The movement of the human soul, and human society in general, from its fallen chaotic state towards divine order is at the heart of the Blog of Padre Pio Press. Writings, ponderings, and reflections on this movement of the soul are authored by Fr. Cliff Ermatinger and by the occasional Guest Contributor. The articles and recordings are relegated to the following areas:
Throughout the Month of May,
Padre Pio Press Cordially Invites Its Readership to Join In Saying:
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Divine Mercy
In her Diary, St. Faustina records a special promise given to her by Jesus. He told her to communicate it to the whole world:
My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy (699).
In three places in her Diary, St. Faustina records our Lord’s promises of specific, extraordinary graces:
I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy […]
A Prayer to Our Lady of Mercy
Madonna della Misericordia, Simone Martini, 1308
Prayer to Our Lady of Mercy
St. Augustine
Blessed Virgin Mary,
who can worthily repay you with praise
and thanks for having rescued a fallen world
by your generous consent!
Receive our gratitude,
and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins.
Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven
and enable them to make our peace with God.
Holy Mary, help the miserable,
strengthen the discouraged,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for your people,
plead for the clergy,
intercede for all women consecrated to God.
May all who venerate you
feel now your help and protection.
Be ready to help us when we pray,
and bring back to us the answers to our prayers.
Make it your continual concern
to pray for the […]
St. Augustine, How Does Prayer Work With Predestination?
Question 027.
How does our prayer play a part in predestination?
It is precisely by our prayer that [God] wants to remind us from whom we receive such benefits. For from whom do we receive but from him who it is fitting to ask… [The Church] prays that the incredulous might believe; hence, God converts them to the faith. She prays that believers persevere; hence, God grants them final perseverance. God foreknew that he would do all of this. And this is the predestination of the saints.
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
Predestination is […]
St. Augustine, How Should One Pray for Unbelievers?
Question 026.
What about non-believers?
For God, who has fulfilled all that he predestines, wants us to pray for the enemies of the faith, too, so that we would in turn see that it is he who gives to the unbelievers, too, the gift of faith. And it is he who makes men who formerly were unwilling, to become men who do will it.
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
The desire of prayer is that the good things of God might be given and received by those to which they are given. Those who do not believe fall into two camps: those […]
St. Augustine, Can Our Prayers Obtain Graces for Others?
Question 025.
St. Augustine speaks of obtaining grace for oneself through prayer. Can we obtain grace for others through prayer? Is there a social element to prayer?
We pray for all the human race, for the entire world, for all people… We do so that they correct themselves and become pure of heart, turning to God and his rectitude, and thus adhere to him…Let us pray for those not yet called, that they may be called. It could happen that they are predestined in the following way: that their salvation is dependent upon our prayer in such a way that through it they receive the grace to choose to be among the […]