Stella Lilley, An Appreciation, Padre Pio's Messenger

For thirty years Stella Lilley and her late husband, Tony, have devoted
themselves to the spread of devotion to Padre ( now Saint ) Pio, to
Sister Faustina and her devotion to The Divine Mercy, and to the
apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Medjugorje.

She founded the Padre Pio Information Centre in UK, and from here
organised pilgrimages to San Giovanni, Assisi, and Rome for Padre Pio,
and to Warsaw, Krakhov and Swinice (her birthplace) for Sister Faustina.
She also inaugurated pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

There are now over 200 prayer groups in the UK devoted to the
spread of these devotions, and they now form a living and longlasting
testimonial to her life's work in furthering these causes.

Twelve films in "The seeing is Believing" video library were made with
her brother, film director J. Paddy Nolan, and are distributed world-wide
on DVD and VHS and played daily on Mother Angelica's EWTN
television station in U.S.A.

Her memory lives on, not only with those lucky enough to have met
and been inspired by her personally, but in the books and films that
will see the continuation of these devotions handed down to future
generations.

We firmly believe that Padre Pio would have been waiting, as he
promised, at 'The Gates of Heaven', to welcome in his devoted
followers, of whom Stella was certainly one.

These are the films in
"The seeing is Believing" video library
which Stella Lilley made with her brother,
award winning British film director J Paddy Nolan

PADRE PIO - ST. PIO of PIETRELCINA
Padre Pio famous Italian saintly priest who bore the stigmata, or wounds of Christ. (Padre Pio died in 1968.)
He possessed the gifts of celestial perfume, bilocation, healing, prophecy, tongues and reading of hearts.
Considered by many as the greatest mystic of the 20th Century.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 1. It is a great joy for me to meet you again the day after the solemn canonization of the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo. Dear pilgrims and devotees, I greet you with affection who have gathered in Rome in such large numbers for this special occasion. I first of all greet the bishops, priests and religious who are present here. I want to pay special attention to the Capuchin Franciscans who in communion with the whole Church praise and thank the Lord for the marvels he has worked in their exemplary confrere. Padre Pio is an authentic model of spirituality and humanity, two characteristic features of the Franciscan and Capuchin tradition. I greet the members of the "Padre Pio Prayer Groups" and the representatives of the family of the "Home for the Relief of Suffering", that great institution for the treatment and the care of the sick that came forth from the new saint's charity. I embrace you, dear pilgrims from the noble land that gave birth to Padre Pio, from the other regions of Italy and from every part of the world. By your presence here, you witness to how widespread are devotion to and confidence in the holy Friar of the Gargano in the Church and on every continent. 2. But what is the secret of such great admiration and love for this new saint? He is first of all a "friar of the people", a traditional characteristic of the Capuchins. He is also a saint who is a miraculous healer, as the extraordinary events which are part of his life attest. However, above all Padre Pio is a religious who is deeply in love with the crucified Christ. He even shared physically in the mystery of the Cross during his life. He liked to link the glory of Tabor with the mystery of the Passion, as we read in one of his letters: "Before exclaiming with St Peter "Oh how good it is to be here', it is necessary first to climb Calvary, where one sees only death, nails, thorns, suffering, extraordinary shadows, abandonment and fainting" (Epistolario III, p. 287). Padre Pio made his journey of demanding spiritual ascesis in communion with the Church. The temporary misunderstandings he had with one or other ecclesial authority did not put a brake on his attitude of filial obedience. Padre Pio was a faithful and courageous son of the Church and in this situation following the shining example of the "Poverello" of Assisi. 3. May this holy Capuchin to whom so many people turn to from every corner of the earth point out to us the means to reach holiness which is the goal of our life as Christians. How many faithful in every social condition, from the most diverse places and the most difficult situations hurried to ask his help! He knew how to offer them all what they needed most, which they were often groping for without being fully aware of it. He passed on to them the comforting and enlightening Word of God, enabling each person to draw from the sources of his grace through his diligent dedication to the ministry of the confessional and the fervent celebration of the Eucharist. So it was that he wrote to one of his spiritual daughters: "Do not be afraid to come to the Lord's altar to be fed with fleshoftheImmaculateLamb,because no one will better reconcile your spirit than your king, nothing will warm it more than his sun, and nothing will soothe it better than his balm" (ibid., p. 944). 4. The Mass of Padre Pio! It was an eloquent reminder to priests of the beauty of the priestly vocation. For the religious and the lay people who flocked to San Giovanni Rotondo even at the early morning hours, it was an extraordinary catechesis on the value and importance of the Eucharistic sacrifice. 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. 5. St Pio of Pietrelcina presented himself to everyone - priests, men and women religious and lay people - as a credible witness to Christ and to his Gospel. May his example and intercession spur everyone to greater love for God and concrete solidarity with his neighbour, especially those who are in greatest need. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Padre Pio called by the beautiful name of "Our Lady of Grace" (Santa Maria delle Grazie), help us to follow in the footprints of this religious who is so beloved by the people! With this hope, I cordially bless you who are present here, your loved ones and all who are committed to following in the spiritual footsteps of the beloved saint of Pietrelcina.

Address:

marianland.com
327 Main Street, P.O. Box 713
Blackshear, GA 31516
USA

Toll-Free Number: 1-888-778-5442 (USA & Canada) or 912-807-5480

E-Mail Contact:
marianland@earthlink.net