Dear Fellow Parish Bulletin Reps: December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on December 8. The Holy Father’s Intentions for the Month of December 2017: The Elderly: That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations. Special feast days in December include: Nicholas (12/6), Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feast Day of the United States (12/8), Juan Diego (12/9), Our Lady of Guadalupe (12/12), Lucy (12/13), John of the Cross (12/14), Christmas (12/25), Holy Family (12/31).
“Baby Jesus was seen to appear in Padre Pio’s Arms” – Padre Pio treasured and loved the privilege of offering Midnight Mass. It was a long Mass; sometimes he finished at five in the morning. Before Midnight Mass, Padre Pio waited and greeted those who had come; his face would be transfigured with joy. Lucia Ladanza recalls a miraculous event that took place the night of December 24, 1922. The friars had brought a huge brazier (which is a type of fire box) to keep the gathering warm. The people were reciting the Rosary and Padre Pio stood with them, praying, too. In the blink of an eye, Lucia saw, through an aura of light, Baby Jesus appear in Padre Pio’s arms. Baby Jesus was glowing and Padre Pio’s face changed into a beaming smile.”
May we respectfully request that you continue your active support of our monthly gatherings by inserting the following invitation in your parish bulletin, “Join our Padre Pio Prayer Group (PPPG-CK) each 2nd Saturday (December 9, 2017) monthly for the 8 AM Mass, Rosary, Discussion, Adoration @ Christ the King Church, 4100 Harvest Lane, Toledo, OH 43623. Invite everyone to pray the Rosary daily, as requested by Our Lady of the Rosary @ Fatima, and exemplified by St. Padre Pio.” An eyewitness to another such (Christmas) miracle was Father Raffaele da Sant’Elia, who had the room next to Padre Pio for 35 years. This is his account: “I had got up to go to the church for the Midnight Mass of 1924….. Through the shadows I could see that Padre Pio, too, was making his way to the church. He had left his room and was making his way slowly along the corridor… I took a better look and saw that he had the Baby Jesus in his arms. I just stood there, transfixed, in the doorway of my room, and fell to my knees. Padre Pio passed by all aglow. He didn’t even notice I was there.” … Oh, let us prostrate ourselves before the manger, and along with the great St. Jerome, who was enflamed with the love of the Infant Jesus, let us offer Him all our hearts without reserve. Let us promise to follow the precepts which come to us from the grotto of Bethlehem, which teach us that everything here below is vanity of vanities, nothing but vanity. ~ St. Padre Pio. Access ‘www.pppg.org‘ for info. Contact Magdalena Skiles (419-356-4208) or email: ‘magdalena@magdalenaskiles.com
