Day 9 — Humility

Words of Padre Pio

"Always remain united to the Holy Catholic Church, for only she can save you, because only she possesses Jesus in the Sacrament, who is the true prince of peace. Outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation; she gives you baptism, the forgiveness of sins, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, granting you eternal life."

Meditation

Humility is the virtue of owning one's own defects and errors, one of the hardest to cultivate and enjoyed, not without effort, by all the saints. Padre Pio was conscious of his miseries and begged the Father to be able to combat himself. To a lady who admitted a certain inclination to vanity, he replied: "Have you observed a field of ripe wheat? Some ears stand upright, while others bow toward the earth. Put the proudest to the test: we will find them empty; whereas those that bow, the humble, are loaded with grain."

Prayer of the Day

O great Saint of all the continents, who worldwide have so many children and devotees, speak now to the heart of God, present all our needs to him, and make our petitions heard and welcomed! 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.)