S
stbruno
Guest
Yesterday, while listening to Relevant Radio, I don’t remember which guest it was who was discussing the saint of the day, St.Padre Pio but he said something very thought provoking that I thought bear sharing…
Padre Pio had the gift of many “souls in Purgatory” visiting him during the course of a typical day. They would just be there, asking him to pray for their intercession. Other Franciscan priests have verified this, because on occasion they were also able to see the person in a bolted shut room too.
But on this occasion Padre Pio was in the choir loft after the church was locked when he saw a Friar around the altar…so he shouted down to him…asking why and what was he doing there?
And the Friar at the altar, turned to Padre Pio and said, that he was from Purgatory and had been there for 100 yrs…And he was requesting Padre’s prayers…Padre Pio asked the friar what did he do to merit Purgatory…and the friar answered…when he was saying mass, he wasn’t always reverent to the Holy Eucharist.
For most of us, we would never consider that as something we should even confess…that we took the mass for granted, or just kinda passed through mindlessly, caught up in our thoughts of the day, with disregard of what was actually going on the altar…but it says something to me personally. Actions count…adoring God is the first commandment…and should not be taken in stride…it’s important. So whenever we atttend mass, or minister during a mass, then we should be actively involved, engaged in the miracle occuring there. It is definitely, for me a new way of looking at the mass and the gifts present to us at each one. Christ is fully present…and so should we!
Otherwise we might be surprised when we hopefully are spending time in Purgatory. Hopefuly, because one day we will earn heaven.
Padre Pio had the gift of many “souls in Purgatory” visiting him during the course of a typical day. They would just be there, asking him to pray for their intercession. Other Franciscan priests have verified this, because on occasion they were also able to see the person in a bolted shut room too.
But on this occasion Padre Pio was in the choir loft after the church was locked when he saw a Friar around the altar…so he shouted down to him…asking why and what was he doing there?
And the Friar at the altar, turned to Padre Pio and said, that he was from Purgatory and had been there for 100 yrs…And he was requesting Padre’s prayers…Padre Pio asked the friar what did he do to merit Purgatory…and the friar answered…when he was saying mass, he wasn’t always reverent to the Holy Eucharist.
For most of us, we would never consider that as something we should even confess…that we took the mass for granted, or just kinda passed through mindlessly, caught up in our thoughts of the day, with disregard of what was actually going on the altar…but it says something to me personally. Actions count…adoring God is the first commandment…and should not be taken in stride…it’s important. So whenever we atttend mass, or minister during a mass, then we should be actively involved, engaged in the miracle occuring there. It is definitely, for me a new way of looking at the mass and the gifts present to us at each one. Christ is fully present…and so should we!
Otherwise we might be surprised when we hopefully are spending time in Purgatory. Hopefuly, because one day we will earn heaven.