UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

How would you react if someone called you ,among some other equally unpleasant words, : a wicked sinner? Certainly many would do everything to whiten themselves at any price and try to prove they are actually good. But not Padre Pio and many other great humble saints of the catholic church.

 

 Padre Pio, perhaps the greatest miracle maker of our era, a man of great love and faith, admired by thousands and still rejected by many , a man who wore Christ's wounds for 50 years and talked to God, saw Him , this monk who could be in two places (bilocation) to rescue lost souls, who read in people's souls and confessed penitents in all languages though he had never studied any foreign language, this martyr of confessional spending several(15-18) hours a day hearing confessions, the Padre Pio who hardly ate, hardly slept, ran very high temperature that normally one dies of, who fought with demons, the man who suffered many illnesses , who took on the sufferings of others, the man with extremely compassionate, loving heart would consider himself nothing more than a great sinner.

 

Once one has such gifts people come in thousands to see him/ her. Many with great admiration for such person. When they admire you it is easy to think you are Someone Important.

 

Padre Pio once received a very sarcastic letter from some anonymous person, obviously a non-believer mocking the priest and that evil man entitled the envelope: 'to Padre Pio, the king of sinners' hoping he would hurt the priest deeply. Once the monk saw the letter he exclaimed with great enthusiasm: 'Oh, yes. I am a great sinner. Yes, Padre Pio, king of sinners. At last someone has called me truly what I am. YES, I AM THE KING OF SINNERS!!!'

 

Only those who consider themselves Nothing , who realize that their is only sin and all the good comes form God are capable to fully open up for the One who is All-the-Good.

 

Yes, we are great sinners and would be even worse if God did not protect us. But God did not come into this world to rescue the righteous ones but to rescue such great sinners as you and me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!