that you were gravely ill and now I see you here." "I'm well, Padre Giuseppe replied. All my suffering has ended, and I came to thank you for your prayers." Than he disappeared. Padre Pio told to the other friars what had happened. Nobody knew yet that Padre Giuseppe had died. Later they found out that he had died at the same time that he had visited Padre Pio.
Maria Pompilio, when her brother died, asked Padre Pio to intercede so that he could come in her dreams. Her brother came in a dream and said:
"Padre Pio assisted me in my agony. He stayed until the Judge judged me. I was given eleven years of Purgatory, but for intercession of Padre Pio the pain was reduced to one year.
Many mysteries in the life of Padre Pio will be known only in the other world."
The morning after Maria went to see Padre Pio. From afar he said: "Are you glad now?" "Yes, it seems that you are everywhere."
"What sense has for me being on Hearth if I can't go up and down. I know.
Your brother told you that the mystery of my life will be known only in Paradise."
Close encounters of a special kind of Padre Pio with the Guardian Angel
Padre Pio had the privilege to have his Guardian Angel visibly besides him all of his life.
He played with him when he was a child, and the Guardian Angel sang for him when he was sad.
Padre Pio about his Guardian Angel:
Little companion of my infancy, angiolino, angioletto, my secretary, inseparable companion, celestial person,
celestial messenger, brother, friend, prevent danger, one of the family,
translates for me the letters in other languages, I send him to console people suffering, prevents from stumbling,
never lives us alone for an instant, from the cradle to the grave, even when we are sinning.
"It will be a great joy when at the moment of death we will be able to see our guardian angel. "
"My guardian angel has been my friend since my infancy."
"The mission of my Guardian Angel Includes explaining me other languages."
"Send the guardian angel. He doesn't pay a train ticket and doesn't consume shoes."
"For whomever is alone there is his Guardian Angel."
" Oh if all men could understand this great gift that God, assigned to us; this celestial spirit. "
"May the desire to see this inseparable companion incite you to leave this body quickly."
"Invoke often this Guardian Angel, and repeat the beautiful prayer: 'Oh Angel of God...'."
"What consolation when, at the moment of death, you will see this Angel,
who accompanied you through life and was so liberal in maternal care. "
"Often remember his presence; thank him; pray to him; Respect him;
be in constant fear of offending the purity of his gaze."
"How do you take care of the so many letters you receive?" "The Angel does his job."
"All those Angels around you, don't they bother You?" "No. They are so obedient."
A man from California used to pray his Guardian Angel to tell his needs to Padre Pio. One day, after the confession he asked Padre Pio if he really
heard his Guardian Angel. "Do you think I am deaf?" And he repeated what he had told recently his Guardian Angel to tell Padre Pio.
Padre Lino Barbati sent his Guardian Angel to ask Padre Pio for the healing of a person. That person wasn't getting better. He asked Padre Pio: Could it be that at times
the Guardian Angel doesn't do what we ask him to do? Padre Pio: "What? Are you thinking that he is disobedient like me and you?"
An attorney from Fano was driving back home to Bologna with wife and children. During the trip he fell asleep at the wheel. He woke up few miles from home. He said "Who drove my car". The wife said: "You were still, and didn't answer to us, and you avoided several collisions at last second. Your driving was different from usual." Two months later he visited Padre Pio, who told him from afar: "you were asleep and the Guardian Angel drove your car." The mystery was solved.
"Father, my income doesn't allow me to come to see you as often as I'd like." "Who told you to come here? Don't you have your Guardian Angel? Tell him what you want, send him here, and you will have an answer right away."
Padre Alessio approached Padre Pio to ask some question". "Boy, live me alone, don't you see that I am busy?" Later Padre Pio apologized and explained: "didn't you see all those Angels who were with me? They are the Guardian Angels of my spiritual children, who brought me their messages. I had to give them answers to refer."
Cecil Humphrey-Smith from Canterbury, England ,went to see Padre Pio many times. One day, ready to leave, he told Padre Pio that he would write to him soon.
“Son, I receive more letters than I can read. Send your guardian angel to me instead.”
In 1912 Padre Agostino on a trip passed by Pio’s house in Pietrelcina at three in the morning. At that time Padre Pio was living there.
Padre Agostino marveled that the door was open. So he decided to get in. Padre Pio was in bed but not asleep.
“Why do you leave the door unlocked?” “I have the guardian angels keeping watch through the night.”
Close encounters of a special kind of Padre Pio with the devil
devil 'Barbablú' 'cosaccio' satana
Padre Pio called the devil 'cosaccio' (whatsit) (plural cosacci). At times he had a real name 'Barbablu'.
"Satan reigns over the world."
"The devil wants me for himself at all costs".
"The devil is trying to snatch me from the arms of Jesus".
"The name of the devil is 'I, I do, I can, I'm able to, I, I, I.' This is the devil."
"Io, io faccio, io posso, io riesco. Io, io, io. Questo è il diavolo".
The devils assaulted Padre Pio almost daily.
"The devil is like a rabid dog tied to a chain; beyond the length of the chain he cannot seize anyone.
And you: keep at a distance. If you approach too near, you let yourself be caught."
In Venafro a likely Padre Agostino entered Padre Pio's cell. 'I'm here to confess you'. Suspecting something fishy, Padre Pio said:
"Repeat after me Long Live Jesus". The devil screamed 'No!' and disappeared.
Father Francesco was about to leave Padre Pio's cell. "Don't leave, otherwise the devils (cosacci) come."
He left after awhile but while few steps away he heard a terrible noise, and came back. Padre Pio had been assaulted.
Opening the letters from his spiritual director Padre Agostino at times they were all blank.
He would put some holy water on them and the writing could be seen again.
"Barbablu' made it invisible so that it couldn't be read."
Padre Pio was beaten by the devils many times
August 9, 1912, in a letter to Padre Agostino: 'Barbablu' prevents me from writing to you. Every time I try, I get
a terrible headache, and the arm is paralyzed and I can't hold the pen in my hand."
December 3, 1912, in a letter to Padre Agostino: "I received you letter on November 29.
It only contained a blank page. It must have been the 'cosaccio'."
In a letter to father Benedetto on June 3, 1919:
"I don't have a free minute. All my time is spent in tearing my brothers from the clutches of satan."
Because Padre Pio's health was not good, on October 1911, after a physical examination by dr. Antonio Cardarelli in Naples,
he was sent by his Superiors to Venafro for convalescence.
According to the diagnosis of the celebrated physician, the young friar's days were numbered, and he couldn't travel long distances,
which is why he was sent to Venafro, location of the closest convent.
During the month and a half stay in that convent, the community noticed the first supernatural phenomena:
divine ecstasies lasting up to one hour, and diabolic apparitions lasting a few minutes.
In Venafro, from Fr. Agostino's diary: 'Starting in November 1911, I was present with Fr. Evangelista, the superior of the monastery,
for a considerable number of ecstasies, and many instances of demonic oppression."
"Satan would appear as a nude woman dancing lewdly, as is spiritual father, as his superior, pope Pius X, his guardian angel, St. Francis,
the Virgin Mary, and also as the horrible self, with an army of demonic spirits.
At times there were no apparitions but he was beaten until he bled, tormented with deafening noises, covered with spit.
He was able to free himself from the torments by calling on the name of Jesus."
The devils to Padre Pio: "You bothers us more than Saint Michel". "If you don't snatch souls from us we will not bother you."
In 1964 Padre Pio was assaulted by the devil who gave him a terrible blow on the spine, and he fell, and had a black eye and swollen face.
One night Padre Alessio was in charge of Padre Pio's needs. Padre Pio called him on the buzzer, but when he came he just smiled without saying a word.
This happened for three times. The fourth time Padre Alessio asked why he was calling him for no apparent reason. Padre Pio:
"Please my son, sit there on my armchair and stay here with me, because the devils won't leave me in peace for a second."
In 1964 an 18 years old girl from Bergamo screams among the faithful waiting before 5 in the morning to assist to Padre Pio’s Mass.
“I beat the old man last night. He will not be able to come down and say Mass.” Her parent appear extremely embarrassed. When Padre Pio resumed the celebration of the Mass three days after, she was there too.
When she saw him she emitted a loud scream and fainted. When she regained consciousness she was perfectly normal. The demon had left her.
Padre Pio's words about virtues, life.
Humility
'You have respect for me because you don't know me. I am the greatest sinner on this heart."
"Abjection is called humility, and humility abjection."
"God speaks to those who truly have a humble heart."
"Never be pleased with yourself."
"The tall ears of grain are vain and empty, the ones bent to the ground are humble and laden with grain."
'When you fall, humble yourself but without degrading yourself."
"Abjection means to be humble and powerless."
"Be humble, tranquil, sweet, and confident in times of darkness."
"Humility is truth. Everything good in me is of God."
"False humility brings discouragement."
"When Jesus sees you prostrated in humility, he will extend his hand and draw you to him."
"Humility is the recognition of onès abjection."
"To meet God, we must ascend and he must descend."
"Happiness can be found only in Heaven."
"Everything comes from God. I possess only infinite misery."
"Self esteem is more malicious that pride."
"Mary, the more she was filled with heavenly gifts, the more she humbled."
"If I was reborn, I would become a Capuchin again, but not a priest.
I am unworthy to represent Jesus on earth, to be Christ on the altar."
"Charity is the queen of virtues."
"As the pearls are held together by the thread, thus the virtues by charity"
" the pearls fall when the thread breaks, thus the virtues are lost if charity diminishes."
"The pivot of perfection is charity; He who lives in charity lives in God, because God is charity, as the Apostle says."
"Excuse everyone with Christian charity."
"Seek solitude but do not lack charity with your neighbor."
Humility and charity
Humility and charity go hand in hand. The one glorifies, the other sanctifies.
"We must always have kindness with the neighbor and humility with God."
"Charity knows how to mix sweet with bitter, and convert transitory suffering in eternal reward."
"Charity is the yardstick by which the Lord will judge us."
"Charity is the cornerstone of perfection."
'Charity is the daughter of Providence."
Peace
"Tranquility is the daughter of the love for God."
"God is our peace, our consolation, and our glory."
Temptation
"If you win a temptation, it has the same effect as in washing dirty laundry."
"The more a soul is liked by God, the more will be proved."
"Temptations belong to devil and hell, sufferings belong to God and Paradise."
"The temptations come from the devil, the sufferings come from God."
"Despise the temptation and embrace the tribulation."
"Do not dwell on your temptations."
"The thought doesn't make the sin, but consenting to the thoughts does it."
"Only the free will is capable of good or evil."
"Temptations against faith and purity are the merchandise offered by the enemy."
"Don't voluntarily dwell on what the devil presents to you."
"When tempted, say to God: "Have mercy on your poor weakling."
"Whe the assault of the enemy increases, you are closer to God."
"When the enemy roars around you, it shows that he is not in you."
"The more a soul is pleasing to God, the more it must be tried."
"Temptation is like the soap. It seems to soil but in reality cleans."
"There is joy in the spiritual battles. Learn how to fight and you will be certain of victory."
"If God lets you fall is to make you humble and more careful in the future."
"The devil enters a soul only through one door: the will."
"We must prepare for temptation if we want to approach God."
Agitation
"Pray, hope, don't get agitated.
Agitation dosnt't help at all.
God is merciful and will listen to your prayer."
("Prega, spera, non agitarti. L'agitazione non giova a nulla. Dio è misericordioso ed ascoltera' la tua preghiera.")
"The more you get agitated, the sooner the Providence will withdraw it's arms from you."
"Anxiety makes us run only to make us trip."
"Agitation never comes from God."
Doubt
"To doubt is the greatest insult to the Divinity."
The dark night of the soul
God seems to be playing a game of hide-and-seek oscillating between extreme exaltation and violent depression.
To the very end of his life, he never felt that his salvation was entirely secure.
Towards the end of his life he asked his friend Pietro Cugino: "Tell me seriously. Do you think I will be saved?"
Prayer card for his ordination "A perfect victim"
Life
"Wait, your turn will come."
"Love doesn't tolerate delay."
"Life is a continual struggle against oneself."
"Planting is less important than sowing, to have a good harvest."
"Every year should be more fruitful than the previous one."
"The years pass by, and eternity becomes closer."
"In the spiritual life, the faster we run, the less tired we feel."
"The road to perfection is as long as a lifetime."
"Drowning on high seas or chocking on a glass of water have death as the same outcome."
'Guard jealously the purity of your heart and your body."
"Make hay while the sun shines."
"Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
"Detach yourself from the world."
"Repair the past and prepare for the future making good decisions."
"Don't philosophize on your defects."
"Fear is an evil worse than evil itself."
"Let us be honest always."
"Being attached to the things of the world brings sadness."
"Even when reprimanding one must be courteous and gentle."
"Gentleness doesn't mean permissiveness."
"Vainglory is the woodworm of holiness."
Do not be restless, upset, and anxious in times of darkness."
"It is easy and difficult to become a saint."
"Let your whole exterior be a vivid image of the composure of your soul."
"One day we will have to give strict account on how we spend our time."
"Let us be moved by the presence of God, who is also our judge."
Giving a religious medal: "This is the weapon which will preserve you from your enemies".
"The more ridiculous the order, the more willingly I obey it."
"Ask for nothing and refuse nothing. One must always obey."
"Duty before anything else. Even before what is holy."
"Sadness is of no use to anyone."
"The mom teaches the child walking by supporting him. But later he has to walk by himself."
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