The following comes from a May 1 story by Jim Graves in Catholic San Francisco.
….Franciscan Father Guglielmo “William” Lauriola, 86, pastor emeritus of Immaculate Conception Church in San Francisco, grew up in Monte Sant’ Angelo, 16 miles east of San Giovanni Rotondo. A lay brother from the friary would come to his father’s store seeking donations for the community. The family began making regular bus trips to the friary in the 1930s. Father Willliam became a Franciscan and visited Padre Pio until his death in 1968….
“I remember as a boy I was a bit scared by his stigmata. He’d tell me not to look at it. I was worried that it caused him a lot of pain. You could see the suffering on his face; it was almost visible. He seemed to particularly suffer on Fridays. I’d ask him, ‘Why do you have to suffer so much?’ He’d tell me, ‘These wounds are to make up for my sins and the sins of others.’ I told him that my uncle was a doctor, and I would ask my uncle for some medicine to help him. Padre Pio would say, ‘No, medicine won’t do any good.’
“[His Masses] were very devout, particularly during the consecration. He’d say the words of consecration very slowly: ‘Hoc … est … enim … corpus … meum.’ As he elevated the host, his hand trembled a bit. I didn’t spend much time looking up during the consecration, however. When the bell rang, we’d bow our heads.
“….I was traveling in a small boat to an island off Korea. We were caught in a big storm, and I didn’t know if we’d survive. I started calling on Padre Pio to help us, and we made it. I think he knew I needed him.
….I’ve been doing exorcisms in the archdiocese since 1970. I always pray to him, ‘Padre Pio, help make my faith in Jesus strong and help these people who are coming to me.’ He helps me.”
To read entire story, click here.
Thank you for this story. And the link. I really liked the paragraph where Padre Pio told him “Remember, there is only one God.”
Excellent, k!!! Idolatry does not get discussed anywhere, even when prodding to do so is deployed. Anyone wonder why idolatry is not being discussed anywhere? I wonder why others do not wonder. Maybe k wonders. Maybe k will check into it and provide a blog … that we can tear apart, of course.
Yes, of course, because that is your nature.
I am grateful for such a great saint as Padre Pio. We are watching his movie again.
Father Lauriola is a very kind, hard-working, and holy priest. We are lucky to have him! I don’t know him well, but MANY friends talk about him and how much he has touched their lives — and changed their lives.
What a saintly priest Padre Pio was. Like St. John Vianney before him, scores of people would line up to confess their sins to him. He had such great concern for the welfare of souls. Padre Pio would be so aghast at the modernism and outright apostasy that infects the Church today. May he pray for us. +JMJ+
Hardly anyone mentions the constant teachings against immodesty that came from Padre Pio, why? BTW the same was for St. John Vianney.
He would actually command immodestly dressed women and men to leave the Church with “BASTA”! This happened even when he was in the confessional and could not see the doors from which these poor souls were entering. He would come out of the Confessional and loudly proclaim “OUT”. You have to ask who told him that these individuals were entering HIS house. The answer is quite clear that it was either He himself or His Mother!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Thank you.
We need more Saint Padre Pio s in today’s society.
We must all pray to know and do God’s Will at all times, not our own will – if we want to get to Heaven for eternity.
Review the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Sermon on the Mount from Mt 5:1 through Mt 7:29.
(This includes: the narrow gate Mt 7:13-14; and doing the will of My Father to get to Heaven Mt 7:21-23.)
For more info on St. Padre Pio on the net search the “Padre Pio Foundation of America”,
What I noticed about Padre Pio, Bishop Sheen and Mother Theresa are their eyes. They all shared the same piercing look that seems to look right into a person’s soul. Do you remember the story about the woman who was not granted absolution by Padre Pio because she had aborted a baby that he told her was meant to do great things for God? I think she had to do a really severe penance. (she also didn’t confess the abortion…he told her about it)
Wow Dana I didn’t know that…thanks for sharing that story of Padre Pio. I appreciate this great saint!
Dana,
There are many stories about Padre Pio, abortion, and the confessional!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
SPEAKING OF GOOD AND HOLY MEN, PLEASE PRAY FOR POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT:
A German cardinal has reportedly said that he was shocked by the sharp decline in the health of Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne visited Benedict at Castel Gandolfo on March 18. He said that he was taken aback by the retired Pontiff’s loss of strength and energy, as well as a dramatic loss of weight in the few weeks since his resignation took effect.
Cardinal Meisner reported that Benedict remained mentally alert.
I WAS SADDENED TO READ THIS ON CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS JUST NOW…
Thank you Michael for letting us know. We didn’t know this, I will say a prayer for POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT. God bless you for posting it here.
Pope Emeritus Benedict is surely aware and suffering for the gaping and bleeding wounds taking place from within Christ’s Church on earth. Pope Emeritus Benedict’s faith and our faith is in the power of Jesus Christ Crucified and the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
Luke 8: 40 “Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
Amen Catherine!