St. Jerome: love for the Bible

"Ignorare Scripturas, ignorare Christum est." (Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ). This sentence, coined more than sixteen centuries ago by St. Jerome, remains just as topical in the Church today. St. Jerome holds that faith and love of Christ must be based on a solid knowledge obtained directly from his principal source of revelation: the written Word of God.

St. Jerome dedicated his entire life to a seemingly endless task, the translation of the Bible Latin, known as the Vulgatacommissioned by Pope Damasus I. This translation is still valid after 1,500 years of history and has served as a reference for the development of the work of the Bible of the University of Navarra.

For the CARF Foundation, which one of its founding purposes is to help in the formation of seminarians and diocesan and religious priests, the figure of this Doctor of the Church continues to be a reference of how Sacred Scripture must occupy an essential place in the life of every Christian and, in a special way, in that of his pastors.

Who was St. Jerome? The lion of the desert and the scholar of Rome

Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius, born around 347 in Stridon (Dalmatia), was not a man of gentle character. He was vehement, with a sharp pen and an ascetic temperament. However, all that passion was channeled by his love for Christ and his Word.

His training in Rome made him one of the most brilliant intellectuals of his time, a master in Latin, Greek and rhetoric. But a dream in which he was accused of being "Ciceronian rather than Christian" prompted him to devote his intellect entirely to God.

This commitment led him to seek the solitude of the desert of Chalcis, in Syria. There, in the midst of penance and prayer, he devoted himself to the study of a language that would be key to his future mission: Hebrew. This work forged his spirit and provided him with the necessary philological tools for an undertaking that no Latin had dared to undertake with such rigor.

His fame as a scholar reached the ears of Pope Damasus I, who appointed him his secretary in Rome. It was precisely the Pope who, concerned about the chaotic diversity of Latin versions of the Bible in circulation (Vetus Latina), entrusted St. Jerome with the task of producing a unified and reliable translation.

Grabado en blanco y negro de san Jerónimo como un erudito trabajando en su estudio, con un león y un perro durmiendo pacíficamente a sus pies.
St. Jerome in his study (1514), engraving by Albrecht Dürer.

The mission of a lifetime: the Vulgate

Pope Damasus's commission was the beginning of a work that would occupy St. Jerome for more than thirty years. After the death of his patron, he settled definitively in Bethlehem, in a cave near the place where the Word became flesh. There, surrounded by manuscripts and with the help of disciples such as St. Paula and St. Eustochia of Rome (c. 368 - 419/420), who was the daughter of St. Paula. Both accompanied St. Jerome on his journey to the East, settling in the city of David.

What was the genius of St. Jerome? His revolutionary principle of Hebraica veritas (the Hebrew truth). Whereas the existing Latin versions were based mainly on the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), St. Jerome insisted on returning to the original Hebrew and Aramaic sources. This earned him much criticism from illustrious contemporaries, such as St. Augustine, who viewed with suspicion the abandonment of the Septuagint tradition, used by the Apostles themselves.

Nevertheless, St. Jerome persevered, convinced that only by drinking from the original source could he offer the Church a more accurate version of the Bible. He translated the 46 books of the Old Will Hebrew (with the exception of some that he revised from the Hebrew Vetus Latina), and revised and translated the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament from the original Greek. The result was what is known as the Vulgate, so called because of its aim to be the edition accessible to the people (vulgus). It was a work of scholarship, discipline and faith.

This effort was a philological exercise and an act of pastoral love. As those involved in the formation of seminarians and priests know well, making the Word of God available to the faithful in an understandable and faithful way is a sacred mission.

The soundness of St. Jerome's bible

The Vulgata from St. Jerome far transcended its initial purpose. For more than a millennium, it was the biblical text of reference throughout the Christian West.

The Vulgata was not a perfect translation - Jerome himself was aware of its limitations - but its fidelity and impact made it a treasure for faith and culture. His work is a reminder of the importance of having patron saints who, like St. Jerome, dedicate their lives to the service of Truth.

San Jerónimo como un anciano asceta en el desierto, semidesnudo y con barba larga, meditando frente a una cruz mientras sostiene una piedra para golpearse el pecho.
St. Jerome penitent (1600), canvas by El Greco.

From the Vulgate to the University of Navarra Bible

Does this mean that the Vulgata is the only Bible valid? Not at all. The very spirit of St. Jerome to return to the sources is the driving force of the Church. The Second Vatican Council, in its dogmatic constitution Dei Verbumencouraged the creation of new translations based on the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts, which we now know much more accurately thanks to archaeology and papyrology.

As a result of this impetus, Pope Paul VI promulgated in 1979 the Nova VulgataThe text, a revision of St. Jerome's version in the light of modern criticism, is still the reference text for the Latin liturgy.

At the same time, excellent translations into vernacular languages have emerged. A paradigmatic example is the Bible of the University of Navarra. Produced by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarra, this version is a direct heir to the rigor and love for the truth of St. Jerome.

It offers a faithful and elegant translation of the original text, as well as being enriched with extensive notes and commentaries drawn from the Patristics, the Magisterium of the Church and great saints, allowing the reader to delve into the inexhaustible richness of the Word of God. It is a formidable tool for personal meditation and study, a resource that every seminarian and priest should have within his reach.

The life of St. Jerome goes beyond his work. He teaches us an attitude towards the BibleThe book is a blend of intellectual rigor and humble piety. It reminds us that approaching Scripture is not an academic exercise, but a personal encounter with Christ. In its pages we discover the face of God who gives meaning to our lives.

For the CARF Foundation, supporting the formation of a seminarian or diocesan priest is, in essence, a continuation of the mission of St. Jerome. It is to give the Church future pastors who, like him, love the Word of God, study it with passion, meditate on it in prayer and know how to transmit it faithfully to the faithful. A well-formed priest is a priest who knows and loves the Word of God. Bibleand who can, in turn, teach his people not to ignore Christ.

Therefore, make a donation for the formation of these young people is to invest directly in evangelization and in the future of the Church, assuring that the light of the Word, so well guarded and transmitted by St. Jeromecontinue to shine in the world.

El anciano y frágil san Jerónimo es sostenido por sus discípulos mientras se arrodilla para recibir la Eucaristía de manos de un sacerdote.
St. Jerome's last communion (1614), by Domenico Zampieri, known as Domenichino.

St. Jerome was more than a translator, he was a servant of the Word, a man who dedicated his life to making the treasure of the Word accessible to all. Bible. Your Vulgata unified the biblical texts of the Western Church and became the channel through which divine revelation nourished the faith, culture and thought of hundreds of generations.

His example invites us to take up our Bibles, to read them with the same love and reverence that he did, and to discover in them the living voice of God speaking to us. For, as he taught us, to ignore Scripture is, and always will be, to ignore Christ.

Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, September 29th

In the Catholic faith, few figures inspire as much reverence and affection as the angels. Spiritual creatures, endowed with intelligence and will, they are the manifestation of God's perfection, infinity and power: each of them exhausts in him his own species. Sacred Scripture and the tradition of the Church reveal their existence to us as a truth of faith. In this heavenly choir, three figures stand out for their name and mission: the saints archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel y St. Raphael.

On September 29, the Church celebrates these three faithful servants of God in a single feast, recognizing their role in the History of Salvation. From the CARF Foundation, we want to deepen in the identity and mission of these heavenly princes, powerful allies on the road to holiness, whose protective and messenger work is still valid today as in biblical times.

The Gospel passage proposed by the Church for this feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael is the meeting of Jesus with Nathanael, which St. John places at the beginning of his Gospel. "You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man" (Jn 1:47-51). Jesus makes himself known as the Messiah, and describes the mission of the angels, who are part of the history of salvation, carrying out different missions entrusted by God.

Angels: servants and messengers

Before reviewing the specific missions of St. Michael, St. Gabriel y St. RaphaelWe must understand what the Church teaches us about angels. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CEC) clearly instructs us: "The existence of spiritual, non-corporeal beings, which Sacred Scripture usually calls angels, is a truth of faith" (CEC, 328).

They are not a mere abstraction or a conjunction of energy. They are personal and immortal creatures that surpass in perfection all visible creatures. Their purpose is to glorify God without ceasing and to serve as executors of his saving designs. Like their own Greek name -angelswhich means "envoy" or "messenger" - indicates that one of its primary functions is to communicate the divine will to mankind.

Tradition, based on the Scriptures, has organized the angels into different choirs or hierarchies. The archangels are those entrusted with missions of special transcendence. Although the Bible suggests the existence of seven, the Catholic Church venerates with their own names the three revealed in the canonical texts, as a sign of divine intervention in the world. Their work is a constant reminder that Heaven is not distant, but is actively involved in our history, a reality that sustains the formation of future priests who will one day preach these truths of faith.

The liturgy has unified in on september 29th, the feast of the holy archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Their names refer to their functions as intermediaries between God and men, as well as executors of his orders and transmitters of his messages.

El Arcángel san Gabriel, arrodillado con humildad ante la Virgen María en un pórtico, le anuncia que será la Madre de Dios.
The Annunciation (1426) by Fra Angelico. St. Gabriel is depicted as the messenger of the Incarnation.

The Archangel Gabriel

Its name means Fortress of God. The archangel Gabriel was entrusted with the mission of announcing to the Virgin Mary that she would be the Mother of the Savior. The message it conveys is transcendental. Undoubtedly the most important in the History of Salvation; it is about the arrival of the Messiah, the Son of God, to the world.

It was "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he went in to her and said to her, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you....'". Luke 1:26-28.

El Arcángel san Miguel, con armadura y espada en alto, somete con su pie la cabeza de Satanás, que yace derrotado en el suelo.
Saint Michael defeating the devil (1636) by Guido Reni. It represents his power as head of the heavenly militia.

The Archangel Michael

In Hebrew it means Who is like God, an expression that is in harmony with his mission and interventions. 

The archangel Michael is in command of the heavenly armies.. He is the defender of the Church and his name is the battle cry in the battle waged in Heaven against Satan. That is why St. Michael is depicted attacking the infernal serpent.

The Church has worshipped and prayed to him since the 5th century because of his protective role, both in the first reading and during the celebration of the Mass. Holy MassThe liturgy of the hours, in antiphons and in the Office of Readings.

"Archangel Michael, defend us in the struggle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. We beseech God to keep him under his empire; and you, O Prince of the Heavenly Militia, cast into hell with divine power Satan and the other evil spirits, who go about the world trying to lose souls. Amen.

The Archangel Raphael

The archangel Raphael is the friend of the wayfarers and physician of the sick. His name means Medicine of God or God has worked health. In the Bible he is presented as the protector and companion of all, and is one of the great angels present before the glory of the Lord.

It appears in the book of Tobit 12:17-20 that it is the Archangel Raphael himself who reveals his identity: "Do not be afraid. Peace be with you. Bless God forever. If I have been with you..., it has been by the will of God. To Him you must bless every day, to Him you must sing... And now bless the Lord on earth and confess to God. Behold, I go up to him who sent me...".

arcángeles san miguel, san grabriel y san rafael
Archangel Saint Raphael by Juan de Valdés Leal.

The archangels in the life of the saints

Devotion to the archangels is not a mere theological curiosity; it has been a source of strength for countless saints.

St. Thomas Aquinasthe Angelic Doctor, although he is not known to have a specific personal devotion to any of the three. archangels as well as other saints, is the most important intellectual figure in the understanding of the angelic nature. In his Summa Theologicadevoted an entire treatise to the angels, exploring with unparalleled depth their being, their knowledge and their will. His work provides the theological structure upon which the Catholic doctrine of angels rests, allowing us to appreciate more clearly the greatness of the angels. San Miguel, San Gabriel y San Rafael.

St. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael: Patrons of Opus Dei

St. JosemaríaFrom the beginning of the foundation of the Work, he felt that he needed a lot of help from heaven to carry out the mission that God had entrusted to him: to transmit the message that it is possible to be a saint through work and ordinary life. Part of that help came from the holy archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

"I prayed the prayers of the Work of God, invoking the holy archangels, our patron saints: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael.... And how sure I am that this triple call, to such high lords in the Kingdom of Heaven, must be - it is- most pleasing to the Triune and One, and must hasten the hour of the Work!"(St. Josemaría Escrivá).

On Thursday, October 6, 1932, while praying in the chapel of St. John of the Cross during his spiritual retreat in the convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Segovia, St. Josemaría chose as patrons of Opus Dei the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael and the Apostles St. John, St. Peter and St. Paul. From that moment on, he considered them patrons of the different apostolic areas that make up Opus Dei.

Under the patronage of the archangel St. Raphael is the work of Christian formation of youth, from where they arise vocations in the early years, the years of great deeds. Under the patronage of the archangel St. Michael, we find the vocations who are formed spiritually and humanly in celibacy. As for the fathers and mothers of families who are part of the Work, their patron is the Archangel Gabriel.

Thus, we can then recall the passage from the Gospel of Luke that will be read on the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and think that God has wanted all Christians to count on the help of the archangels and with the help of the guardian angels who know a lot about the task of kindling cold hearts and helping to make generous decisions.

Bibliography

Savoring the silence

A silence that should serve to draw closer to Jesus Christ and through Him to others.

It has been stressed with some insistence -perhaps to help us overcome the selfishness we carry within us- that man is a 'social being'. And it is true. From time to time we are reminded of the need to be in solidarity with all the other inhabitants of the planet, worrying about hunger in a distant country or on our own doorstep.

The Church often brings to mind the "communion of saints," that spiritual bond that unites us all "children of God in Christ Jesus," which makes each of us responsible, in an ineffable way, for the fate of others, in good and evil.

disfrutar del silencio y la oración con Dios

All these considerations seem to me to be very correct. It is now up to us to recognize that fraternal solidarity among us does not exclude neither silence nor solitude; indeed, it demands them, if we truly want to live now a "communion of men" and, in its day, a "communion of men" and, in its day, a "communion of men".communion of saints". It is the same solitary silence in which an artist creates and ponders his works; in which a mother contemplates and loves her children.

Soledad

Silence and solitude -which in truth is oneself with God; the solitude of oneself with oneself ends up being truly unbearable- are necessary for each one to become aware of himself, of his existence; of "who he is" and of "who he is for".

"The humanity of those who never shut up, fades away", he said very accurately. Guardini. And only in this way will we today become aware of our own humanity, of the meaning of our walk on earth.

To enjoy this in enriching solitude with Christ, we have a great enemy: noise. I have the impression that the present moment of our civilization is producing too much noise, outside and inside man. The false news about the current Pope is a good example.

Sometimes we surround ourselves with too much internal noise, noise of the spirit, to escape from the solitude of silence. The television on all day long, the radio in the car and in the office. We look for information from any country and on the most absurd subjects, which we do not even know how to assimilate for something useful.

Noises in the ear and in the head that prevent us from living the joy of feeling the flapping of a mosquito. And it is a pity, because at that moment we would begin to know that we are alive and to realize what our own life is worth.

Eternity

The beauty and richness of silence expressed it very well Jean GuittonIt leads us to the most intimate point of ourselves, there where eternity touches us and vivifies us, there where eternity speaks to us in a whisper of words".

disfrutar del silencio y la oración con Dios

Esperanza

And in the Bible we read: "in silence and in hope you will find your strength" (cf. Is 30:15). It is true. Calm and solitude recreate within our spirit the moment of our own creation, they allow us to reproduce - and make our own - Adam's encounter with God in the garden of paradise.

Perhaps one of the fruits -I do not know if it is directly desired- of the battles of the ecologists is, precisely, to invite us to yearn for silence, savoring in solitude the silence of nature. The plane flies by, and the clouds remain silent.

But the stillness of nature is not enough for man; and since he cannot rid himself entirely of external noise, he needs peace within himself even more urgently. Even amidst the noise of the avenues, the orange trees produce their fruit in the quiet of the countryside. Even the man of today, who works and consumes himself in a thousand efforts of service to keep the world on its feet, longs for peace of soul, of spirit.

Only in the solitude of that silence will it be able to bear its best fruit.The contemplation and adoration of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, the Word of God.

Ernesto Juliá, ernesto.julia@gmail.com

Originally published in Religion Confidential.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, September 23: Holiness and Stigmata for the Church

The 20th century was marked by wars, persecutions and a profound human and spiritual crisis. In the midst of this panorama, God wanted to give the Church an exceptional example of holiness: St. Pio of Pietrelcinabetter known as Padre Pio. This humble and humorous Capuchin friar became a focus of attraction for millions of faithful around the world who continue to be moved by his life today.

Its simple message -"Pray, wait and don't worry."- encloses a spirituality of absolute trust in the goodness and mercy of God. For seminarians and diocesan priests, and for everyone, his life was an example of love for God and the Church. His figure is a living model of what it means to be configured to Christ, the Good Shepherd, in favor of souls.

Childhood and early vocation

The future saint was born as Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina (Italy) in 1887, in the bosom of a humble and deeply believing peasant family. From childhood he stood out for his prayer life and spiritual sensitivity. His parents, Grazio and Maria GiuseppaThey transmitted to him a simple and solid faith, which became the basis of his whole life.

At the age of ten, Francesco clearly expressed his desire to consecrate himself to God. He entered the Capuchin order, where he took the name of Pío in honor of St. Pius V. His training was marked by austerity and discipline, but above all by an ardent love for Christ the Eucharist and a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.

This detail is key to understanding his later ministry: the priesthood was not for him an office or a task, but a total and radical dedication to others for Jesus Christ.

Padre Pio, with the stigmata on his hands.

Priestly ordination and pastoral dedication

In 1910, at the age of 23, he was awarded the priestly ordination. From the beginning of his ministry he stood out for his pastoral zeal and intense interior life.

During most of his priestly life he resided in San Giovanni RotondoThe small Capuchin convent was soon to become a center of worldwide pilgrimage. There, Padre Pio dedicated himself to two great missions: celebrate Holy Mass with extraordinary fervor y spending countless hours at the confessionalreconciling the faithful with God.

His life demonstrates that the mission of a priest does not depend on grand scenarios or complicated programs, but on living faithfully the mystery of Jesus Christ through the sacraments and, above all, in the Eucharist and in the forgiveness of sins. As St. Josemaría Escrivá reminds us in many of his texts, holiness is achieved in the ordinary, in fidelity to one's daily duties and in the love with which one serves God and others.

Stigmata: Participation in the Passion of Christ

One of the most surprising phenomena of his life were the stigmasThe visible wounds of the Passion of Christ, which appeared on his body in 1918 while he was praying before a crucifix, remained with him for 50 years, until his death in 1968. These wounds on his hands, feet and side remained with him for 50 years, until his death in 1968. No saint has lived so long with the stigmata of the Passion. As an example, St. Francis of Assisi had them for the last two years of his life.

Padre Pio accepted this suffering as a participation in the Cross of Christ. He never boasted of these extraordinary gifts; on the contrary, he lived them with discretion and humility, enduring much misunderstanding and even investigations by ecclesiastical authorities.

The stigmata were a visible sign of what every priest is called to be: another Christ. The priestly ministry is not a career of prestige, but of a dedication that passes through the cross. For seminarians training to become priests, contemplating the life of Padre Pio is an invitation not to fear sacrifice, but to embrace it with love.

Charismas and extraordinary gifts

Among Padre Pio's most notable charisms are:

The monastic cell of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina at San Giovanni Rotondo (province of Foggia, Italy).

But, above all, Padre Pio was characterized by his deep devotion to the Eucharist, to the Virgin Mary and to the Passion of Christ. His life was marked by constant prayer, penance, obedience to the Church (even in times of persecution and false accusations; among other things he was forbidden to celebrate Mass in public from 1923 to 1933) and a tireless dedication to confession and spiritual direction.

These charisms impressed the crowds, but he always insisted on the essential: God's grace is poured out mainly through those who have the grace of the Holy Spirit. sacraments.

His life reminds us that the most important aspect of the priestly ministry is not extraordinary phenomena, but fidelity in daily life: celebrating Mass with devotion, confessing with patience, preaching with truth and pray with perseverance.

Charitable works: the hospital of suffering

Padre Pio's love was not limited to the spiritual realm. In 1956 he inaugurated the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospitalan institution that to this day remains a medical reference in Italy.

This project was born out of his conviction that the sick should not only be treated with medical techniques, but also with compassion and spiritual care. The hospital was the fruit of her prayer, divine Providence and the collaboration of many benefactors.

In this way, Padre Pio showed that Christian charity does not remain in words, but is translated into concrete works that alleviate human suffering. A very current lesson for the Church: priests are called to be instruments of hope and mercy for those who suffer.

Padre Pio's canonization in Rome (via fatherpio.org)

Death and canonization

On September 23, 1968, Padre Pio gave up his soul to God after a life of heroic dedication. He was 81 years old. His last words were: "Jesus, Mary."

His funeral was attended by more than 100,000 people, a testimony to the immense affection and devotion he had aroused during his lifetime. In 1999 he was beatified by St. John Paul IIand in 2002, the Pope himself canonized himproposing him to the world as a model of holiness.

Today, millions of pilgrims flock to San Giovanni Rotondo to pray at his tomb, and his devotion has spread to every continent.

Padre Pio's teaching

Beyond the extraordinary phenomena, what is most appealing about Padre Pio is the depth of his spiritual life. His message can be summed up in three words: prayer, suffering and trust.

  1. PrayerHe spent long hours in intimacy with God. He invited everyone to pray the Rosary daily and to unite with Jesus Christ at Mass.
  2. SufferingHe accepted with love his physical and spiritual pains, offering them for the conversion of sinners.
  3. TrustHe taught us to live without anguish, because God's love is greater than our problems.

Padre Pio and the priestly vocation

These three attitudes are fundamental for any Christian, but especially for those preparing for the priesthood. The priest must be a man of prayer, who offers his life with Christ and trusts fully in the Providence of God the Father.

Padre Pio's body exposed for public veneration since 2008. A wax mask covers his face.

The CARF Foundation works so that thousands of seminarians and diocesan priests, especially from poor countries around the world, receive training at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and at the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra in Pamplona.

The seminarian or priest, and all the lay faithful, in looking at the life of Padre Pio, find a direct inspiration:

Future priests, sustained by the support of the Foundation's benefactorsmust follow this path of holiness. Padre Pio's testimony reminds us that the priest does not belong to himself, but is all of Christ and of the whole Church.

A saint for today and forever

His example of life invites the faithful to rediscover the value of Confession, the Eucharist, prayer and trust in God the Father. For priests and seminarians, he should be a mirror in which to contemplate what it means to live configured to Christ to the ultimate consequences.

Today, his voice resonates as strongly as it did in life: "Pray, wait and don't worry. Anxiety is of no use. God is merciful and will hear your prayer." Mediaset Italia produced a major film production about his life lasting more than three hours. Here is the link to watch it

Friendship between saints: Padre Pio and John Paul II

Padre Pio, Italian Capuchin, (1887-1968), canonized in 2002, in a multitudinous ceremony by St. John Paul II under the name of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, this holy priest received an extraordinary spiritual gift to serve all the men and women of his time. This gift marked his life, filling it with suffering, not only with the physical pain caused by his stigmata, but also with the moral and spiritual suffering caused by those who considered him a madman or a swindler.

Padre Pio, generous dispenser of God's mercy

The reality is that this saint helped thousands of people to return to the faith, to convert and come closer to God. Padre Pio performed amazing healings. And predictions difficult to contrast, such as the one made to Karol Wojtyla himself, predicting his future papacy. The Frenchman Emanuele Brunatto credited that same gift of prophecy that allowed him to find out from time to time what was going to happen. "It is Jesus," explained Padre Pio, "who sometimes lets me read his personal notebook...".

Privilege of a penitent

At the Mass of canonization on June 16, 2002 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, St. John Paul II affirmed that ".Padre Pio was a generous dispenser of divine mercyHe made himself available to everyone by welcoming them, giving them spiritual direction and especially by administering the sacrament of penance. I too, in my youth, had the privilege of benefiting from his availability to penitents. The ministry of the confessional, which is one of the distinctive features of his apostolate, attracted countless crowds of the faithful to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo".

How did John Paul II and Padre Pio meet?

The relationship between Padre Pio and St. John Paul II is not only due to the fact that the beatification and canonization ceremonies of the Capuchin friar were held during the Polish pope's pontificate, but also because, in 1948, Karol Wojtyla met Padre Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo.

The first meeting of two saints

It was in April 1948 that Karol Wojtyla, a newly ordained priest, decided to meet Padre Pio. "I went to San Giovanni Rotondo to see Padre Pio, to participate in his Mass and, if possible, to go to confession with him." 

This first meeting was very important for the future pope. This was reflected years later in a letter he sent in his own handwriting, written in Polish, to the Father Guardian of the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo: "I spoke with him in person and exchanged a few words, it was my first meeting with him and I consider it the most important".

While Padre Pio was celebrating the Eucharist, the young Wojtyla took special notice of the friar's hands, where the stigmata could be seen covered by a black scab. "On the altar of San Giovanni Rotondo the sacrifice of Christ Himself was being fulfilled, and. during confession, Padre Pio offered a clear discernment and simple, addressing the penitent with great love".

The painful wounds of Padre Pio

The young priest was also interested in Padre Pio's wounds: "The only question I asked him was which wound caused him the most pain. I was convinced it was the one on my heart, but Padre Pio surprised me when he said: 'No, the one that hurts me the most is the one on my back, the one on my right side.

This sixth shoulder injuryas the one Jesus suffered while carrying the cross or the patibulum on the road to Calvary. It was the sore "that hurt the most", because it had festered and had never "been treated by the doctors".

The letters of John Paul II and Padre Pio date back to the Council period.

The letter dated November 17, 1962 read: "Venerable Father, I ask you to pray for a forty-year-old mother of four daughters who lives in Krakow, Poland. During the last war she was in the concentration camps in Germany for five years, and is now in grave danger of health, even life, due to cancer.

Pray that God, with the intervention of the Blessed Virgin, will show mercy to her and her family. In Christo obligatissimus, Carolus Wojtyla".

At that time, Monsignor Wojtyla, who was in Rome, received the news of the serious illness of Wanda Poltawska. Convinced that Padre Pio's prayer had a special power before God, he decided to write to him to ask for help and prayers for the woman, mother of four daughters. 

This letter came to Padre Pio from Angelo BattistiAngelo, an official of the Vatican Secretariat of State and administrator of the House of the Relief of Suffering. He himself recounts that after reading the contents to him, Padre Pio uttered the famous phrase: "I can't say no to this one!", and added: "Angelo, keep this letter because one day it will be important".

Thanks for the healing

A few days later, the woman underwent a new diagnostic examination which showed that the cancerous tumor had completely disappeared. Eleven days later, John Paul II again wrote her a letter, this time to thank her.

The letter said: "Venerable Father, the woman who lives in Krakow, Poland, mother of 4 girls, was suddenly cured on November 21 before surgery. We give thanks to God and also to you, Venerable Father.

I express my sincere thanks on behalf of the lady, her husband and the whole family. In Christ, Karol Wojtyla, Capitular Bishop of Krakow". On that occasion the friar said: "Praise be to the Lord!

"Look at the fame that Padre Pio has achieved; the followers he has gathered around him from all over the world. But why, because he was a philosopher, because he was a wise man, because he had the means?
Nothing of the sort: because he said Mass humbly, went to confession from morning to night and was, it is difficult to say, a representative sealed with the wounds of Our Lord. A man of prayer and suffering". Pope St. Paul VI, February 1971.

Karol Wojtyla praying at the tomb of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo.

John Paul II's visits to the tomb of Padre Pio

Wojtyla returned to San Giovanni Rotondo on two more occasions. The first, when he was Cardinal of Krakow, in 1974 and the second, when he was already proclaimed Pope, in 1987. On these two trips he visited the mortal remains of Padre Pio and prayed kneeling at the tomb of the Capuchin friar. 

In the autumn of 1974, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, was back in Rome and, "as the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood (November 1, 1946) approached, he decided to commemorate the anniversary in San Giovanni Rotondo and celebrate the Mass at the tomb of Padre Pio. Due to a series of vicissitudes (November 1 was particularly rainy) the group composed of Wojtyla, Deskur and six other Polish priests was delayed considerably, arriving in the evening around 9 pm.

Unfortunately Karol Wojtyla could not fulfill his wish to celebrate Mass at Padre Pio's tomb on the day of his ordination to the priesthood. So he did it the next day. Stefano Campanella, director of Padre Pio TV.

Love for penitents

Padre Pio "had a simple and clear discernment and treated the penitent with great love," John Paul II wrote that day in the visitors' book of the convent in San Giovanni Rotondo.

In May 1987, St. John Paul II, now Pope, visited the tomb of Padre Pio on the occasion of the first centenary of his birth.

Before more than 50,000 people, His Holiness proclaimed: "Great is my joy at this meeting, and it is for several reasons. As you know, these places are linked to personal memories, that is, to my visits to Padre Pio during his earthly life, or spiritually after his death, at his tomb.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

On May 2, 1999, John Paul II beatified the stigmatized friar, and on June 16, 2002, he proclaimed him a saint. On that day, St. John Paul II canonized him under the name of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. In the homily of his sanctification, John Paul recited the prayer he composed for Padre Pio: 

"Humble and beloved Padre Pio: Teach us too, we ask you, humility of heart, so that we may be considered among the little ones of the Gospel, to whom the Father has promised to reveal the mysteries of his Kingdom. 

Help us to pray without ever tiring, in the certainty that God knows what we need before we ask him for it. Reach out to us with a gaze of faith capable of readily recognizing in the poor and the suffering the very face of Jesus. 

Sustain us in the hour of struggle and trial, and if we fall, grant that we may experience the joy of the sacrament of forgiveness. Transmit to us your tender devotion to Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother. 

Accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage towards the happy homeland, where we too hope to arrive to contemplate eternally the glory of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Did St. Pio and St. Josemaría have a relationship?

According to several sources, There is no record that St. Josemaría Escrivá and Padre Pio of Pietrelcina ever met personally.

Although they did not meet directly, there was an indirect relationship and mutual respect between them. Padre Pio even defended Opus Dei on one occasion. It is related that an Italian businessman, Luigi Ghisleri, who had doubts about the Work, consulted Padre Pio, who replied: "Don't worry. Opus Dei is God's work, it is a holy thing!

Moreover, the founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaría, was convinced of Padre Pio's holiness and defended him whenever anyone questioned the figure of the Capuchin. Both saints were elevated to the altars by St. John Paul II, becoming important intercessors for the Church.

Bibliography

- La Brújula Cotidiana interviews the director of Padre Pio TV, Stefano Campanella.
- Interview with Polish Archbishop Andrew Maria Deskur, 2004.
- Homily of John Paul II. Mass of Sanctification, 2002.

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, September 21

Every September 21st, the Church celebrates the feast of St. MatthewSt. Matthew, apostle and evangelist, was one of the twelve disciples who followed Jesus and were direct witnesses of his life, teachings, Passion and Resurrection. St. Matthew, also known as Levi, offers us a profound example of conversion, dedication and fidelity to the evangelizing mission, qualities that continue to inspire priests and faithful today.

His life shows how a personal encounter with Jesus can completely transform a person's heart and lead to a radical commitment. The figure of St. Matthew helps us to know the history of early Christianity and to understand how to live the priestly vocation and evangelizing commitment.

Matthew in his position as tax collector before meeting Jesus. Facebook image via The Chosen.

Before being called by Jesus, Matthew practiced the profession of tax collector in Capernaum. This work, which was socially frowned upon by the Jewish people and often associated with corruption, did not prevent Jesus from choosing him as a disciple. The choice of Matthew underlines a central message of the Gospel: God calls each personregardless of its past, in order to transform it and place it at the service of its mission.

Upon hearing Jesus' invitation, Matthew promptly responded by leaving what he was doing and going away. This resolute act of total self-giving is an opening of the heart to a vocation and serves as a model for all those who feel a call to the priesthood, to total self-giving in celibacy or to the consecrated life. Matthew understood that true richness is found in the surrender of one's life to God and in the mission of bringing his message to others.

Matthew dedicated himself to following Jesus and being a witness of his work. Later, he will write the Gospel that bears his nameThe first of the four gospels of the New Testament and one of the three synoptic gospels, in which he presents Jesus as the promised Messiah and fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament. He tries to convince the Jews through this relationship with the scriptures that he knew well. This Gospel emphasizes Jesus' closeness to the needy and the value of daily life.

Matthew, together with Jesus, takes notes for his Gospel. Facebook image via The Chosen.

The Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel according to St. Matthew is characterized by its pedagogical and moral approachThe book was addressed to both Jews and Christians of all times. His contributions include:

This Gospel thus becomes a source of inspiration for priests and laityreminding them that evangelizing does not mean just preaching words, but setting an example that transforms lives and communities.

Priests: continuers of the mission

Priests are called to be references for all disciples of JesusThe mission of the apostles, continuing the work of Matthew and the twelve apostles. His mission is framed in three basic dimensions:

  1. Preaching the GospelThe aim of the project is to transmit the message of Christ in a clear and accessible way, adapted to the present times.
  2. Administering the sacramentsThe sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Priestly Ordination and Anointing of the Sick are the most frequent sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession.
  3. Pastoral accompaniment of the faithfulTo guide, educate and support people in their spiritual growth and in the living of their faith.

In a rapidly changing world, priests face the challenge of bringing the faith to new contexts: globalized cities, digital societies, pluralistic cultures. Following the example of St. Matthew, priests are called to adapt to new media and channels of communication. communication without losing the authenticity of the Christian message.

The evangelization in the 21st century has been transformed by digitalization and the global reach of the internet. Social networks, blogs, podcasts and live broadcasts allow the voice of the Gospel to reach millions of people who otherwise would not have direct contact with the Church.

Examples of current initiatives include:

These examples are just a sample that allows evangelizing young people and adults in their natural contextsThe Gospel is a way of integrating faith into daily life and making the witness of Christian life more palpable. Just as St. Matthew transmitted his experience with Jesus through his Gospel, today priests and digital evangelizers seek to share the faith in a concrete and close way.

Matthew listens to the words that Jesus speaks to him. Facebook image via The Chosen.

A call for everyone

St. Matthew is a model for priests and evangelizers, and also for all Christians. His life reminds us that we are all called to be witnesses to the Gospel. This implies:

Evangelization is not only a task for priests; every member of the faithful has a role to play in the evangelization process. to bring the message of Christ to their environmentinspiring others with concrete works.

St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist, teaches us that the true vocation is born of a personal encounter with Jesus and is expressed in the dedication of one's life to the service of others. His story is a reminder that no matter what a person's past, God always offers an opportunity for conversion.

In the 21st century, priests and evangelizers continue their work, adapting to the new means of communication and finding innovative ways of reaching people's heartsas St. Matthew reached out to his contemporaries with the power of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel. Following his example, we are all called to be active disciples, witnesses and agents of transformation in the world.

 "As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax counter, and he said to him, "Follow me."" If Jesus could transform a tax collector into a servant, a traitor into his close friend, he can also transform us into children of God, into his close friends.