Question:  What do you think about the stigmata of Padre Pio?

Answer: In the Catholic religion, there seems to be an endless sequence of paranormal occurrences: apparitions, weeping statutes, bleeding hosts, devout people with stigmata and so on. Being preoccupied with these things, Catholics often neglect the simple and pure devotion to Jesus Christ that comes from the understanding and obedience of His holy Word.

Though we expect a greater degree of deception in the future just before the coming of Christ, the Bible warns us that the 'secret power of lawlessness is already at work' and people were and continue to be deceived by counterfeit miracles and signs.

"For the secret power of lawlessness is ALREADY at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie."

The worst thing about Padre Pio is that he believed that by his sufferings he was collaborating with Christ in the redemption of the world. Can you imagine that? Saved by the blood of Christ and the stigmata of Padre Pio! Maybe we should praise his name too for our salvation!

Here are 3 quotations from the Vatican website (one is by the Pope) about these blasphemous claims:

Holy Mass was the heart and the source of his whole spirituality: "There is in the Mass", he used to say, "the whole of Calvary". The faithful who crowded round his altar were profoundly impressed by the intensity of his "immersion" in the Mystery, and perceived that "the Father" participated in his person in the Redeemer's sufferings. (Canonization of St Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin Priest, Address of John Paul II, Monday, 17 June 2002).

Inflamed by love of Jesus Christ, he became like him in the sacrifice of himself for the salvation of the world.

Throughout his life, he always sought greater conformity with the Crucified, since he was very conscious of having been called to collaborate in a special way in the work of redemption.

The Bible says that Christ died for us. No other man could ‘participate’ or ‘collaborate’ in the great work of redemption!

Curiosity may entice us to look at the strange phenomena of religion. But faith would not be tricked by the old liar. Our eyes remain fixed on Jesus, who alone died for our sins. He is the joy, the delight, the fulfillment of our hearts’ desire – and we don’t need anyone else.