“I understand and am deeply aware that the trial is hard and the battle fierce. But I also understand that the fruit you will gather in due course is very abundant.”—Letters, Vol. 2, 410

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All of us have things in our lives that we would rather not have to deal with or face. They might be uncomfortable or too much to bear. When he first received the stigmata—wounds similar to those borne by Christ—Padre Pio begged that the outward signs of it be taken away. And while they originally did—though the pain did not—the marks eventually came back. He often said that he would have preferred to suffer in silence and became frustrated with those he felt were only seeking him out to see the markings. Still, he con-tinued to minister to others despite the pain and struggle of bearing the wounds of Christ. 
Praying with Padre Pio
St. Pio, help us to remember that we may not fully understand the trials and challenges we face, but to have faith that God is always with us.