“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” – Padre Pio
I have witnessed a personal miracle once in my life at the intervention of my Saints, Padre Pio and Sta. Rita of Cascia.
I came to know St. Rita because she was our patron saint when I was in my senior year in secondary school. Because of my failing memory, I could not remember her history. Padre Pio, I have heard from a friend.
Doing my little research, it is astounding to see a commonality between my two saints — both bore the external sign of stigmata and are incorruptible. St. Rita is known to be the saint of lost and impossible causes (together with St. Jude), sickness, wounds, marital problems, abuse and mothers. Padre Pio is known for his intercessions but mostly for miracles on healing. People who have gone to visit his Shrine near Eastwood would know this as they have posted many testimonials on the healing intercessions of Padre Pio.
Earlier this year, God answered my prayer in the most unconventional way. I have learned my lessons the hard way. It was a vindictive realization – to put Him always at the center of everything, center of my self, center of my marriage.
Along the way, here I am again, slipping from my faith. I still say my prayers but my devotion has slacked a little. I have made promises I cannot keep and I feel terrible remorse for that. Today, God has freed me from my guilt.
I asked for a tall request from the husband. He is not a religious person but he has made great strides for me. We now go to Church regularly, we say our prayers before meals. We usually just go to the nearby Church however, I asked him today if we could go to the Shrine of Padre Pio, to which he readily agreed.
As we were ushered into the Church, we were directed to sit at a certain area since there were very few empty spaces left. I am quite sure that it was a sign, a Divine Providence, because we were seated on the part where all the testimonials for answered prayers were posted. It was overwhelming since out of the hundreds of testimonials scattered all over the Church, we were stationed at that part where a couple was expressing their gratitude for their baby. A baby who was given to them by God, despite having APAS. Coincidence? Maybe. Providential? I believe so.
I brace myself for what is in front of me. Despite the challenging times ahead, I am filled with hope — as long as my husband is there, my family and friends are there in every step of the way. And of course, our God.
As Padre Pio said, “Pray, hope and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” Amen? Amen!
