St Padre Pio - Mother Pelican

St Padre Pio : Mother Pelican ( 25 May 1887 - 23 September 1968 )
“My Children, I am close to you. Closer than you can imagine. I am in contact with your mind and am directing your thoughts. I am close to your heart and am counting your heartbeats, so that with all in unison they might lift up a hymn of glory to God the Father Almighty.”
“Any mental pictures of your life that focuses on past sins is a lie and this comes from the devil. Jesus loves you and has forgiven you your sins, so there is no room for having a downcast spirit. Whatever persuades you otherwise is truly a waste of time. It is also something that offends the heart of our very tender Lover. On the other hand, if the mental picture of your life consists in what you can be or could be, then it comes from God.”
“My past, O Lord, to your mercy, my present, to your love, my future to your providence.”
“You will need the help of St Michael living in this world.”
“Invoke your Guardian Angel, who will enlighten and guide you for your protection, therefore, you should use him accordingly.”
“Don’t allow any sadness to dwell in your soul, for sadness prevents the Holy Spirit from acting freely.”
“To be tempted is a sign that the soul is very pleasing to the Lord.”
“Once I take a soul on, I take on their entire family as my spiritual children.”
“Only one thing is necessary. Lift up your spirit and love God.”
“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”
“Let your whole life be spent in self-surrender, in prayer, in work, in humility, in giving thanks to our good God.”
“ Don’t spend your energies on things that generate worry, anxiety and anguish. One thing is necessary: Lift up your spirit and love God.”
“Abandon yourself in the hands of Mary. She will take care of you. I always pray for the sick. I say a holy Rosary for them. She will heal you.”
“Love Our Lady and make her loved. Always recite the Rosary and recite it as often as possible.”
“You must not be discouraged or let yourself become dejected if your actions have not succeeded as perfectly as you intended. What do you expect? We are made of clay and not every soil yields the fruits expected by the one who tills it. But let us always humble ourselves and acknowledge that we are nothing if we lack the Divine assistance.”
St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
In one of her books, perhaps “The Book of All Saints” I remember The Servant of God Adrienne von Speyr saying something like, the saints are especially available around their feast days. This seems only natural, as we think of loved ones who have passed on their birthdays and the anniversaries of they’re going into God.
Besides the obvious decorations and non-stop music in stores etc., no one has to tell you it’s the Christmas season. As kairos time gets closer to the 25th of December, you can actually feel the descent of the Holy Shekhinah; or what we call “the Christmas spirit.”
Padre Pio died on 23 September, and this year I thought I’d offer some of his quotes and I’d love them to encourage “your soul into Hope”. I mean real Hope. At the moment I’m back to reading some new books about him. I’ve read so many over the years, I’ll tell you which authors I’ve appreciateted so far. This only means that I haven’t gotten to everyone yet, not that they aren’t worthy. But since it’s Padre Pio season maybe you’ll join me in celebrating his incredible life. The man who promised, “After my death, I will do more. My real mission will begin after my death.”
Here are a very few that I know of :
Renzo Allegri, Bernard Ruffin, Graziella DeNunzio Mandato, Frank Rega, Diane Allen,
Adolfo Affatato, and two utter gems by Padre Alessio Parente.
There are so many books on Padre Pio, I don’t think in all my years, I’ve ever been disappointed. And recently Padre (hopefully) permanently zapped Shia LaBeof, while he was preparing to portray Padre in a new movie, released already on 9 September, although, sadly, with poor reviews. But at least, Padre’s reach into the mainstream culture has already begun. Maybe it will lead people to find out more about Padre? If you’re skeptical about Shia’s overwhelming conversion, I’d suggest reading James Fowler’s very realistic book called “Stages of Faith.” Sometimes a new convert can go very far right or left, and in maturity they will find their way. The reformed churches refer to this as a “walk with God” that continues to mature with time and, above all, hard earned wisdom. Isn’t this the way with all of us ?
Because the late compassionate, lovely, and kind late Archbishop James Casey of Denver, could not ordain me in June, the usual month for ordinations, I was providentially ordained on Padre Pio’s birthday, 25 May 1979. This has been a continually surprising grace throughout my 43 years as a priest.
This icon pictures Padre Pio holding a medallion of Jesus the Mother Pelican. This symbol comes from a medieval legend that if her chicks were starving, the Mother Pelican would open her side and feed them with her own blood. Both St Francis and Padre Pio were referred to as mother and father during their lives, by both men and women. When I finished the icon, I was hoping Padre would approve. Watching the video cassette (this was the 90’s) of his last Mass, September 22, 1968, as he turned around to leave the outdoor altar, being heavily supported by fellow Friars, I noticed on the back of his Chasuable, was an embroidered image of the Mother Pelican.
“Henceforth, let no one trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.”
Galatians 6:17
“Dear Lord Our God,
You renewed the marks of the sufferings of your Son in the body of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina in order to inflame and heal our hearts with the fire of your love. Teach us always to glory in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.”
Fr William Hart McNichols ☦️ September 2022