From St. Mary Pastor, Msgr. Kevin T. Royal
Dear St. Mary Friends,
If you’re reading this article Friday March 8, here is a final invitation and encouragement to visit the display of the relics of St. Padre Pio in our church between 12:30 and 6:30 PM today and to attend the Mass in honor of Padre Pio at 7:00 PM. Also, note our monthly parish Holy Hour and Benediction next Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 PM.
To conclude, here are two prayers of Padre Pio:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Who, for the love which You bear towards men, remain in this Sacrament night and day, waiting, calling, and welcoming all who come to visit You:
I believe that You are present in the Sacrament of the Altar; I adore You from the abyss of my nothingness, and I thank You for all the graces You have given me, particularly for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, for having given me Your Most Holy Mother Mary as my Advocate, and for having called me to visit You in this church.
I pay reverence to Your most loving Heart today, and this for three purposes:
- First, in thanksgiving for this great Gift;
- Second, to make reparation for all the outrages You have received from all Your enemies in this Sacrament;
- Third, I intend by this visit to adore You in all the places on earth in which You are present in this Sacrament, and in which You are least honored and most abandoned.
… O, my beloved Savior, I unite all my affections with the affections of Your most loving Heart, and thus united, I offer them to Your Eternal Father, and I beg Him in Your name that for love of You He accepts them and heed them. Amen.”
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You.
You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me Lord, because I am weak, and I need Your strength, so that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.
Stay with me Lord, for You are my light, and without you, I am in darkness.
Stay with me Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in Your Company.
Stay with me Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late, and the day is coming to a close, life passes, death, judgment, eternity approach. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile.
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You. Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more. With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen.
