MANILA — Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo urged the people to pray that their hearts would also beat for God, apart from their personal wishes.
“Mapalad tayo na ang relic na dumating sa atin ay ang incorrupt heart, ang puso ni Padre Pio na tumibok para sa Diyos, ang puso ni Padre Pio na nagdusa at ngayon ay nandito sa atin (We are lucky that the relic that arrived here is the incorrupt heart, the heart of Padre Pio that beat for God, the heart of Padre Pio that suffered and is now with us),” Pabillo said in his homily at the welcome mass for the two-day visit of the saint’s heart relic at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros on Tuesday.
“Sana po sa paglapit natin dito, hingin natin kasama ng ating ibang mga kahilingan, ‘Padre Pio, tulungan nyo po na ang puso ko ay tumibok din para sa Diyos. Tumibok din kasama ng pagtibok ng puso ni Hesus.’ (As we come here, let us ask together with our wishes, ‘Padre Pio, help my heart beat for God, too. May it also beat just like the way Jesus’ heart beats’),” he added.
Pabillo also urged the faithful to pray for the country and its leaders as they venerate the relic.
“Lumapit din tayo sa kanya bilang mga Pilipino na meron din tayong pagmamalasakit para sa ating bayan at humingi rin tayo ng renewal para sa bayan natin. Sana po ang Pilipinas ay maging banal din upang siya ay maging asin, maging liwanag, dito sa parte ng mundong ito sa Asya (Let us also pray that we Filipinos have compassion for our country and let us ask for the nation’s renewal. May the Philippines become holy so that it may become the salt and light in this part of Asia),” he said.
St. Padre Pio’s heart relic will be open for veneration at the Manila Cathedral for 24 hours until Wednesday.
It is also scheduled to visit Cebu on Oct. 11-13 and Davao on Oct. 14-16.
The saint’s heart relic will be in the country until Oct. 26. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
