Padre Pio's diary: 10 March

An American family came from Philadelphia to San Giovanni Rotondo in 1946 to thank Pare Pio. The pilot son of a bombing plane (in World War II) had been saved by Padre Pio in the sky in the Pacific Ocean. The plane near the island home of the base to which it returned, after carrying out a bombing, was hit by Japanese fighters. "The plane" - said the son, "crashed and exploded before the crew could jump with a parachute. Only I, I do not know how, managed to get out of the plane in time. I tried to open the parachute but it didn't open; I would therefore have smashed myself to the ground if suddenly a friar with a beard had not appeared and taking me in his arms he gently laid me in front of the entrance of the base command. Imagine the amazement that caused my story. It was incredible but my presence "forced" everyone to believe me. I recognized the friar who had saved my life when, a few days later, sent on leave, arrived home, I saw my mother showing the photograph of Padre Pio, the friar to whose protection he had entrusted me ".

The thought of today
10. The Lord sometimes makes you feel the weight of the cross. This weight seems intolerable to you, but you carry it because the Lord in his love and mercy extends your hand and gives you strength.