St. Pio's Counsels and Exhortations

[Denise]

The devil is like a rabid dog tied to a chain; beyond the length of chain he cannot seize anyone. And you, keep at a distance. If you approach too near, you let yourself be caught. Remember that the devil has only one door by which to enter the soul...the will. There are no secret or hidden doors.

[Denise]

Temptations, discouragement and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. Remember this; if the devil makes noise it is a sign that he is still outside and not yet within. That which must terrify us is his peace and concord with the human soul.

[Denise]

Your temptations are from the devil and from Hell, but your sufferings and afflictions are from God and Heaven. The mothers are from Babylon but the daughters are from Jerusalem. Despise temptations and embrace tribulations. No, my child, let the wind blow and do not think that the noise of the leaves is the clash of arms.

[Denise]

The field of battle between God and satan is the human soul. It is in the soul that the battle rages every moment of life. The soul must give free access to the Lord so that it may be fortified by Him in every respect and with all kinds of weapons; that His light may enlighten it to combat the darkness of error; that it be clothed with Jesus Christ, with His justice, truth, the shield of faith, the word of God, in order to conquer such powerful enemies. The be clothed with Jesus Christ it is necessary to die to oneself.

[Denise]

Blasphemy calls down malediction on your home, and as the proverb says, it destroys even the ashes in the fireplace.

[Denise]

It is necessary to be strong in order too become great; that is our duty. Life is a struggle which we cannot avoid. We must triumph!

[Denise]

That which comes from satan begins with calmness and ends in storm, indifference and apathy.

[Denise]

Various Thoughts

Always be faithful to God in keeping the promises made to Him and do not bother about the ridicule of the foolish. Know that the saints were always sneered at by the world and worldlings; and they have trampled them under foot and triumphed over the world and its Maxims.

[Denise]

Continue to pray that God may console you when you feel that the weight of the Cross is becoming too burdensome. Acting thus, you are not doing anything against the Will of God, but are with the Son of God who, in the garden, asked His Father for some relief. But, if it does not please Him to do this, be ready to say with Jesus, "Fiat!"

[Denise]

Be firm in your resolutions; stay in the ship in which I placed you and let the storm come. Long live Jesus! You will not perish.

[Denise]

He who attaches himself to the earth remains attached to it. It is by violence that we must leave it. It is better to detach oneself a little at a time rather than all at once. Let us always think of Heaven.

[Denise]

Walk the way of the Lord in simplicity. Do not torment your spirit. Say the truth, always the truth.

[Denise]

Do not be so given to the activity of Martha as to forget the silence of Mary. May the Virgin who so well reconciled the one with the other be your sweet model and inspiration.

[Denise]

That which proceeds from God begins with a salutary fear and finishes with peace of mind.

[Denise]

Jesus and your soul must cultivate the vineyard together. It is for you to pick up and carry away the stones, to pull out the thorn bushes. It is the task of Jesus to sow, plant, cultivate, to water.