Memorial of Saint Padre Pio

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed” (Lk. 8:16). Saint Matthew took up this theme: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mat. 5:16). Each of us is here in response to the voice speaking to our hearts, calling us to immerse ourselves in the Fire of Divine Love. That flame, silently yet powerfully reveals God’s love for the world. Our fidelity to the monastic way of life becomes a light of revelation to people walking in darkness and the valley of death. Our willingness to allow the Light of Glory shining on the face of Christ to radiate through us contributes to the building up of the Church and the salvation of the world. The cloister becomes a repository of Divine Love and the monastery becomes a place of encounter with the Living God.

Many people have told me they consider the monastery a ‘thin place’. Not being Irish, I had to look up the term. A thin place is where the boundary between heaven and earth is extremely thin. A thin place is a peaceful place where people find serenity and experience joy in God’s presence. To use the image from today’s gospel passage, our hidden apostolic fruitfulness is a lamp the Church has placed on a lampstand to shed the light of hope on all who enter the household of God. We and all who join us in this monastic church render the divine majesty a sacrifice of humble and noble praise.