Devotion to the Saints: the thought of Padre Pio today August 5th

1. We by divine grace are at the dawn of a new year; this year, of which only God knows if we will see the end, everything must be employed to repair for the past, to propose for the future; and holy operations go hand in hand with good intentions.

2. We say to ourselves with the full conviction of telling the truth: my soul, start doing good today, because you have done nothing so far. Let us move in the presence of God. God sees me, we often repeat to ourselves, and in the act that he sees me, he also judges me. Let us make sure that he does not always see the only good in us.

3. Those who have time do not wait for time. We do not put off until tomorrow what we can do today. Of the good of then the pits are thrown back…; and then who says to us that tomorrow we will live? Let us listen to the voice of our conscience, the voice of the real prophet: "Today if you will hear the voice of the Lord, do not want to block your ear". We rise and treasure, because only the instant that escapes is in our domain. Let's not put time between instant and instant.

4. Oh how precious time is! Blessed are those who know how to take advantage of it, because everyone, on the day of judgment, will have to give a close account to the supreme Judge. Oh if everyone came to understand the preciousness of time, certainly everyone would strive to spend it commendably!

5. "Let us begin today, brothers, to do good, for we have done nothing so far". These words, which the seraphic father St. Francis in his humility applied to himself, let us make them ours at the beginning of this new year. We have really done nothing to date or, if nothing else, very little; the years have followed one another in rising and setting without us wondering how we used them; if there was nothing to repair, to add, to take away in our conduct. We lived unexpectedly as if one day the eternal judge were not to call us and ask us for an account of our work, how we spent our time.
Yet every minute we will have to give a very close account, of every movement of grace, of every holy inspiration, of every occasion that we presented ourselves to do good. The slightest transgression of God's holy law will be taken into consideration.

6. After the Glory, say: "Saint Joseph, pray for us!".

7. These two virtues must always be held firm, sweetness with one's neighbor and holy humility with God.

8. Blasphemy is the safest way to go to hell.

9. Sanctify the party!

10. Once I showed the Father a beautiful branch of blooming hawthorn and showing the Father the beautiful white flowers I exclaimed: "How beautiful they are! ...". "Yes, said the Father, but the fruits are more beautiful than the flowers." And he made me understand that works are beautiful more than holy desires.

11. Start the day with prayer.

12. Do not stop in the search for truth, in the purchase of the supreme Good. Be docile to the impulses of grace, indulging its inspirations and attractions. Do not blush with Christ and his doctrine.

13. When the soul moans and fears to offend God, it does not offend him and is far from sinning.

14. Being tempted is a sign that the soul is well accepted by the Lord.

15. Never abandon yourself to yourself. Put all trust in God alone.