He Learned Love at
the Foot of the Cross
Homily given by the
Holy Father at the Beatification of Padre Pio on May 2, 1999
"Sing a new
song to the Lord!".
 1. The summons of
the entrance antiphon captures well the joy of so many of the faithful who have long
awaited the beatification of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. By his life given wholly to
prayer and to listening to his brothers and sisters, this humble Capuchin friar astonished
the world.
Countless people
came to meet him in the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo and, since his death, the flow of
pilgrims has not ceased. When I was a student here in Rome, I myself had the chance to
meet him personally, and I thank God for allowing me today to enter Padre Pio's name in
the book of the blessed.
Guided by the texts
of this Fifth Sunday of Easter, which provides the context for the beatification, let us
this morning trace the main features of his spiritual experience.
Padre Pio's life
was a constant act of faith
2. "Do not
let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and believe also in me" (Jn
14: 1). In the Gospel just proclaimed, we heard these words of Jesus to his disciples
who were in need of encouragement. In fact, his allusion to his imminent departure had
thrown them into turmoil. They were afraid of being abandoned, of being alone, and the
Lord consoled them with a very specific promise: "I am going to prepare a
place for you", and then, "I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also" (Jn 14: 2-3).
Through Thomas, the
Apostles reply to this reassurance: "Lord, we do not know where you are
going; how can we know the way?" (Jn 14: 5). The remark is apt, and Jesus
does not avoid the question which it implies. The answer he gives will remain for ever a
light shining for generations still to come: "I am the way and the truth and
the life; no one comes to the Father but by me" (Jn
14: 6).
The
"place" that Jesus goes to prepare is in "the house of the Father";
there the disciple will be able to be with the Master for all eternity and share in his
joy. Yet there is only one path that leads there: Christ, to whom the disciple must
be conformed more and more. Holiness consists precisely in this: that it is no
longer the Christian who lives, but Christ himself who lives in him (cf. Gal 2: 20).
An exhilarating goal, accompanied by a promise which is no less consoling: "Whoever
believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than I will they do,
because I am going to the Father" (Jn 14: 12).
3. We hear these
words of Christ and think of the humble friar of Gargano. How clearly were they fulfilled
in Bl. Pio of Pietrelcina!
"Do not let
your hearts be troubled. Believe ...". What was the life
of this humble son of St Francis if not a constant act of faith, strengthened
by the hope of heaven, where he could be with Christ?
"I am going to
prepare a place for you ... that where I am you may be also". What other purpose
was there for the demanding ascetical practices which Padre Pio undertook from his early
youth, if not gradually to identify himself with the Divine Master, so that he
could be "where he was"?
Those who went to
San Giovanni Rotondo to attend his Mass, to seek his counsel or to confess to him, saw in
him a living image of Christ suffering and risen. The face of Padre Pio reflected the
light of the Resurrection. His body, marked by the "stigmata", showed
forth the intimate bond between death and resurrection which characterizes the paschal
mystery. Bl. Pio of Pietrelcina shared in the Passion with a special intensity:
the unique gifts which were given to him, and the interior and mystical sufferings
which accompanied them, allowed him constantly to participate in the Lord's agonies, never
wavering in his sense that "Calvary is the hill of the saints".
Obedience became a
crucible of purification
4. No less painful,
and perhaps even more distressing from a human point of view, were the trials which
he had to endure as a result, it might be said, of his incomparable charisms. It happens
at times in the history of holiness that, by God's special permission, the one chosen is
misunderstood. In that case, obedience becomes for him a crucible of
purification, a path of gradual assimilation to Christ, a strengthening of true
holiness. In this regard, Bl. Pio wrote to one of his superiors: "I strive only
to obey you, the good God having made known to me the one thing most acceptable to him and
the one way for me to hope for salvation and to sing of victory" (Letter I, p.
807).
When the
"storm" broke upon him, he took as his rule of life the exhortation of the First
Letter of Peter, that we have just heard: Come to Christ, a living stone (cf.
1 Pt 2: 4). He himself thus became a "living stone" for the building of
that spiritual house which is the Church. For this we today give thanks to the Lord.
5. "You too
are living stones, built into a spiritual house" (1 Pt 2: 5). How fitting
are these words if we apply them to the extraordinary ecclesial experience which
grew up around the new blessed! So many people, meeting him directly or indirectly,
rediscovered their faith; inspired by his example, "prayer groups" sprang up in
every corner of the world. To all who flocked to him he held up the ideal of holiness,
repeating to them: "It seems that Jesus has no interest outside of sanctifying
your soul" (Letter II, p. 155).
If God's Providence
willed that he should be active without ever leaving his convent, as though he were "planted"
at the foot of the Cross, this is not without significance. One day the Divine Master
had to console him, at a moment of particular trial, by telling him that "it is under
the Cross that one learns to love" (Letter I, p. 339).
The Cross of Christ
is truly the outstanding school of love; indeed, the very "well-spring"
of love. Purified by suffering, the love of this faithful disciple drew hearts to Christ
and to his demanding Gospel of salvation.
6. At the same
time, his charity was poured out like balm on the weaknesses and the sufferings of his
brothers and sisters. Padre Pio thus united zeal for souls with a concern for human
suffering, working to build at San Giovanni Rotondo a hospital complex which he called the
"House for the Relief of Suffering". He wanted it to be a first-class hospital,
but above all he was concerned that the medicine practised there would be truly
"human", treating patients with warm concern and sincere attention. He was
quite aware that people who are ill and suffering need not only competent therapeutic care
but also, and more importantly, a human and spiritual climate to help them rediscover
themselves in an encounter with the love of God and with the kindness of their brothers
and sisters.
Abandon yourselves
fully to the heart of Jesus
With the
"House for the Relief of Suffering", he wished to show that God's "ordinary
miracles" take place in and through our charity. We need to be open to
compassion and to the generous service of our brothers and sisters, using every resource
of medical science and technology at our disposal.
7. The echo stirred
by this beatification in Italy and throughout the world shows that the fame of Padre Pio,
a son of Italy and of Francis of Assisi, has gone forth to embrace all the continents. And
I gladly greet those who have gathered here in the first place the Italian authorities who
have chosen to be present: the President of the Republic, the President of the
Senate, the Prime Minister, who leads the official delegation, and the many other
ministers and distinguished guests. Italy is represented
most worthily! But also the many faithful from other nations have
gathered here to pay homage to Padre Pio.
My affectionate
greeting goes to all who have come from near and far, with a special thought for the
Capuchin Fathers. To everyone I offer heartfelt thanks.
8. Let me conclude
with the words of the Gospel of this Mass: "Do not let your hearts be
troubled. Have faith in God". There is a reference to this exhortation of Christ
in the advice which the new blessed never tired of giving to the faithful:
"Abandon yourselves fully to the divine heart of Jesus, like a child in the arms of
his mother". May these words of encouragement fill our hearts too and become a source
of peace, serenity and joy. Why should we fear, if Christ for us is the Way, and the
Truth and the Life? Why should we not trust in God who is the Father, our Father?
May "Our Lady
of Graces", whom the humble Capuchin of Pietrelcina invoked with constant and tender
devotion, help us to keep our gaze fixed on God. May she take us by the hand and lead us
to seek wholeheartedly that supernatural charity flowing forth from the wounded side of
the Crucified One.
And you, Bl. Padre
Pio, look down from heaven upon us assembled in this square and upon all gathered in
prayer before the Basilica of St John Lateran and in San Giovanni Rotondo. Intercede for
all those who, in every part of the world, are spiritually united with this event and
raise their prayers to you. Come to the help of everyone; give peace and consolation to
every heart. Amen!
|
