To be known as a spiritual child of Padre Pio was a great honor. Those fortunate ones were able to speak to him during and outside of confession, to ask for his advice, and to rely on his wisdom and above all on his prayers.
But who are Padre Pio's spiritual children? What are their characteristics?
Padre Pio had many spiritual children so that they would continue his spiritual, charitable, and apostolic mission. Padre Pio promised not to enter Paradise until all his spiritual children will have entered. He is known to have said, “Once I take on a soul, I also take on his entire family as my spiritual children. If one of my spiritual children ever goes astray, I shall leave my flock and seek him out. I will ask the Lord to let me remain at the threshold of Paradise, and I will not enter until my last spiritual child has entered."
Just as earthly children resemble their fathers, so Padre Pio's spiritual children resemble their spiritual father. They mimic him in the exercise of the virtues, in the desire to live, in continuous radical choices, and their embrace of the message of the Gospel. Spiritual children of Padre Pio are resolutely faithful, totally entrusting their lives and destiny to the Lord. They hope against all human reason and biases, and they love with all their soul the Holy Trinity and the Most Holy Virgin. They participate in the offering of Jesus in the Holy Mass, offering thoughts, affections, desires, hopes, projects, dreams...
