103 posts 9/3/2007 9:32 pm
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9/3/2007 9:36 pm
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II. Eucharistic liturgy and conclusive rites... Part I
II. Eucharistic liturgy and conclusive rites
(PART I )
The second part of the Mass finds Padre Pio a liturgist of the highest class. The Crucified Man of Golgotha, for this his very special minister, can re-actualize even visibly besides physically, according to the capability of a creature made an efficacious sign of Christ, the tremendous tragedy of Calvary.
In the history of the sacrament of the Mass, in the plurimillenial sacramental life of the Church, the Stigmatist of Gargano is still the only minister who, in the mystery of the altar, efficaciously expresses also in flesh, as far as is possible for him, the Crucified Man of Golgotha.
--Padre, is your Mass a sanguinary sacrifice?
Heretic!
--No, What I mean is that of Jesus is bloodless but your participation in the whole passion is sanguinary. Am I right?
Well!! …this time you are not mistaken. You may also be right.
--Who wipes your blood during the Mass?
No one.
At the offering once again Padre Pio would remain still for quite some time. It was a salient part of the Mass.
Nailed by mysterious force,, with tearful eyes always lovingly fixed on the Crucifix of the altar, the Padre would remain still as if petrified, for several minutes with the bread and wine in his hands.
--Why do you cry at offertory?
Do you want to rob me of my secret? Let it be. Well, then. It is the moment when the soul is separated from all that is profane.
The Lord will separate his servant to such an extent as to render him insensible to all that was profane around him.
--During your Mass, Padre the crowd is wont to be rather noisy!…
and what if you had been on Calvary where all you could hear was yells, blasphemies, noises, threats? It was a hubbub there!
--Do the noises made in the Church disturb you?
Not at all.
In spite of the separation, however, Padre Pio was not rigidly detached from all those who were present around him taking part in the celebration of his Mass. The close and complete union with god that succeeded after the separation of the soul from every profane element, gave to Padre Pio the superhuman possibility of detecting, one by one, all those who gathered around his altar.
--Padre, are all the faithful assisting your mass present in your spirit?
I see all my at the altar as if in a mirror.
With all the in his heart, Padre Pio would lie with Jesus on the Cross for the divine sacrifice. Padre Pio’s trembling face betrayed the love with which he gave himself as a victim. The Stigmatist of Gargano, between sobs and tears, in indescribable agony, would re-enact the divine tragedy of Calvary so vividly in himself, during the consecration, as to reveal in his painful body the tremendous martyrdom of Jesus crucified.
--Why do you suffer so much, Padre, during the consecration?
You are very unkind!
In a few words, Padre Pio at first tries to evade the issue. Another attempt was expected.
--Tell me why you suffer so much during the consecration?
Because right then a new and admirable destruction and creation takes place.
In a short and concise phrase, this time, Padre Pio says something more. The very singular miracle of the eucharistic conversion, is affirmed with absolute clarity. Nothing is said, however, as to the extent of his suffering at the moment of the transubstantiation: “in the new and admirable destruction and creation” the Padre dismisses, by concealing it, his intimate and secret participation.
Though it intended more that was said, the answer was not satisfying enough. It was only a gap. The right occasion was sought to make another question with the aim of extorting a more detailed answer.
--Why do you suffer so much during the consecration?
The secrets of the Most High are not revealed without profaning them. You ask me why I suffer. I would like to shed torrents of tears and not just a few drops! Doesn’t the tremendous mystery make you reflect? A god made victim for our sins!… We, then, are his butchers.
The tremendous mystery of the consecration captures the last hours passed by Christ on the Cross; the crucified man of Gargano re-lives, now, at the altar, one after the other, the last moments of the Crucified Man of Golgotha. We need now to bear in mind all that is written in the gospel about Jesus. First of all, the prologue to the crucifixion.
--Do you suffer the bitterness of the gall, Padre?
Yes and very often.
After having tasted the gall, the most patient of Francis reveals how he stands crucified on the altar.
--Padre, how do you manage to stand on your feet at the altar?
In the same way Jesus stood on the Cross.
--When at the altar, do you hang on the cross like Jesus on Calvary?
In the same way as Jesus on Calvary.
With regards to the Crucifixion Padre Pio is asked:
--Did the executioners overturn the cross in order to hammer in the nails?
Obviously!
--Do they hammer in the nails on you as well?
And how!
--Do they also overturn the cross in your case?
Yes, but no fear.
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Philippine Center for St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Inc.
188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Bagumbayan Q.C.
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