Padre Pio And The Sacred Heart

 On this feast of this great priest and saint, I share with you words from a letter Padre Pio wrote to Padre Agostino of San Marco regarding Jesus in the Eucharist. Much grace was granted this holy priest, but also much suffering. His words here show that He knew Who and where was his true strength.
I also posted the novena prayer to the Sacred Heart which Padre Pio prayed for the intentions of those who asked his prayers. A friend sent me this very powerful and efficacious prayer when I made my return to the faith. I have prayed it for the intentions of others as well as for myself as part of my own devotion to Jesus' Sacred heart.
As a stigmatic, Padre Pio knew the pains of Our Lord's wounds in his own body, and suffered the same physical pain, as well as the same humiliation and betrayal Our Lord suffered, for many years.
Fr. Gordon MacRae has a wonderful post over at These Stone Walls about Padre Pio and the persecution he suffered because of his stigmata from those within the Catholic Church.
May Padre Pio intercede for us in helping us to share in Our Lord's suffering in whatever way He calls us to do so, and to always remember that receiving Jesus in Holy Communion will always be the source of our strength and so much more.

Holy communion was life for Padre Pio, a fusion of hearts, a source of joy and happiness.
The 21st of March, 1912, he wrote to Padre Agostino of San Marco in Lamis: "Only God knows what sweetness I experienced yesterday, the feast of St. Joseph especially after Mass, so much so that I still feel it. My mouth tasted all the sweetness of the immaculate Flesh of the Son of God. How happy Jesus makes me! How sweet is his spirit! But I am confused and can do nothing but weep and repeat: Jesus, my food!" (Letters I, 299)

Padre Pio Of Pietrelcina
Padre Alberto D'Apolito

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...... (here name your request)
Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father....Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.


II. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of.......(here name your request) Our Father...Hail Mary....Glory Be To the Father....Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of.....(here name your request) Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father...Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.