103 posts 8/31/2007 10:27 pm
Last Read:
8/31/2007 10:29 pm
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Padre Pio's Mass... The celebration of the Holy Mass
The celebration of the Holy Mass
I. Initial rites and Liturgy of the word
In the name of the Father and of the and of the Holy Ghost: these are words that Padre Pio always pronounced with a lump in his throat, in order to resist and control the weeping that he does not succeed to restrain completely.
His “Mea Culpa” was accompanied by muffled beatings on his breast so as to confess before the community of brethren that he was the greatest sinner in the world.
--Padre, do you take our iniquities upon yourself, in the divine sacrifice?
I cannot do otherwise since that is part of the divine sacrifice.
--Does the Lord, then, consider you a sinner?
I don’t know, but I’m afraid it is so.
Once upon the altar, the Padre, after joining hands on the table, would bend down and remain for quite long in that position.
--I have seen you tremble as you went up the steps to the altar. Why? Was it for that which you were about to suffer?
Not for that which I had to suffer, but for that which I had to offer.
That which Padre Pio offers in the celebration of the Holy Mass is inherent in that which he suffers. Reaching the extreme point to which a human creature can arrive, suffering ‒ without dodging the point can prepare its victim for a total and perfect holocaust.
There is nothing which the Padre does not suffer, because he offers himself entirely.
--During which hours of the day do you suffer most. Padre?
During the celebration of the Holy Mass.
--Do you suffer also during the day, Padre, that which Jesus makes you suffer during the Holy Mass?
I’ll be in a real scrape! And how would I be able to work? How would I be able to practice my ministry?
The goodness of the Lord has been infinitely provident in revealing to us the very suffered offering of the Stigmatist of Gargano at the altar.
The Church rejoices for the great gift bestowed on her by the Lord; and the faithful on their part, are induced to glorify God, who thus visits his people.
During the Mass, with the crown of thorns on his head, or the immolation ‒ he said ‒ would not be complete, Padre Pio is subjected to a very particular suffering that in the history of the elect has been found only in him.
--At which point of the divine sacrifice do you suffer most?
Always and increasingly.
--Which is the moment during the celebration of the Holy Mass when you suffer most?
From the consecration to the communion.
With the typical faith of simple souls a significative question is made to Padre Pio: the answer makes one shudder, it upsets outright.
--During which part of the Mass do you suffer scourging?
From beginning to the end, but more intensely after the consecration.
--Are the stings of the crown of thorns and the wounds of the scourging real during the Mass?
What do you mean by this? The effect is the same all right.
In this way this meek and gentle lamb of Jesus prepares to offer to the celestial Father, together with the Martyr of Golgotha, his life in expiation of sins: by delivering his life for death, the servant of God, by means of the sacrifice, intercedes for sinners.
It is not easy to describe the contrite devotion with which he used to read the Epistle and the Gospel. The word of God used to affect him to such an extent that he could read certain extracts without crying.
--This morning during Mass, on reading the story of Esau who sold his birthright, your eyes were filled up with tears.
And is it nothing to you to fall to appreciate the gifts of God?
--Why did you cry when, in reading the Gospel, you arrived at the words: “Who eats my flesh and drinks my blood…”?
why don’t you join me in crying tears of affection.
--Why do you almost always cry when you read the gospel during the Holy Mass?
And do you deem it so little that God should condescend to talk with His creatures? And to be contradicted by them? And to be continuously wounded by their ingratitude and incredulity?
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Philippine Center for St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Inc.
188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Bagumbayan Q.C.
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