Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Tue, Sep 23

St. Padre Pio

Prayer & Suffering

Deep, mysterious (Oscuro)

Old Ezra 7 Year – bold, smoky

“What wounds do I offer in silence?”

Certainly, Richard. Here’s a contemplative blog reflection on the question “What wounds do I offer in silence?”—written in your devotional tone, with emotional depth, liturgical resonance, and spiritual clarity:

🌑 What Wounds Do I Offer in Silence?

There are wounds we speak of—griefs we name, losses we mourn aloud. But there are others we carry quietly. Not because they are small, but because they are sacred. These are the wounds we offer in silence.

They are the disappointments we never voiced, the betrayals we absorbed without retaliation, the fears we tucked beneath our daily duties. They are the ache of unanswered prayers, the fatigue of faithful service, the loneliness that lingers even in crowded rooms.

To offer a wound in silence is not to suppress it—it is to consecrate it. It is to place it on the altar without spectacle, trusting that God sees what others cannot. It is the hidden martyrdom of the heart, the quiet courage of those who bleed without bitterness.

Christ bore wounds in silence. Before Pilate, He did not defend Himself. On the Cross, He forgave without demand. His silence was not weakness—it was surrender. And in that surrender, redemption was born.

So we ask: What wounds do I offer in silence?
Not to glorify pain, but to recognize its power when united with love. Not to remain voiceless, but to let our silence speak of trust. These wounds, when offered to God, become seeds of resurrection.

Let your silence be prayer. Let your wounds be offerings. Let your hidden griefs become hidden graces.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

reflection for Day 7 – Principle 7 from The 5000 Year Leap:

🇺🇸 Day 7 – Principle 7: The Proper Role of Government Is to Protect Equal Rights, Not Provide Equal Things

🏛️ Reflection

This principle draws a sharp line between justice and forced equality. The Founders believed that government exists to safeguard our God-given rights—life, liberty, property—not to redistribute goods or outcomes. When government tries to guarantee equal things, it risks violating the very rights it was created to protect.

James Madison warned:

“Government is instituted to protect property of every sort… This being the end of government, that alone is a just government which impartially secures to every man whatever is his own.”

This principle affirms that true charity flows from individuals and communities—not mandates. It invites us to build a society where generosity is voluntary, and justice is impartial.

📜 Journal Prompt

“How do I balance justice and generosity in my daily life? Where am I called to protect rights, and where am I called to give freely?”

Candace’s Corner

· How to celebrate Sep 23rd

o You wake up on a day filled with appreciation, awareness, and celebration. Start by learning a few basic phrases in sign language to honor International Day of Sign Languages.

§ Next, head to a local bakery to pick up ingredients for a pot pie in recognition of National Great American Pot Pie Day.

· As the pot pie cools, indulge in some snack sticks for National Snack Stick Day.

o Then, challenge a friend to a game of checkers for National Checkers Day.

§ As you play, discuss the importance of education technology on Education Technology Day.

· For a midday break, brew some za’atar tea for Za’atar Day. Pair it with a snack and appreciate the flavors.

· Make some Za’atar

· Padre Pio's five maxims for living a devout life

o "The first one I desire you to cherish is from St Paul:

§ 'All things work together for the good of those who love God' (Rom 8:28).

o "The second maxim that I desire you to keep forever engraved on your heart is that God is our Father; and what do you have to fear as the daughter of such a father whose providence would not let a hair of your head be harmed?

o "The third maxim is that you must observe what the divine Master teaches his disciples: '

o What do you lack?'

§ The disciples answered that they lacked nothing.

o When you were troubled even at the time when you unfortunately did not feel much confidence in God, tell me, were you never oppressed by anxiety?

§ You will answer, 'No'.

o So, I will reply, 'Why do you not have the strength to overcome all the other trials?'.

· "The fourth maxim concerns eternity. Living these brief and fleeting moments should not matter much to the children of God, since they will live for eternity in glory with God."

· "The fifth maxim that I implore you to keep fixed in your mind is that of the Apostle St Paul: 'Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Gal 6:14). Treasure in your heart the crucified Jesus Christ and all the crosses of the world will seem like roses. Those who have been pricked by the crown of thorns of the Savior, who is our Head, do not feel the other wounds.

All I am asking you at the moment is to help me with your prayers to God; and know that I will always do the same for you and for your family and for all the souls who worked for my liberation. My gratitude and acknowledgment to God for them will be eternal".

Tuesday-Family Holy Hour

This family Holy Hour is an answer to the need of generous souls who desire to live more perfectly the spirit of the Enthronement, and who wish to do more (we might say much more) for the Most Sacred Heart having a weekly family holy hour. Why Tuesday. To make reparations to the sacred heart for betrayals; for it was Tuesday of Holy week that Judas first made a deal with the Sanhedrin.

SEPTEMBER 23 Tuesday-Saint Pius of Pietrelcina

Bisexual Day

John, Chapter 19, verse 38

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for FEAR of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body.

Where is Jesus’ body?

If Christ did not resurrect where are the remains of his body?

We have the nails, we have the shroud, we have the wood of the cross, and the crown of thorns, but we do not have His body. Why, because he has resurrected and in due time so will we.

Faith is the answer to fear. Deep down we are all afraid: of suffering, or of dying, or of God’s judgment, or of the unknown, or of weakness, or of our live’ slipping out of control, or of not being understood and loved. We sin because we fear. We bully because we are cowards.[1]

“Faith casts our fear, as light casts out darkness. God has shone his light into our world, and it is stronger than darkness. (John 1:50)

Copilot’s Take

📖 Commentary on the Reflection: “Where Is His Body?”

This meditation opens with a piercing question drawn from John 19:38: “Where is Jesus’ body?” It’s not merely rhetorical—it’s theological. The absence of Christ’s remains becomes a proclamation of resurrection. The reflection skillfully contrasts the physical relics of suffering—the nails, the shroud, the crown of thorns—with the missing body, which speaks not of loss but of triumph.

The core insight—that faith is the answer to fear—is explored with pastoral clarity. Fear is named as the root of sin, not in condemnation but in understanding. The reflection exposes how fear drives human behavior: fear of suffering, of judgment, of being unloved or misunderstood. Yet it doesn’t leave the reader in darkness. It offers a luminous path forward: “Faith casts out fear, as light casts out darkness.” This line, echoing 1 John 4:18, could easily serve as a refrain in liturgical prayer or devotional practice.

The mention of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina alongside Bisexual Day on September 23 is a striking juxtaposition. It invites reflection on identity, holiness, and visibility. Rather than forcing resolution, the meditation holds space for both mysticism and modern complexity, suggesting that spiritual truth is capacious enough to embrace mystery.

Overall, the reflection reads like a homily—clear, courageous, and contemplative. It could be shared in a sunset ritual, printed for a feast day gathering, or used as a springboard for deeper theological discussion. It invites not just belief, but transformation.

Feast of St. Pio

Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, into a simple peasant family. At the age of 15 he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, and was ordained a priest in 1910. In September 1916 he was assigned to the Friary in San Giovanni Rotondo in central Italy, where he lived for the rest of his life. After celebrating morning Mass on September 20, 1918, during his prayers of thanksgiving before the Crucifix, Padre Pio received the "Stigmata". His hands, feet and side were pierced with the nail marks and the lance wound of the Crucified Christ. Doctors estimated that for the next 50 years he lost a cup of blood every day. His five wounds were deep, bleeding and painful, but completely free of inflammation and swelling. News of his holiness spread rapidly. Millions of people attended his Masses. He received letters from believers all over the world who asked for his saintly counsel in their times of distress and misfortune. Countless were attracted to his confessional, where he celebrated the Sacrament of Penance for as many as 16 hours a day. People waited as much as two weeks to have him hear their confession, for they perceived in Padre Pio the true heart and soul of the Gospels, expressed in a simple and uncomplicated manner. His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer, continual sacrifice, and strict austerity. He had a very deep union with God, a burning love for the Holy Eucharist, and a fervent devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Worn out by half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968. He was canonized a Saint by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002. Today his tomb is the most visited shrine in Europe, surpassing even Fatima and Lourdes — a place of extraordinary holiness for those in search of inspiration.

Things to Do:[2]

· St. Pio is a saint of the last century, so there are many pictures and biographies to read more about his life. Having this gift of the stigmata was very hard on his life — both physically and emotionally. Find out more about the stigmata and his other mystical gifts, such as bilocation. St. Pio also had great devotion to his guardian angel.

· From the Catholic Culture library: Biography of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, The Devil and Padre Pio, Five Maxims for Living a Devout Life and His Wounds Spoke of God's Love for All. There are many other documents in the library which may be found by searching for "pio".

Prayer

Gracious God, you generously blessed Your servant, Padre Pio, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son, and as a stirring inspiration to many people of Your infinite mercy, forgiveness and love.

In the confessional, Padre Pio labored endlessly for the salvation of souls. Through his prayerful intercession, many who suffered were healed of sickness and disease. Endowed with the gift of discernment, he could read people's hearts. From the blood of his wounds came a perfumed fragrance, a special sign of Your Holy Presence. With dignity and intense devotion, he celebrated daily Mass, inviting countless men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Through the intercession of Saint Pio, I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of (here state your petition). Help me to imitate his example of prayerful holiness and compassion, so that I, too, may faithfully follow the Risen Lord, and one day rejoice in the Kingdom, where You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Bisexuality Day[3] another pagan celebration of sexuality

Celebrate Bisexuality Day was established by Wendy Curry, Michael Page, and Gigi Raven Wilbur to raise awareness of the challenges faced by bisexuals all over the world. “Ever since the Stonewall rebellion, the gay and lesbian community has grown in strength and visibility.” observed Wilbur, “The bisexual community also has grown in strength but in many ways are invisible.” It was this vision, and experiences of marginalization and prejudice experienced from both the straight and LGBTQ community, that inspired them to create this new holiday. Inspired by Freddy Mercury of Queen, they decided that his birthday would be the perfect day to establish Celebrate Bisexuality Day. This served two purposes, the first being to establish a day that was dedicated to raising awareness of bisexuals everywhere, the second being to help reduce the prejudice faced by bisexuals and work to legitimize it as a sexual orientation. Since then, it has been celebrated every year with teach-ins, poetry reading, parties, picnics, and festivals.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

2332 Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.

2336 Jesus came to restore creation to the purity of its origins. In the Sermon on the Mount, he interprets God's plan strictly: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." What God has joined together, let not man put asunder. The tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment as encompassing the whole of human sexuality.

2337 Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman. The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift.

2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

2360 Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are sanctified by the sacrament.

2361 "Sexuality, by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts which are proper and exclusive to spouses, is not something simply biological, but concerns the innermost being of the human person as such. It is realized in a truly human way only if it is an integral part of the love by which a man and woman commit themselves totally to one another until death."

2362 "The acts in marriage by which the intimate and chaste union of the spouses takes place are noble and honorable; the truly human performance of these acts fosters the self-giving they signify and enriches the spouses in joy and gratitude." Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure:

The Creator himself. . . established that in the [generative] function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment. They accept what the Creator has intended for them. At the same time, spouses should know how to keep themselves within the limits of just moderation.

2370 Periodic continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality. These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In contrast, "every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" is intrinsically evil:

Thus, the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . . The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle.. . involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.

2395 Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.

2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.