Padre Pio confided in the young John Paul II that his shoulder wound was his greatest suffering
From a fascinating article by Frank M. Rega.
Shortly after World War II was over, a young Polish priest who was studying in Rome, Fr. Karol Wojtyla, visited Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo. This encounter took place around 1947 or 1948. At that time in post-war Italy, it was possible to have access to Padre Pio, since travel was difficult and great crowds were not besieging the Friary. The young priest spent almost a week in San Giovanni Rotondo during his visit, and was able to attend Padre Pio’s Mass and make his confession to the saint. Apparently, this was not just a casual encounter, and the two spoke together at length during Fr. Wojtyla’s stay. Their conversations gave rise to rumors in later years, after the Polish prelate had been elevated to the Papacy, that Padre Pio had told him he would become Pope. The story persists to the present day, even though on two or three occasions "Papa Wojtyla" denied it. Recently, new information about this visit has come to light, according to a new book in Italian published by Padre Pio's Friary, Il Papa e Il Frate, written by Stefano Campanella (1). As reported in this book, the future Pope and future Saint had a very interesting conversation. During this exchange, Fr. Wojtyla asked Padre Pio which of his wounds caused the greatest suffering. From this kind of personal question, we can see that they must have already talked together for some time and had become at ease with each other. The priest expected Padre Pio to say it was his chest wound, but instead the Padre replied, "It is my shoulder wound, which no one knows about and has never been cured or treated." This is extremely significant, not only because it reveals that Padre Pio bore this wound, but because, as far as is known, the future pope is the only one to whom Padre Pio ever revealed existence of this secret wound.
Centuries earlier, Our Lord himself had revealed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux in a vision, that his shoulder wound from carrying the heavy wooden cross caused him his greatest suffering, and that the cross tore into his flesh right up to the shoulder bone.
As ever, I am indebted to Frank M Rega for his fastidious research on Padre Pio.
Wow, that's something I never knew or heard before. Padre Pio never fails to fascinate me.
ReplyDeleteI've read several books on Padre Pio. Surely he was a man of God. I've read accounts of other friars listening to violent attacks on Padre Pio by Satan whom Padre Pio didn't fear. He had many battles with the Evil One. He is a person whom we should all try to emulate. He knew when and what sins were withheld in the confessional. He was seen in two different locations at the same time.
DeletePadre Pio so blessed to have borne all the wounds of Jesus. Our Padre Pio shows us that mysterious power of suffering. May we learn to accept our crosses with abandoment to the divine will of God the Father.
ReplyDeleteThis is deep a matter for a simple comment. I had not considered the Lord's shoulder wound but it is amazing how the Lord shared it and now we know. What a great honor for Padre Pio.
ReplyDeleteIn the pieta prayer book there is a prayer that St. Bernard was given by the Lord to honor his shoulder wound with devotion. It is a beautiful prayer
ReplyDeleteThank you Lord God for your humble great servants that to this day glorify Your Name.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, have linked to you on my sidebar.
ReplyDeleteIt makes so much sense...the very focus of the weight of the cross that would be rejected by countless loved souls....damning themselves to eternal separation from Love himself!
ReplyDeleteI was aware the shoulder wound was the worst for Jesus, but I did not know Padre Pio experienced that same wound and same pain. Truly Padre Pio was graced with ALL the wounds and sufferings of our dear Savior. Please pray for us, St. Pio. This world is in such great need of prayer!
ReplyDeleteAmen.
DeleteI have come to realize that this is a very special time to be here on earth. We have had Pope Paul John ll as our Pope. Padre Pio, Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Lucia of Fatima & the Messages from Mother Mary from Medjorgorie....we are all blessed to live in this present time.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally with you !~
DeleteI love you and thank,St.Pio,for your love,prayers,and intercession.I call upon you & Blessed John Paul 2 to please pray for & help my children & I in this time of personal trials we r facing in our lives now.Please help me to erase the charges against me,& to receive full custody of my 3 children who I need to protect in these endtimes.Thank you & amen.
ReplyDeleteI love both Padre Pio and John Paul... two blessed men with love and understanding beyond our ability. God help us all... Aura
ReplyDeleteThe weight of the cross and the weight of the world's sins on our Lord's shoulders no doubt is reflected in the realization that his greatest pain was here.
ReplyDeletehello again.My name is John and I live in ont.,canada,and I'm the one who commented 3 above asking the 2 Saints to pray for the situation my kids & I are in,involving my wife & the law,and I'd like to ask all of u to please pray for us too.God knows I'm innocent.My wife framed me,& I need the kids safe in my custody.They r devestated.Please pray.thank you.
ReplyDeleteI pray for you John and your family to be safe and reunited under the merciful gaze of God and in the maternal and protective love of Mother Mary.
DeleteJohn here.Can all of u please pray for my children and I too?All 3 of them need me & need to be raised in The Faith.Thank you & God bless all.John.
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate we are to have St.Francis of Assisi and St.Padre Pio to intercede for us in prayer. Both suffered greatly and devoted their entire life to Jesus. The shoulder wound St.Padre Pio suffered would be his greatest pain because I believe Jesus died from the weight of carrying His cross which probably caused His heart to fail while He hung on the cross. How glorious is our Savior who resurrected with His eternal Sacred Heart out of Love for us All
ReplyDeleteJohn, be sure of my continued prayers for you and your children. If it's the best, God will heal your marriage , if not , He will give you the custody of the children, who will need proper guidance in these difficult times.Have Trust in God.May God bless you .
ReplyDeleteJohn, I hope and pray you get the help you need, through the intercession of these two saints to the Father, through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
ReplyDeleteJesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you, save souls.
For John and all who are suffering, try to do as Pio said,
ReplyDeletePray, Pray and don't worry.
My cross is a marriage where spouse has lover but does not want to end marriage, preferring that I act as if I don't know. Adult children with illness have moved home so it is impossible to leave. I am trusting in you, Lord.
Especially for John--I'm 69 & the "end of days" grows closer for me with every breath. I can assure you, none of your worst,specific fears will happen!That fact continues to amaze me! What will happen will be a surprise, pleasant or not! If it seems like a "bad thing" to you at the time, be assured that Abba has a "greater good" He will bring about in His time. No matter how hard we try, we just can't control God:-) He is the perfect Father & will give us so much more than we can ever imagine! We need to pray to keep the eyes of our soul open! We are "the dry martyers" JPII spoke of! Who could know better than he how painful that is? If you get angry with our Father, tell Him you're angry & why! It's not like He doesn't know!!! Dear lady who wrote about her spouse & sick children...I've "been in your neighborhood"! My husband & I will celebrate our 50th aniv. in July, God willing. All of these crosses being carried with such love must be the only reason the earth has not swallowed up the USA!!! Think of it! How Awesome!!!! God bless you all & please pray for me as I will for you.
ReplyDeletePadre Pio is my favorite saint.He never failed me.All the things I asked form him, he gave me.That is why I believe in him. Need a miracle? Pray to him. Pray his novena. Those people he have cured pray his 9-day or 30-day novena. Try it, it works.
ReplyDeleteThere is a prayer in honor of the wound of the shoulder of Jesus that is from approved sources.
ReplyDeleteGo to a priest for counseling. Our Lord is the third partner in your marriage, not your husband's lover. Your husband is living in sin and violating your marriage. DO NOT allow this. Pray together with the family you have at home (the rosary or at least part of it), and you will have great protection. Do some sort of fasting with your prayers and miracles will happen. We will keep you in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteThis is for John. Look on your search engine for "Mary Undoer of Knots" It's a novena especially for situations that seem insurmountable. My son was a drug addict, with all the chaos that comes with that lifestyle and Jesus be praised, he is now clean and happily married. God Bless, John
ReplyDeleteIn 1977 my mother became paralyzed from a virus. She was hospitalized for six months. During that time I had a dream that I had the stigmata like Padre Pio. After telling a friend of the dream she told me she and her husband always prayed to Padre Pio even though he wasn't a saint. She gave me the prayer which I prayed daily. My mother was cured and lived nineteen more years and died at the age of 93. I believe Padre Pio interceded for me. Believe and pray to him.
ReplyDeleteThese are the spesial times but nonetheles trying times,but God gave us help on this jouerney such is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Divine Mercy devotion,Mother Mary rosary and her apparitions approved ones and hopefuly soon to be approved ones such is Medjugorje ,there is also St Loius De Montfort devotion and the way of life to Jesus through Mary and God gave us also the saints of these recent times to model our lives by such is St Theres the Little Flower,Padre Pio,Mother Teresa and John Paul II.We will overcome evil in this world by the way of life Blessed Mother is asking us to live on Her apparition sites :go to confesion mothly,communion dayly,fast,pray esp rosary and if we love one another as Jesus have loved us and forgive the hurts others inflicted on us for the love of Jesus and sacrifice our sufferings together with Jesus suffering on the cross we will become the saits of this modern world.
ReplyDeleteJohn here again.I thank all of u for your encouragement & prayers.I love u & will also be praying 4 u as well.Peace to you & God bless you all.Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteMary do you know if the book Il Papa e Il Frate, written by Stefano Campanella is available in English, I would love to read it but sadly have no Italian!
ReplyDeleteGael as far as I know this book has not been translated yet into English.
ReplyDeletea fascinating article. I have added your blog to my own blogroll (http://rosarymakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/)for others to find and enjoy these treasure
ReplyDeleteIt's true! Padre Pio never failed to fascinates us. His hands catches us whenever we fall. His voice and wisdom constantly reminds us about our spirituality. Padre Pio always persuades us to keep close to Madonna and Jesus. He even said, "To my Spiritual Children, my prayers for you will never be lacking."
ReplyDeleteThis gave me goosebumps just to read!! The more I get to know Padre Pio, the more I love him! Praise God!!
ReplyDeleteWow.That's amazing!I read a prayer about a devotion to the shoulder wound of Jesus before.now this message strongly confirmed it!
ReplyDeleteI also believe I read this in Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich books, Jesus mentioned his shoulder being of great pain.
ReplyDeleteRecent and latest news about the Shroud of Turin suggest this.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ncregister.com/blog/pat-archbold/science-saints-and-the-shroud-of-turin
I have just recently found great devotion to padre pio. His stories are fascinating. My prayers have not yet been answered but I have faith in him. With all that's going on in the world just now, prayers and rosary are much needed.
ReplyDeleteThe intimacy with which Padre Pio hears prayers is stunning, as this beautiful connection to the Shoulder Wound of Christ recently illustrated for me. In the past weeks, completely ignorant of the shoulder wound issue but contemplating St. Pio's immense heroic strength, like Christ's, in bearing the pains and sorrows he carried for us, I started calling him affectionately in prayer (in Italian) "Babbo (Daddy) of the big shoulders." I later coincidentally happened on the prayer associated with the St. Bernard revelation of the Shoulder Wound of Christ ("O loving Jesus, meek lamb of God..."), and upon praying it for a few very specific and very difficult intentions for myself and friends saw immediate miraculous intervention as i have never witnessed. This, of course, quite selfishly and childishly, convinced me of the importance and validity of the devotion to the Shoulder Wound, which i took greatly to heart. It was only then that i learned that my Babbo of the Big Shoulders had borne this wound, and it seems he gave me the gift of this sign just to show how closely he listens to even our silliest little prayers. PLEASE take the devotion to the Shoulder Wound of Christ to heart and pray as i did in your most difficult circumstances... and please may God bless you in them.
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