Now something that was very close or very dear to Padre Pio's heart were his spiritual children.
So can we still become spiritual children of Padre Pio? Does this
idea of being a spiritual child still exist now that he has gone to heaven?
Dear friends of following Padre Pio, I am Edward Urban presenting our channel about Padre Pio,
the Capuchin monk, mystic, and miracle worker whose intercession is still so powerful today. If
you or a friend or a loved one is in need of Padre Pio's help or intercession, then do stay tuned
to this channel in order to find out what Padre Pio can do for you. Now we go back to our story.
Even today, the relevance of Padre Pio's great promise applies that he made to his devotees,
his spiritual children. When Padre Pio said, "When I die, I will ask the Lord to let me stay at the
entrance to heaven. I will not enter until the last of my spiritual children has entered."
So that is a promise he made to his spiritual children. These may be very simple words, but
they do demonstrate his complete commitment to his spiritual children. And it is of course further
guaranteed by the church's recognition of the holiness of the Capuchin Monk, Saint Padre Pio.
In addition, Padre Pio was the first stigmatized priest in history
and he is certainly a beacon of faith and spirituality to millions of people worldwide.
So, for those of us who want to become spiritual children of Padre Pio, this is an important
message and it tells us how and if it still applies. Now as Padre Pio's death was approaching,
there were many, especially amongst his spiritual children, who asked him, "Father, now that you
will be departing, how are we to manage without you?" And Padre Pio, who was sometimes harsh and
playful at the same time, said, "Don't be silly. I'll be here in your midst even more than before.
You'll be able to visit my grave," he said. "Before, if you wanted to talk to me, you
would have to wait for me sometime for days, but then I will be the one who has to wait for you."
"And if you visit my grave, you will receive more than before." This is what Padre Pio said.
So now I can see there's going to be some objections. How can we pray at the tomb of
someone else who's dead? Well of course, as our Lord Jesus Christ was dead and yet rose again,
so we believe there is life after death and particularly the saints are now alive in heaven,
sitting before the very eyes of God, so to speak, still praying, still interceding for us.
And so obviously this does not diminish our worship of God because we are not worshiping
Padre Pio. We worship God alone. But it's part of the theology of the communion of saints.
And then for those who could not travel to San Giovanni Rotondo,
he gave his co-brother this option. This is Padre Tarcisio Zullo. He said,
"Go before the tabernacle with Jesus. You will also find me there."
So where Jesus is, Padre Pio wanted to be, and of course he wants to lead us all to Jesus.
Now Fra Modestino, who, like Padre Pio, came from the same hometown as Padre Pio, that is
Patroc nio. He raised this issue with Padre Pio many years before his death. "I was meditating on
all the benefits that those who were accepted by Padre Pio as his spiritual children would enjoy."
"Then I thought with regret of everyone who wanted to be adopted as Padre Pio's spiritual children,
but could not travel to San Giovanni Rotondo," or even worse, approached him only after Padre Pio
had passed on from this earth. So one day during the confession with Padre Pio, Padre Zullo said,
he said, "This inspiration took shape." And so he asked Padre Pio,
"Father, can we assume that all those who commit themselves to," there's two points here, "To one,
pray in the rosary every day and point number two, commit themselves to celebrate a holy mass
from time to time for your intercessions, will they be your spiritual children?"
And he kind of pushes the point. He says, "May we assume this or not?"
Padre Pio opened his arms, raised his eyes to heaven and exclaimed,
"Can I do without this great benefit? Do what you have asked and I will be with you."
And then sometime later, this new encouragement was given. My son, this is Padre Pio speaking.
"My son, increase the number of spiritual children as much as you can because they will benefit more
before God. Tell them I will give them all of my heart so that they may remain persistent in prayer
and in goodness." That's Padre Pio's intention right there. A few days before he died, this is
on September the 20th, 1968, Padre Pio called Fra Modestino near to him. And then removing
his rosary, which was completely inseparable from Padre Pio, he held it out between his
hands and he said, "Here, I entrust you the holy rosary. Spread it. Spread it amongst my children."
He's not talking as if the spiritual children will cease. He's talking as if it's going to continue
and he wants this devotion of the rosary spread. So, that can be taken as the definitive
confirmation of a mandate that has since been faithfully fulfilled.
And, every evening, the now vast spiritual family of Padre Pio comes together in thought
around the Capuchins tomb, praying the rosary. And anyone can at any time become a spiritual son or
daughter of Padre Pio simply by uniting themselves with devotion to this prayer that is the rosary
and also having a holy mass celebrated from time to time for Padre Pio's intentions. Fra Modestino,
who died seemingly in a state of great sanctity, he is a very holy man, at the age of 94 and this
was just a few years back in 2011, also recorded another indispensable condition.
Fra Modestino said or he maintained, "Whoever undertakes to pray the blessed
rosary must reject sin and follow as much as possible the example of Padre Pio."
So now just to sum up, this is how his spiritual children are recognized. One, they will be united
with a bond of the sweet crown of the rosary that binds us to God. And two, they'll celebrate holy
mass from time to time for Padre Pio and they will love, pray, and suffer as Padre Pio loved, prayed,
and suffered for the good of their own souls and for these salvation of others. Of course,
the seriousness or degree with which Padre Pio, we can expect Padre Pio to advocate for us will
go hand in hand with our level of perseverance. The Capuchin exclaimed one time and his voice
resounds clear through to this day, "Remember that if you do not behave well and do not listen to,
me one day I will not recognize you as my children before God. I will be the first to accuse him."