Sunday, July 18, 2010

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

My mind and heart have been drawn closer to Saint Padre Pio lately. I learned about him a few years back when I was in conversion classes with Father Mooney. Over the last seven years or so I have been reading biographies of various saints, Padre Pio was one of them. It was not an "easy read" as it was very long and had been translated in English. Often times when a book is translated it does not read as smoothly. I am not an English scholar so it makes it more difficult for me. You can probably tell from my writing that I lack the grammatical structure of a scholar. Perhaps I will dedicate my teaching year to Saint Pio. If you have not readd his biography, take the time, you will be glad you did. Even if it takes you six months. I think I shall revisit a few chapters myself.

I digress....my post was about "The Padre". His biography was one of my favorite. I have not watched the movie as I have not read good review. His biography contained His Prayer After Communion. I have tried over the years to read some or all of it as often as my children will allow :). I have been in the season of "not on your life" will you get to read a prayer card after communion. So as it falls from the visor of my mini van on occasion I smile and read a few lines and remember to ask;

"Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and alway be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strenth, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen."

WOW! I feel sooo.....peaceful after typing and praying that. I hope it brings great joy and devotion also. Have a beautiful Sunday.

All Glory to God!



1 comment:

  1. Thank you! That was so moving. I also have Padre Pio's biography and have read bits and pieces. I need to try to read it again he was an inspiring man. A dear friend gave me the book before I converted!God Bless you dear friend....

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