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495 A.D.
Pope Saint Gelasius I decrees that his spiritual power as supreme pontiff is superior to the temporal power of the Emperor Anastasius. It was called the Gelasian Decree.
1074 A.D.
Death of Saint Theodosius Pechersky, Abbot and founder of Russian monasticism who died in the Caves of Kiev.
1241 A.D.
The Papal/Genoese fleet is captured by Imperial ships of Emperor Frederick and Pope Gregory IX, near death, is helpless to come to their aid.
1512 A.D.
The Fifth Lateran Council, known as the 18th Ecumenical Council, is convened by Pope Julius II in Rome with reforms on the agenda which would be rebuked by Martin Luther and others spawning the Protestant Reformation.
Little children, do you not know of My Love, My Mercy? Have I not willingly given Myself to you in every Mass? Do I not come to abide with you in the Holy Eucharist? Why then am I so abandoned? I have made promises for all who honor Me on the First Friday of nine consecutive months. These are the promises of your God - Who cannot lie.
But, little children, so very few come! There are but a ragged fragment who make the effort to so honor Me on this day.
I solemnly tell you: Blessed are they who seek Me, for they have found Me and shall not lose Me. Woe, triple woe to those who willingly deny Me, who keep My children from coming to Me. They have not found Me, and before My Father I will not recognize them!
O! Come to Me! Rejoice in Me! Seek your rest in Me, for I am All!
Come, tell Me everything about your life. I will listen, and I will help you. I desire to help you in all things, so that you may know now a foretaste of the Love which awaits you in eternity.
As My Mother has foretold to many of her chosen ones: There is a moment when the world shall be shaken to its knees. Men shall tremble. Many will die from terror. Know that My signs are all around you and this supernatural moment is very close. That is why I call loudly for all to come to Me!
Go to Mass often, daily if you can. Never allow a week to pass without going to confession. Only in this way shall you be prepared for both the Mercy and Justice which comes to all mankind.
With My Sacred Heart I bless you. Remember My Promises. As you are faithful to Me, so shall I be faithful to you, who seek Me with a humble, contrite heart. Watch and pray, for the moment fast approaches!
O! On this most solemn feast let all the world proclaim Me, their God and Savior, as the true and only King. Let all knees bend in holy reverence before Me, their King.
For I solemnly tell you that on this day I bring even more abundant graces to those who receive Me with humble and contrite heart. And in those places where I am so honored as to be placed in the monstrance, processed so that all eyes may behold Me, how far the rays of My Love and Mercy do reach!
I repeat again: Offer yourselves to Me, to My Most Sacred Heart during this month. I solemnly tell you a great sign shall be given all the world, a declaration of the Divine Will! But so very few will see the sign, nor shall many even recognize it for they are looking for it in the wrong place! Yes, I am in the signs of Justice. Yes, I am in the signs of Mercy. And I am always present in the Word and in the infallibility of My Vicar on all matters of faith and morals.
On this solemn day I open wide My arms and invite you to abide in Me. Let My radiance be the light which the world sees in you! If you have Me, you have everything!
Refrain from all judgments. Pray always. Speak little - and only as the Spirit prompts. Then shall you know everlasting peace!
I bless all My children!
Following his religious profession in 1907, his delicate health obliged him to spend long periods of convalescence in his village. On August 10, 1910 he was ordained a priest in the cathedral of Benevento.
During the summer of 1918, he was sent to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo, in Foggia, which he was never to leave. On September 20 he received the gift of the stigmata. The wounds appeared in 1910; he prayed that they would be invisible, but they remained visible. His fame as a religious with stigmas began to spread and to attract crowds of pilgrims, obliging the Church and science to address the phenomenon.
But his reputation for sanctity was coupled with harsh criticisms, including by men of the Church. He lived his life totally dedicated to his priesthood, the Eucharist, confession, prayer, and the spiritual direction of the faithful. Thus, spontaneously, "prayer groups" sprang up: small communities of faithful who met for Mass, the Rosary, and meditation on the Word of God.
In 1940 Padre Pio began his charitable work: he collected funds for the construction of a hospital: the House for the Relief of Suffering, a huge work carried out with the contributions of followers of all the continents.
Padre Pio spent the last years of his life in sickness, prayer, and spiritual direction. He died on September 23, 1968.
The cause for his beatification began on March 20, 1983. The diocesan phase, which included the collection of testimonies and examination of his writings, lasted seven years. These documents were given to the Holy See in 1990. After the corresponding procedures, Padre Pio was declared Venerable on December 18, 1997. A year later, in December, 1998, with a decree recognizing a "post mortem" (after death) miracle which took place thanks to his intercession, the date of Padre Pio's beatification was announced: May 2, 1999.ZE99050207
Padre Pio, the man John Paul II beatified today, left humanity his legacy in two ways: the hospital "House for the Relief of Suffering," and the Prayer Groups -- associations of the laity recognized by the Holy See.
From the very beginning, the hospital has been sustained by charity. It is not just a place where sick bodies are cared for, but also center of spirituality which fully carries out the Gospel's message of love. The collection of funds started in 1940, the building in 1947, and the inauguration took place in 1956. It began with 250 beds, but in a year's time, it had to be urgently expanded.
Today, the hospital cares for some 60,000 patients every year, 20% of whom have cancer. It combines the latest technology with love for the patient. Padre Pio wanted a "center of international study which would help health care workers to perfect their professional knowledge and their Christian formation," Giulio Siena, the hospital's spokesman, said.
"Whoever works here breathes spirituality. There are times for prayer and spiritual exercises reserved for the personnel, the chaplains take communion daily to the patients, and the Rosary is prayed daily in the chapels."
The House for the Relief of Suffering, which is integrated into the Italian health system, was donated to the Pope by Padre Pio; as such, it is an organism administered by the Holy See. At present there are schools of professional nurses, obstetrics and technicians in radiology annexed to the hospital. In 1991 a home for the elderly was added with 250 beds.
In addition to the hospital, Prayer Groups are the other half of Padre Pio's spiritual legacy. According to Fabio Comparato, who is responsible for the Center which coordinates and registers the Groups, these "were founded in the 1920s in response to Padre Pio's request for prayer, and especially, group prayer. He wanted the Prayer Groups to be linked to the hospital."
Padre Pio's prayer groups were officially recognized by the Holy See in 1986. According to the official statute, a "Prayer Group" is made up of faithful who meet under the guidance of a priest to receive spiritual formation and live an integral Christian life, with the permission of the Bishop of the diocese and in obedience to the Church.
At present there are 3,000 Prayer Groups with 400,000 members worldwide. They promote initiatives of a spiritual or charitable character, and are in constant touch with the center. International coordination is carried out through a rich network of correspondence, an annual congress, which this year will meet in San Giovanni Rotondo from June 29 to July 2, and a magazine published in four languages: Italian, English, French and German. ZE99050205
