Hope, Pray and Don't Worry

Padre Pio, Italian Saint in the Catholic church was famous for teaching these few words (Hope, pray and don’t worry) to the people in his church as essential to Spiritual formation. Padre Pio was a capuchin monk, a priest and a spiritual director who became well known for the miracles that occurred in his life, such as the stigmata that he lived with much of his life. In America we don’t often put emphasis on miracles, but with a person such as Padre Pio we see the wonderful example of a complete life of a Christian, who worked with the poor, spoke the words of the Bible and experienced the miracles of God.

In my time here over the past year on and off I have seen images of Padre Pio adorning the walls of homes, including mine, looking at me from the back of 18 wheeler semi-trucks barreling down the highway, and on cards in the wallets of friends. But my favorite is the statue that is halfway up the mountain and a great destination when on a walk with friends. It is a great reminder of how important his ministry was in how many of the locals walk to his statue on a regular basis.

What is even more incredible though, is that this statue, this reminder of a wonderful ministry, is locked up behind a gate on private land, and only when the gate is open does anyone have the opportunity to get close to Padre Pio. Yet you look at the pictures and you see many artificial flowers that have been “planted” at his feet. They were planted when the opportunity to enter presented itself and the people who venture there often saw their chance to honor their saint.
It is this practice of spiritual mischief I so love here in Piegaro. That when someone is moved by their heart to honor God and faith they do so in creative ways, beyond the norm of society. On this trip I have been here almost 3 months and have yet to see the gate open, and the NO TRESPASSING signs abound. I am very aware of the narrow windows of time that present themselves for the locals to place their gifts.

I also think of the people who own this hotelish establishment, and Agriturismo, a place where tourists come to spend time in the country. These people, who so diligently lock up Padre Pio for most of the year, also have refrained from removing the flowers. They too are participants in this spiritual mischief, for they could remove the flowers at any time.

There is no greater way to honor a person who invited people to live simply within their faiths within his five rules for spiritual growth: weekly confession, daily Communion, spiritual reading, meditation, and examination of conscience. Within his own spiritual life he was called to care for the poor and build a hospital, an inspiration for others to care for neighbor. Within the context of hope, pray and don’t worry Padre Pio allowed the Holy Spirit to move him as a man of God, and witness to Jesus.
How do you honor the people who inspire your faith?
How do you play and have fun with your practice of faith?
Do you have any spiritual practices that invite you to take risks, and if so, what?