Pope Benedict XVI at the Tomb of Padre Pio

Today the Holy Father is visiting the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Graces in San Giovanni Rotondo.  The body of (Saint) Padre Pio has been on display there for 40 years.  The Holy Father said Mass this morning and gave his usual midday Angelus reflection.  In the afternoon, he is meeting with the sick, the medical staff and managers in front of a hospital, and then meeting with priests, religious and young people.  He prayed in front of the body of St. Padre Pio.  The Vatican has posted a program.   The web page for the journey also has a link to a biographical description about the saint and will have all of the official translations of the texts posted in several languages eventually.

Teresa Benedetta has a lot of photos and a translation of the Holy Father's homily from this morning. Zenit has English translations from all four of the Holy Father's key events homily at Mass, Angelus address, words at the Padre Pio Hospital, and words to priests, religious and youth.

The Vatican's Daily Bulletin has the Italian texts of the homily and the Holy Father's words at the Angelus.

Asia News has an article, and Vatican Radio has an audio report and short article about the Pope's request for charity for refugees during his words at the Angelus.

EWTN broadcast live (at 1:00 a.m. Pacific Time) the Mass and Angelus, and I'm not sure if that also included the Pope's visit to Padre Pio's tomb.  There was a scheduled re-broadcast that I tried to watch, but there must have been a technical problem, or else they started an hour or so later (after I left for Mass).  Catholic TV will re-broadcast the Mass this evening and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, KTO has the videos available on demand (with French commentary) for all 4 major events of the day: Eucharistic Celebration; Angelus; meeting at the hospital; and meeting with priests, religious and youth.  KTO is best viewed in Windows with Explorer.  You can click on the icon to the left, under the video, to get the video in full screen.  Then click on "escape" to get back to the web page. 

In his homily for Mass, the Pope drew from today's Gospel reading for Mass (Mark 4:35-41) in which Jesus sleeps on a boat during a storm and calms the sea when awakened by his disciples.  The Pope said that, unlike his disciples, Jesus slept because his faith was strong.  Even when Jesus' hour came, in the crucifixion, "like a gigantic wave that is about to crash down upon him", Jesus did not doubt God's power and presence.  The Pope said that some saints, like Padre Pio, have lived Jesus' experience.  He told those present that "the inheritance that he left for you is holiness."  He spoke about the importance of prayer and charity to Padre Pio, and contrasted the ever present "risks of activism and of secularization".  He said that, because of those risks, one of the purposes of his visit was to confirm them in their fidelity to the mission they inherited from Padre Pio.  He encouraged them "even in the storms that can suddenly rise up" to "experience the breath of the Holy Spirit" and to "always live in serenity and cultivate joy in our hearts, giving thanks to the Lord."

Comments

[Johnny Dollar]

>He spoke about the importance of prayer and charity to Padre Pio, and contrasted the ever present "risks of activism and of secularization".<

I'm glad the Pope made this point, but then, I'm always happy when the Pope speaks.

I think that as Catholics our primary and most important responses to the state of the world should be to pray devoutly, cultivate holiness, and develop a loving and faithful relationship with God. Devotion and personal holiness should always come first; politics and activism are secondary matters. Politics, especially, is an uncertain thing and it is often difficult to apply the Gospel message to it, beyond the obvious life issues. Pray, pray, pray, and be ever faithful! We are told not merely to have faith in God's existence, but to have faith that he always seeks the best for us, that he has numbered even the hairs of our heads and will provide for us, as he does even for the flowers of the field.