Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and his relationship with the Exaltation of the Cross

Every September 14, the feast of the exaltation of the cross is celebrated in many countries and the novena to Padre Pio of Pietrelcina also begins, the saint “crucified” by Christ himself for a particular reason.

On the festival of the exaltation of the Cross, the triumphant return of Saint Madero to Jerusalem is remembered, after it was stolen by the Persians as war booty. It is said that the emperor Heraclius wanted to wear all of his imperial vestments to accompany the procession, but he could not advance until he stripped off the luxuries of his clothing.

Something similar happened to Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who from a young age suffered attacks from the devil and very harsh trials, while the Lord was polishing his soul for a special mission.

According to the lives of saints website corazones.orgBefore entering the seminary, he had a vision in which Jesus told him that he had to face a horrible creature. The fearful young man begged him not to ask him that, but the Lord promised to be at his side.

Thus, a fierce battle was fought and he was left with unbearable pain throughout his body, but he won.

Then Christ told him that he would face this demon for the rest of his life, but not to fear, because “I will be protecting you, helping you, always by your side until the end of the world.”

Later, as a priest, the enemy’s attacks increased. The demon appeared to him as women dancing impudently, jailers who beat him and even with the appearance of the crucified man; but he remained faithful to his religious vows, and was then consoled by Jesus, the Virgin Mary and the saints.

Likewise, God granted him the gift of the stigmata, which he carried for 50 years with much pain and blood.

One day Padre Pio noted: “Suffering is my daily bread. I suffer when I do not suffer. The crosses are the jewels of the Bridegroom, and I am jealous of them. Woe to him who wants to get between me and the crosses!” .

In this way he became another Christ and encouraged others to accept the cross that touched him in their lives.

On one occasion, Christ himself revealed to him the meaning of this mystery by saying: “You would have abandoned me, my son, if I had not crucified you. Under the cross you learn to love, and I do not give the cross to everyone, but only to the souls that I love.”

Finally, it is necessary to highlight that the Exaltation of the Cross is the celebration of an event that took place on September 14, 628.

Centuries later, Padre Pio died on September 23, 1968. Which providentially means that there are now 9 calendar days (Novena), as if to remind us that sanctification is reached through the Cross.