| Padre Pio the
Saint With Canonization comes the obligation, not
just the privilege, to render the due justice of universal public veneration to someone
whose life, and God's working in that life, has been crowned with the eternal vision of
God. Canonization does not put a person in heaven, it recognizes that God's grace and
their cooperation with grace has done so.
Between Beatification and
Canonization the Cause had to overcome two obstacles, one procedural and one spiritual. The
procedural obstacle is the approval of a second miracle, first through a Process in the
diocese in which it occurred, and then by the Congregation for the Causes of the
Saints. The spiritual obstacle is the certainty of the Supreme Pontiff that the person is
worthy to be canonized. It has been related by visitors to the Vatican that when asked
about when Padre Pio would be canonized the Pope has responded, "Pray, pray. Even the
Pope must pray." Those prayers have now reaped their fruit.
Thus, in this way, by practical
tests, of the life, of the intercessory power of the candidate, and by the prayerful and
serene judgment of the Pontiff, the Holy Spirit works through human instruments to ensure
the authenticity of a canonization.
In the words of the formula
used for canonizations we can see the solemn
judgment and infallible authority of the Supreme Pastor of the Church at work and
give thanks that they have been pronounced on behalf of Padre Pio of
Pietrelcina.
For the honour of the Blessed
Trinity, the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the fostering of the Christian life, by
the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own,
after due deliberation and frequent prayers for the divine assistance, and having sought
the counsel of our Brother Bishops, we declare and define that Bl.
Pio of Pietrelcina, is a saint and we enroll him among the saints, decreeing that
he is
to be venerated in the
whole Church as one of the saints. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit.
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