Day 3 — The virtues and Mary

Words of Padre Pio

"May Mary be the star that lights your way, that teaches you the sure road to the heavenly Father; may she be the firm hold you have, to keep yourselves ever more closely united in time of trial."

Meditation

To grow as persons we must, like an athlete, exercise daily in what perfects us. It is not enough to wish to be responsible: we must practice responsibility until it becomes a habit. That habit that makes us better is called virtue. Padre Pio loved and venerenced the Blessed Virgin all his life: he saw in her every virtue and took her as his permanent model. Even Mary found it costly, but she did it for love of her Son and for love of us.

Prayer of the Day

O Saint of the stigmata, rich in pity, who were always moved by human misery, aid our sick brothers and sisters, making them taste the fragrance of your presence! O Lord, in imitation of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, set our hearts on fire with love for You! Amen.

Prayer to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (for all days)

Most beloved Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, you who bore on your body the stigmata of Our God Jesus Christ; you who also bore the cross for all of us, enduring the physical and moral sufferings that lashed your soul and body in a painful martyrdom: we beg you to intercede with almighty God that each of us may know how to accept the small and great crosses of life, transforming every suffering into a sure bond that binds us to eternal life.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria.)