St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

It is true that God's power triumphs over everything, but humble and suffering prayer prevails over God Himself. 1

He who does not meditate acts as one who never looks into the mirror and so does not bother to put himself in order, since he can be dirty without knowing it. The person who meditates and turns his thoughts to God who is the mirror of the soul, seeks to know his defects and tries to correct them, moderates himself in his impulses and puts his conscience in order. 2

Never rise from the table without having given thanks to the Lord. If we act in this way we need have no fear of the wretched sin of gluttony. 3

Do everything for the love of God and His glory without looking at the outcome of the undertaking. Work is judged, not by its result, but by its intention. 4

Stop entertaining those vain fears. Remember it is not feeling which constitutes guilt but the consent to such feelings. Only the free will is capable of good or evil. But when the will sighs under the trial of the tempter and does not will what is presented to it, there is not only no fault but there is virture. 5

You must speak to Jesus also with the heart, besides with the lips; indeed, in certain cases you must speak to Him only with the heart. 6

Do not worry over things that generate preoccupation, and anxiety. One thing only is necessary: to lift up your spirit and love God. 7

Often place your confidence in Divine Providence and be assured that sooner heaven and earth shall pass away than that the Lord neglect to protect you. 8

God loves man with an infinite love and when He punishes, He does so with reverence, almost fearing to hurt. 9

Say to God: Do you want greater love from me? I have no more. Give me more, therefore, and I will offer it to You. Don’t doubt. God will accept this offer. 10

Often kiss Jesus with affection and you will recompense Him for the sacrilegious kiss of the unfaithful Apostle, Judas. 11

Walk in the way of the Lord with simplicity and do not torment your spirit. You must hate your defects, but with a quiet hate, not troublesome and restless. 12

Why should you worry whether God wants you to reach the heavenly home by way of the desert or by the fields, when by the one as well as by the other one arrives all the same at a Blessed Eternity? Keep far from you excessive preoccupation which arises from the trials which the good God wishes to visit upon you. 13

Jesus who cannot suffer long to keep you in affliction will come to relieve and comfort you by infusing fresh courage into your soul. 14

The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater the goodness in comforting you during the time of trial and in the exaltation after the combat. 15

You know well that at the birth of our Lord the shepherds heard the angelic and divine chants of the heavenly spirits. The Scriptures say so. But they do not say that his Virgin Mother andSt. Joseph, who were nearer to the Child, heard the voices of the angels or saw those miracles of splendor. On the contrary, they heard the Child weeping and saw by the light of a poor lantern the eyes of the Divine Child all bathed in tears, in sighs and shivering with cold. Now I ask you: Would you not have preferred to have been in the dark stable, filled with the cries of the little Child, rather than to have been with the shepherds, beside yourself with joy over those sweet melodies from heaven and the beauties of this wonderful splendor? 16

When you do not succeed in meditating well, do not for this reason cease to do your duty. If there are many distractions do not lose heart. Make a meditation of patience; you will profit all the same. 17

When you have distractions, don’t distract yourself still more by stopping to consider the why and the wheerefore. 18

Remember it is not feeling which constitutes guilt but the consent to such feelings. Only the free will is capable of good or evil. But when the will sighs under the trial of the tempter and does not will what is presented to it, there is not only no fault but there is virtue. 19

If the soul would know the merit which one acquires in temptations suffered in patience and conquered, it would be tempted to say: "Lord, send me temptations." 20

The devil is like a rabid dog tied to a chain; beyond the length of the chain he cannot seize anyone. And you: keep at a distance. If you approach too near, you let yourself be caught. Remember that the devil has only one door by which to enter the soul: the will. 21

It is necessary to be strong, in order to become great: that is our duty. Life is a struggle, which we cannot avoid. We must triumph! 22

That which comes from satan begins with calmness and ends in storm, indifference and apathy. 23

Always be faithful to God in keeping the promises made to Him and do not bother about the ridicule of the foolish. Know that the saints were always sneered at by the world and worldlings; and they have trampled them under foot and triumphed over the world and its maxims. 24

Continue to pray that God may console you when you feel that the weight of the Cross is becoming too burdensome. Acting thus you are not doing anything against the will of God, but are with the Son of God who, in the garden, asked His Father for some relief. 25

Walk the way of the Lord in simplicity. Do not torment your spirit. Say the truth, always the truth. 26

The mercy of God, my son, is infinitely greater than your malice. 27

On this earth everyone has his cross. But we must act in such a way that we be not the bad, but good thief. 28

Do not let your heart become troubled by the sad spectacle of human injustice. Even this has its value in the face of all else. And it is from this that one day you will see the justice of God rising with unfailing triumph. 29

Divine goodness not only does not reject the repentant soul, but always seeks to find even the obstinate. 30

Endeavor to unite to the simplicity of children the prudence of adults. 31

To doubt is the greatest insult to the Divinity. 32

In order to console a soul in it’s sufferings, point out to it all the good it can still do. 33

Obey promptly! Do not consider the age or merit of the person. And in order to succeed, imagine you are obeyng the Lord. 34

There can be no guilt except in that which the soul wills, or, not having willed it, approves it and does not make an effort to remove it. 35

Our Lord loves you and loves you tenderly; and if He does not let you feel the sweetness of His love, it is to make you more humble and abject in your own eyes. 36

Your temptations are from the devil and from Hell; but your sufferings and afflictions are from God and Heaven. 37

The prayers of the Saints in heaven and of the just on earth are a perfume which never will be lost. 38

Anxiety doesn't help at all. Our Merciful Lord will listen to your prayers. 39
St. Padre Pio
In the spiritual life, he who does not advance goes backwards. 40

Near us is a celestial spirit who, from the cradle to the tomb does not leave us for an instant. 41

You don't have to be worthy; you only have to be willing. 42

Humility, humility, and always humility. Satan fears and trembles before humble souls. 43

The most beautiful act of faith is the one made in darkness, in sacrificing, and with extreme effort. 44

The time spent for the glory of God and the salvation of souls is never spent badly. 45

Your tears were collected by the angels and were placed in a golden chalice, and you will find them when you present yourself before God. 46

The Cross will not crush you; if its weight makes you stagger, its power will also sustain you. 47