“In books we seek God, in prayer we find him. Prayer is the key which opens God’s heart.” —Padre Pio

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When Padre Pio’s parents took him to the Capuchin monastery at the age of fifteen to see if their son could enter, the friars said he had to have more schooling before being considered. Padre Pio returned to his hometown and received private tutoring to help him meet the necessary requirements to enter the monastery. Eventually, he was accepted. Throughout his life, though, it was his prayer life, not his intellect, that sustained him. God for him was not a foreign figure to learn about, but more a companion to be encountered daily on his faith journey. It was this desire to truly know Christ that drove Padre Pio to immerse him-self in a life of prayer and devotion to Christ and his message. 
Praying with Padre Pio
St. Pio, may we be as open as you were to learning about Christ through prayer and personal experi-ences. Help us to keep our eyes open for Christ’s presence in our lives.