Be a Saint of Mercy: Admonish the Sinner...like Padre Pio!

The third Spiritual Work of Mercy, Admonish the Sinner, is one that most Catholics either misunderstand, cringe at, or completely ignore when acting on our call to live the Works of Mercy.  Let's admit it, it's easy to talk to ourselves into believing that Feeding the Hungry is more important and urgent than Admonishing the Sinner...plus it seems to require less awkward interactions!

Before moving on, perhaps it's wise to begin with a little explanation of what it really means to "Admonish the Sinner."

In Matthew 18:15-18 Jesus said, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

In our world, "Admonishing the sinner" is often confused and used interchangeably with judging or condemning somebody for his or her actions.  But if you read Jesus' words in Matthew 18 closely, you'll see that admonishing has nothing to do with judging someone, but everything to do with genuinely loving them!  But, we know from experience that it isn't always easy to lovingly correct someone-our message doesn't always carry the love we hold in our hearts and our intentions can so easy be misinterpreted!  But again, Jesus' instruction in Matthew 18 points out the difference...He instructs us to seek out our "brother" in private! This really gets to the heart of "Admonishing the Sinner."  how do we correct the sinner? What is our intent? What is our approach?  Are we more concerned with the soul of the sinner or punishing them for the evil done?  We have to weigh our intentions carefully and take our concerns for the soul of our friend and strangers into consideration, before we speak!

So what saint should we turn to this March? Who can model for us an authentic example of "Admonishing the Sinner?"

How about the tremendous mystic monk, Padre Pio!

Padre Pio, baptized Francesco Forgione, grew up and lived in Italy between 1887 and 1968.  At the age of ten he told his parents, "I want to be a friar...with a beard," after seeing a Capuchin friar traveling through town.  These genuine words would end up being prophetic, as Francesco was ordained a priest on August of 1910. Within a month of his ordination, Padre Pio found himself praying in a a chapel when Jesus and Mary appeared to him and gifted him the wounds of Christ on the Cross, the stigmata! This began years of ecstasies, illness, suffering, and other miraculous displays of God's work through Padre Pio.

During his assigned time in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio became the spiritual father for many men and women (called his spiritual daughters and sons).  Padre Pio shared with these daughters and sons his five rules for spiritual growth-1. Weekly Confession, 2. Daily Communion, 3. Spiritual Reading, 4. Meditation and 5. Examination of Conscience.  When explaining these spiritual rules, Padre Pio used the analogy of dusting a room (used or unused) on a weekly basis, to frequent confession.

And it was after establishing this private relationship with his spiritual children that Padre Pio began to share with them his God-given gift of seeing the soul with interior vision.  With his holy eyes he could see the dark corners of this "undusted" room that he spoke of.  It allowed Padre Pio the opportunity to admonish those hidden sins that his spiritual children (and all humanity) like to keep hidden.

For example, from the book "The Padre: Testimonies" by Fr. Iasenzaniro we read...

"Father Pasquale Cattaneo also gives us a testimony showing Padre Pio's ability to read hearts. Fr. Cattaneo had received permission from his superiors to visit San Giovanni and to go to confession to padre Pio.  During his bus trip he prepared himself with a good examination of his conscience so as to be ready to make a sincere confession of his sins.  With the help of the Holy Spirit he looked into every corner of his soul, and made new promises of amendment.  However as the bus going to the Gargano was on the last part of the journey and the town came into view, he ended his examination perplexed thinking: "The spiritual life at times seems like trying to climb glass."

When he arrived at the friary, he went into the sacristy and told the friar who helped with the confessions that he had come to confess to Padre Pio and afterwards he patiently waited for his turn.  When the time came he entered the confessional, greeted Padre Pio and made his confession.  After confessing his faults, Padre Pio gave him absolution.  He then arose, feeling happy that he had made a sincere confession, when he turned one last time and glanced at the Padre--the Padre smiled at him and with an amused look he wittingly said: "So the spiritual life seems like climbing glass, eh?"

Father Pasquale was flabbergasted and couldn't seem to utter a word, but from then on he was absolutely convinced that Padre Pio was enlightened by the Holy Spirit to guide souls.  Thus it is a very unusual truth that P. Pio could at times perceive what his spiritual children were thinking, even without them giving explanations to him." 

Padre Pio cared about the souls that crossed his path, even when it was a soul that had much dust to clean.  He yearned for these souls to experience the grace and love that only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Do we approach dusty rooms with the same desire!?  Padre Pio models perfectly the way to "Admonish the Sinner."

If you would like to learn more about Padre Pio, I suggest checking out this website: http://padrepiodevotions.org

If you desire to become one of Padre Pio's spiritual children, consider saying this prayer:
O Saint Padre Pio,
holy bearer of the Wounds of Christ,
accept us this day as your spiritual sons and daughters and keep us
always on the narrow path
by your intercession.
And do thou, O our Spiritual Father,
stay there at the Gates of Heaven until
all of your spiritual children have entered
through, even and including us.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

As we reflect on our Christian call to "Admonish the Sinner," may we each find compassion and love in the way Padre Pio approached sinners.  He models for us the love that must be at the forefront of our desire to correct others.

Saint Padre Pio...Pray for us!

Guest blogger: Joe Tallman
SPX School Middle School Religion