Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio: Daily Reflections for Advent

St. Pio of Pietrelcina had a deep devotion to the Christ Child. The man more commonly known as Padre Pio also possessed extraordinary and unique mystical gifts: Jesus often came to him in the form of a little child.

In Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio, stories about the saint known for his stigmata and ability to bilocate are woven with scripture and prayer to help you experience Advent--Padre Pio's favorite season--with greater hope and joy.

Each day of Advent you will read an account from someone who knew Padre Pio, including

• his Capuchin brothers' amazement as they witnessed Padre Pio walking the halls of the monastery, cradling an apparition of the Christ Child;
• the miraculous healing of Vera Marie Calandra, who was blessed by the Franciscan monk as an infant and whose parents later founded the National Centre for Padre Pio; and
• examples of the extraordinary spiritual gifts of this holy confessor, including his stigmata, his ability to bilocate and read hearts, and the healing gifts that flowed from his fervent devotion to the Holy Family.

This book contains daily readings for Advent. Each day includes a quotation from Padre Pio, a short story about the saint, a scripture reflection, and prayer to help you follow this extraordinary saint's example and welcome the Christ Child into your home and heart during Advent.

An appendix includes additional resources and prayers to learn more about Padre Pio.

ISBN-13: 9781646801725

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Ave Maria Press

Publication Date: 09-09-2022

Pages: 160

Product Dimensions: 5.05(w) x 6.96(h) x 0.42(d)

Susan De Bartoli is the author of Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio and serves as the secretary of the Board of Directors of the Padre Pio Foundation of America. She has been a guest on various radio and television shows and podcasts, including Let’s Be Frank and Catholic Faith Network Live. De Bartoli is a pilgrimage tour operator and owner of Little Flower Pilgrimages. She also is assisting with the Cause for Canonization of Mary Pyle, Pio’s assistant. She attended Brooklyn College. De Bartoli is a lady commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. She lives in the New York area. Most Rev. Frank Caggiano is bishop of Bridgeport.

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Table of Contents

Foreword Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano vii

Introduction xi

Chronology xix

Day 1 Every Day Is Advent 1

Day 2 Carry Jesus in Your Heart 5

Day 3 Look for the Christ Child 9

Day 4 Fix Your Eyes on the Manger! 13

Day 5 A Grieving Mothers Hope 17

Day 6 Hope from a War-Torn Land 20

Day 7 Running on Empty 24

Day 8 She Will Draw Water from the Well 28

Day 9 The Three Miracles 32

Day 10 A Grandmothers Faith 36

Day 11 Messages of the Angels 40

Day 12 A Healing Gift of the Heart 44

Day 13 Open Our Eyes to See 48

Day 14 Stay with Me Lord 52

Day 15 A Phone Call and a Prayer 56

Day 16 Padre Pio Talks with Jesus 61

Day 17 I Saw Padre Pio in a Dream 65

Day 18 My Eyes Were Dazzled by the Light 69

Day 19 Fish and Chips and Padre Pio 73

Day 20 Our Lady Entrusted an Unborn Child to Brother Pio! 77

Day 21 Lucia and the Crucifix 82

Day 22 The Man in the Trench Coat 86

Day 23 Any Friend of Padre Pio Is a Friend of Mine 92

Day 24 I Held the Relic Over My Eyes 96

Day 25 A Visit from Padre Pio 100

Day 26 Bring Your Little Girl Here to Me in Italy 104

Day 27 Do Not Say Anything to Anyone 108

Day 28 Tonight, Heaven Opened! 112

Day 29 Christmas Day 117

Acknowledgments and Bibliography 122

Appendix I Additional Resources 125

Appendix II Prayers of Padre Pio 131

Notes 135