“Let us answer God’s call for the sake of goodness, with all us doing our duty: I myself through the unending prayers of a humble servant of our Lord Jesus Christ; you through the burning desire to hold the whole of suffering humanity close to your breast.”
—Padre Pio
When we think of the Church, we must remember that it is made up of each one of us individually. We are the Communion of Saints that brings the Gospel to life. By using our strengths and talents, we each play a special role in building up the kingdom of God. Padre Pio devoted himself and his ministry to alleviating the suffering of others through both the sacraments and his work to manifest his ministry through things like prayer groups and a hospital.
Each of us has a special role to play in the life of the Church. Our task is to prayerfully discern what that role is.
In Padre Pio’s Own Words
Every soul destined for eternal glory can most surely consider itself a stone destined to be used to help construct the eternal edifice. A bricklayer who wants to build a house must first shape the stones that will be used, and he does this with a hammer and chisel. The heavenly Father does the same thing with elect souls who from all eternity have been destined in his lofty wisdom and providence to be part of the eternal edifice. Therefore the soul destined to reign with Jesus Christ in eternity must be prepared with a hammer and chisel.
How does the divine artist prepare these stones, his elect souls? My sister, his chisel blows are the shadows, the fears, the temptations, the afflictions of the spirit, the desolation of spiritual trepidations, and even physical sufferings. Offer thanksgiving to the infinite mercy of the eternal Father who is treating you this way.
(To Raffaelina Cerase, May 19, 1914)
Prayer
St. Pio, provide insight for us so that we may use our talents to help others grow in their faith and become more connected with Christ and his Church.
