Devotion to the Saints: the thought of Padre Pio today August 17th

21. The true servants of God have increasingly valued adversity, as more in conformity with the path that our Head traveled, who worked our health by means of the cross and the oppressed.

22. The fate of the chosen souls is suffering; It is suffering endured in a Christian condition, a condition to which God, the author of every grace and every gift leading to health, has determined to give us glory.

23. Always be a lover of pain which, in addition to being the work of divine wisdom, reveals to us, even better, the work of his love.

24. Let nature also resent itself before suffering, for there is nothing more natural than sin in this; your will, with divine help, will always be superior and divine love will never fail in your spirit, if you do not neglect prayer.

25. I would like to fly to invite all creatures to love Jesus, to love Mary.

26. Jesus, Mary, Joseph.

27. Life is a Calvary; but it is better to go up happily. The crosses are the jewels of the Bridegroom and I am jealous of them. My sufferings are pleasant. I suffer only when I don't suffer.

28. The suffering of physical and moral evils is the most worthy offer you can make to the one who saved us by suffering.

29. I enjoy immensely in feeling that the Lord is always prodigal of his caresses with your soul. I know you are suffering, but isn't suffering a sure sign that God loves you? I know you suffer, but isn't this suffering the hallmark of every soul that has chosen a God and a crucified God for its portion and inheritance? I know that your spirit is always wrapped in the darkness of trial, but it is enough for you, my good daughter, to know that Jesus is with you and in you.

30. Crown in your pocket and in your hand!

31. Say:

St. Joseph,
Groom of Maria,
Putative Father of Jesus,
pray for us.

1. Does not the Holy Spirit tell us that as the soul approaches God it must prepare itself for temptation? Therefore, courage, my good daughter; fight hard and you will have the prize reserved for strong souls.

2. After the Pater, the Ave Maria is the most beautiful prayer.

3. Woe to those who do not keep themselves honest! They not only lose all human respect, but how much they cannot occupy any civil office ... Therefore we are always honest, chasing away every bad thought from our mind, and we are always with our hearts turned to God, who created us and placed us on earth to know him love him and serve him in this life and then enjoy him eternally in the other.