One of the most popular and beloved saints of the twentieth century, Padre Pio was a man of contrasts. His supernaturally based joyful spirit existed mysteriously alongside heavier emotions, including spiritual desolation. Truly, the joy of the Lord characterized his entire life. This new compilation contains selections from popular titles, breathing new life into classic offerings and creating a devotional with short, inspirational entries.
This rare glimpse into the heart and soul of Padre Pio reveals the profound spirituality and humanity of the beloved Capuchin friar canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Beyond the extraordinary events that accompanied Padre Pio's life--such as receiving the stigmata--these intimate letters attest to his personal struggles, concerns, temptations, and fears. The book consists of two parts, each with an introduction by a member of the Capuchins.
This collection of inspiring, startling, and humorous anecdotes on the life of Padre Pio shows how he brought the Good News of Jesus to countless people in his uniquely vivid way. In particular, Cataneo, an acquaintance and contemporary of Padre Pio, explores the aura of mystery surrounding this modest Capuchin friar, offering gleanings for our reflection. From this account of miraculous incidents emerges a fascinating question: what particular message did God wish to pass on through the life of Padre Pio?
"He who believes in miracles has already obtained one." A faith so powerful that he bore the stigmata. Prayer so intense that he appeared to believers all over the world. Padre Pio is one of the most intriguing and otherworldly saints of the twentieth century, but this biography has been out of print in English for more than forty years--until now. Padre Pio, written just a few years after his death, brings the saint's words and works to a new audience eager to learn of his mysticism and miracles.
The world was startled in 2007 by revelations that Mother Teresa of Calcutta's spiritual life was full of serious doubts and personal suffering for nearly 50 years. The other great saint of the last half century - Padre Pio - offers similar revelations of his own in this enlightening collection of short excerpts from his letters. Many books have been written on the life and works of Padre Pio, but Words of Light is not a book about what others think or say about him. Here, he speaks for himself. If you are interested in the complexities and challenges of contemporary faith, you will benefit from these short teachings, counsels, and recollections culled from some of Padre Pio's most personal writings. In these letters I quickly discovered the same states of soul that were described by the great mystics. Padre Pio's own 'dark night' was in no way inferior to that described by John of the Cross, and equally the 'living flame' of his love for God dazzles the reader and allows them to catch a glimpse of another world. - Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, from the Introduction
A true treasure of spiritual insights, this little booklet contains the remarkable meditations on the Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane by Blessed Padre Pio, the stigmatist priest. One of his few writings, the booklet also includes many pictures of Blessed Padre Pio from throughout his ministry. Padre Pio's beautiful and descriptive manner of writing provide a wonderful spiritual insight into that last night of Jesus' human life.
Let the Holy Spirit lead you to the Living Water that feeds our well of faith. When asked about his spiritual gifts of healing, bilocation, prophecy, and stigmata, Padre Pio replied, “You know, they are a mystery to me, too.” While you might think he is just being modest, he is actually getting at the heart of how the Holy Spirit works in every Christian’s life. We can’t fully understand why God gives us certain gifts, but as we walk with Christ, we can engage with this mystery and journey towards holiness. In Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio, Susan De Bartoli shares stories and wisdom from the life of this humble monk to show how we can use our unique spiritual gifts to love others and draw from the well of faith to encounter Christ in profound ways. Following the success of her Advent devotional, Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio, Susan De Bartoli invites you to explore Padre Pio’s relationship with the third member of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who is the source of all spiritual gifts. Through the stories of this simple Capuchin priest, you’ll discover what is possible for those who surrender themselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. At Baptism, we all receive the fruits of the Spirit—gifts like wisdom, fortitude, and piety—that empower us to “dive deep” into the well of faith. The Holy Spirit also graces some of us with special charisms—supernatural gifts such as healing, teaching, or intercessory abilities—intended to serve the Church. In this book, you’ll learn how to nurture these gifts, just as Padre Pio did, so that even your “ordinary“ spiritual gifts and charisms can bless others and deepen your own faith. Each chapter offers quotations from Padre Pio, a short story about the saint, prayer, and reflection questions that you can apply to your own life, such as: What are my spiritual gifts and how have I seen them play out in my life already? Am I consistently drinking from the well of faith? What does the Lord want me to do with my life, and how can I use my spiritual gifts to serve the Church? Am I willing to surrender even the good things in my life to glorify the Lord? Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio is the perfect companion for those who are already drawn to Padre Pio’s spirituality or anyone yearning to strengthen their relationship with the Holy Spirit. Through the example of this extraordinary saint, you will discover how continually drawing from the well of Living Water can drastically change your everyday walk with Christ.
Reading Robert Ellsberg’s profiles of holy men and women is like throwing open a window in a stuffy old church and taking in great gulps of fresh air. Henri Nouwen has described his writing as “evocative without being pious.” He broadens the traditional vision of sanctity and calls modern readers of all stripes to claim their potential for moral and spiritual growth, courage and action. By choosing relevant models and contemporary heroes, he makes holiness accessible and attractive to ordinary people. These 101 spiritual trailblazers span the centuries from Francis and Clare to Solanus Casey and Mychal Judge, with representatives from every walk of life and corner of the world. Each entry features the essential biographical facts and adds the insight and depth only Ellsberg can provide. The author’s sharp eye for signs and stories of holiness in the gritty, messy real world informs his selections, making his work unique. Obscure lay peasants, married activists, and controversial social reformers take pride of place alongside better-known theologians, founders, and canonized saints. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.
If you've ever wished you could sit down and ask Saint Padre Pio, the famous stigmatist of the 20th century, some of the deepest questions of the human heart, now you can. With beautiful illustrations and topics ranging from simple queries about the role of angels to the cry of a soul seeking to understand the meaning of suffering, these meditations use the actual words of this sainted priest to answer your most intimate questions and reveal God's own messages of encouragement, exhortation, inspiration, and blessing. Padre Pio (1887-1968) was an internationally beloved Franciscan priest. From his home in Italy, he drew thousands of pilgrims who wished to obtain a blessing, experience healing, go to Confession, or be present at Mass celebrated by the sainted friar. He was canonized a saint on June 16, 2002.
