Sept. 23, 2010 Thursday: Padre Pio
If you ever had seen photos of St. Padre Pio celebrating mass, he is always gazing at the Host or the chalice with such rapt attention as if he was gazing at something so incredible before him. I bought a little booklet when I went to Padre Pio’s place in Italy this past June, and I want to read a little bit to you which will reveal the inner mystery of the Eucharist and the Sacrifice of Mass.
Someone asked him, “Padre, in what hour of the day do you suffer most?”
He replied, “During the celebration of Mass.”
“Padre, at what moment of the divine Sacrifice do you suffer most?”
He replied, “From the Consecration to Communion.”
“Padre, at what part of the Mass are you scourged?”
He replied, “From beginning to end, but more intensely after the Consecration.”
“Padre, during Mass are the pricks of the crown of thorns and the wounds of the scouring real?”
He replied, “What do you mean? The results are
certainly the same.”
“Padre, why do you nearly always cry, when you read the Gospel during Mass?”
He replied, “And it’s of little account to you that God converses with His creatures? And is contradicted by them? And is continually hurt by their ingratitude and incredulity?”
“Padre, during your Mass, the crowd makes a lot of noise!”
He replied, “And if you had been at Calvary where there was shouting, blasphemy, noise and threats! There was a lot of noise then!”
“Padre, why do you suffer so much at the Consecration?”
He replied, “I would like to weep torrents of tears and not just a few tears! Don’t you reflect on the tremendous mystery? A God, victim for our sins! And we are His butchers.”
“Padre, why don’t you give us a little of your passion? What can I do to alleviate your Calvary?”
He replied, “Alleviate? You would do better to say overload. It is necessary to suffer!”
“Padre, it is painful to assist at your martyrdom without being able to help you!”
He replied, “The Sorrowful Virgin too had to assist. Certainly for Jesus it was more of a
comfort to have a sorrowful mother rather than an indifferent one.”
“Padre, what did the Virgin do at the feet of Jesus crucified?”
He replied, “She suffered to see her Son suffer. She offered the sufferings and pains of Jesus to the heavenly Father for our salvation.”
“Padre, what is Holy Communion?
He replied, “It is all an internal and external mercy. An embrace. Ask Jesus to make Himself felt sensibly.”
“Padre, what does Jesus do at Communion?”
He replied, “He finds delight in
His creature...Communion is a fusion. Like two candles that melt together and are no longer distinguishable.”
“Padre, why do you cry when you receive Communion?”
He replied, “If the Church exclaims: ‘You did not disdain the womb of the Virgin,’ speaking of the Incarnation, what is to be said of us wretches?”
“Padre, what union will we have in heaven with Jesus?”
He replied, “Ah! The Eucharist gives an idea.”
“Padre, does the Most Holy Virgin assist at your Masses?”
He replied, “And do you imagine the Mother is not interested in her Son?”
“Padre, do the angels assist at your Masses?”
He replied, “In throngs.”
“What do they do?”
He replied, “They adore and they love.”
“Padre, who is closest to your altar?”
He replied, “The whole of Paradise.”
Through the experience of Padre Pio who was so united to Our Lord in His Passion, we can begin to see why we should be crying with sorrow and gratitude. Believe me, there are times when I celebrate mass without attention. How many souls are affected then by my indifference and lack of attention! What fruitfulness is there if Jesus wants to seek and heal one of his sons and daughters at mass, and yet his brother priest is refusing to carry the sacrifice of the Cross. Here I’m given the privilege to re-present the very suffering and redemption of All Loving God, and yet I’m distracted by profane and earthly concerns. Padre Pio would cry for me if he was concelebrating mass with me.
