Satan's
Attacks on Padre Pio
In
a letter to his spiritual director, Padre Agostino, Padre Pio wrote, "I must tell you
what has happened to me during the past two nights. "I had a very bad time the night
before last; from about ten o'clock, when I went to bed, until five o'clock in the
morning, that wretch did nothing but beat me continually. He presented to my mind many
diabolical suggestions, thoughts of despair, distrust in God. But praise be to Jesus, for
I defended myself by saying to him repeatedly: 'your wounds are my merit.' "
 Many
of us are familiar with Padre Pio's encounters with the devil; still, it's hard for us to
imagine the violence of the physical attacks that left him bloodied, bruised and swollen!
Not
so evident, but even more devastating, however, were the attacks on his soul. Those
"thoughts of despair, distrust in God." There, I think, we can all identify with
Padre Pio! In one way or another, we've all experienced that sense of abandonment by God.
In spite of our faithfulness, our prayers sometimes go unanswered. But we must not lose
heart or lose hope! Padre Pio knew where the blame belonged! "Do you not recognize
the ogre?" he asked! And Padre Pio fought back. "The rosary is my weapon."
He prayed to Holy Mary, Mother of God, to his Guardian Angel, and as we do here every day
after our Chaplet of Mercy devotion, to St. Michael the Archangel: St. Michael the
Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the
devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by
the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl through the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
It
might be helpful, too, for us to remember that there was a time when God did not answer
Mary's prayers. After she heard of her Son's arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, how she
must have stormed Heaven on His behalf! How fervently she must have prayed that Jesus be
spared the dreadful torture she witnessed that first Good Friday! Yes, Mary prayed and
Jesus prayed, too. "He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, 'My Father, if
it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Still, let it be as you would have it, not as
I"' (Mt. 26:39), But it was not to be. Be assured that we are praying to Padre Pio
for your intentions every day. May St. Michael come to your aid whenever you need his
assistance. |
