Day 5 — Prudence

Words of Padre Pio

"O Lord, Father Jesus Christ; I beg you to pour upon me all the punishments meant for sinners and the holy souls in purgatory; multiply upon me the sufferings by which you convert and save sinners."

Meditation

Prudence is one of the four cardinal virtues: discerning good and evil in order to follow the one and flee the other. It is synonymous with caution and moderation, the engine of the good Christian: whoever practices it knows how to silence his tongue, his evil thoughts, and to avoid evil deeds. Padre Pio was a living school of prudence. He said: "Prudence has eyes. Love has legs. Love would run toward God, but its impulse is blind, and it would stumble unless guided by the eyes of prudence."

Prayer of the Day

O first priest to bear the stigmata, who for so many years were the living image of the Crucified, teach us love of the Cross, make us able to overcome daily trial and, like Simon of Cyrene, to repair so many ingratitude committed against God! 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.)