[Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Italy (Padre Pio) was a Franciscan priest and mystic who bore the stigmata. He died September 23, 1968. Pope Saint John Paul II canonized him in 2002. In this Spirit and Truth column, Padre Pio speaks of love, justice and union with God.] 
 
“There are moments when I think of the severity of Jesus, and I start to worry. Then I begin to think of his tenderness, and I am consoled. It would be impossible for me not to abandon myself to this sweetness, this happiness.

“God commands us to love him, not as much as he deserves, because he knows our capabilities, and therefore he does not ask us to do what we cannot do. But he asks us to love him according to our strength, with all our soul, all our mind, and all our heart.

“One day when we are able to see the full midday light, we will know what value and what treasures our earthly sufferings have been that have made us gain our everlasting homeland. I feel a great desire to abandon myself with greater trust to the Divine Mercy and to place my hope in God alone.

“Let us always bear in mind that if the Lord were to judge us according to strict justice, none of us, perhaps, would be saved. So let us make righteousness and peace exchange a kiss, which we shall obtain if we always tend towards mercy rather than justice, in imitation of our heavenly Father. Give yourself up into the arms of (Mary) your heavenly mother. She will take good care of your soul.

“But let us take heart . . . . Let us glance at the Divine Master who prayed in the Garden and we will discover the true ladder which unites the earth to heaven. We will discover that humility, contrition and prayer make the distance between man and God disappear, and act in such a way that God descends to man, and man ascends to God, so that they end up understanding, loving and possessing one another.

“I send you this fervent aspiration from my heart… ‘O Lord, for the incomparable sadness and great desolation your heart felt on the Mount of Olives and on the cross; and for the great affliction your dear mother felt when deprived of your presence, may you be the joy or at least the strength of this daughter, when the passion and cross are perfectly joined to your soul.’

“It is now God himself who acts and operates directly in the depths of my soul, without the ministry of the senses, either interior or exterior . . . . All I can say of this present state is that my soul has no concern for anything but God. May the Lord confirm with his blessings, these wishes of mine, for your happiness is very close to my heart, and I work and pray continuously for this end.

“In darkness, at times of tribulation and distress of the spirit, Jesus is with you. In such a state you see nothing but darkness, but I can assure you on God’s behalf that the light of the Lord is all around you and pervades your spirit . . . . You see yourself forsaken and I assure you that Jesus is holding you tighter than ever to his divine heart.”    +++