St. Padre Pio experienced a great deal of suffering in his lifetime, both physical and psychological. He received the stigmata on his body and was isolated from the world for many years.
Padre Pio accepted every suffering he received as if it were coming directly from God, seeing it as a blessing and not a curse.
In Padre Pio: The True Story, C. Bernard Ruffin recounts the holy friar's thoughts on the connection between suffering and the cross of Jesus Christ.
In this point of view, suffering is a gift given by God, not a curse that crushes our happiness.
Padre Pio didn't run from suffering in his life. Instead, he embraced suffering, seeing it as a unique way to be with Jesus on the cross.
The next time we endure any type of suffering in our lives, may we be inspired by Padre Pio and thank God for it, seeing it as a gift.
