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Jesus suffered 3 hours on a cross for the sins of men, to reconcile the elect to the Father.

THREE HOURS was deemed sufficient by the Father for that to be COMPLETED .

Padre Pio must surely be something , to endure that same sufficient suffering for 50 years.
He must be more of a man than Christ was ?

Can you not see how this stigmata does not cause one to look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, but to the old monk and his stamina and endurance and HIS holiness?

This does not point to Christ and make His REAL suffering for us seem unendurable by us and cause us to be thankful and worship HIM .. it makes us look at a man and say that he could endure it maybe we could too.

That my friend is the work of Satan.
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Can you not see how this stigmata does not cause one to look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, but to the old monk and his stamina and endurance and HIS holiness?... That my friend is the work of Satan.

No, it shows the monk's unity with Christ and his identification with His Lord's sufferings. You do the work of Satan to twist it into something it is not.

Can you not see how this stigmata does not cause one to look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, but to the old monk and his stamina and endurance and HIS holiness?

Padre Pio would get a good laugh out of that.

Next he would point out to you that he was forbidden to show anyone the stigmata, so if you don't like them, don't look at them (or try to look at them), look at Jesus instead.

One great piece of advice I was given lately was not to engage in conversation with demons.

That my friend is the work of Satan.

We are all called to be "Saints", not just people like Padre Pio. Padre Pio did good works throughout his life and "carried his cross" as we are all called to do. Padre Pio is a sign of God's glory and presence, and was a witness to Jesus' passion. Very few people are called on by God in this way. God's presence is real and He continues to work in this world through His saints, and all who believe in Him.

Jesus Himself, our Lord and God incarnate, was accused of doing the work of Satan during his ministry on earth by His detractors.

"If Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand." Luke 11:18

Padre Pio was a strong witness to Jesus Christ, and God showed this through his signs, so how can one accuse Padre Pio of doing the work of Satan when Padre Pio is steering souls away from Satan and towards Jesus Christ? We need more saints to witness the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, in fact, we all should be steering souls towards God; and not be envious of saints that have done the Lord's work.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:12,13).

Can you not see how this stigmata does not cause one to look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, but to the old monk and his stamina and endurance and HIS holiness?

(psst: "Stigmata" is a plural word. "Stigma" is the singular.)

Nope, because it's not my experience. Also not my theology since only God is holy, so any holiness perceived in the vicinity of Padre Pio is God's.

The reason that I'm dragging this comparatively old post up is that it hit me last night that it seems a lot of Protestant controversialists assume a certain internal state, characterized by superstition, stupidity, and ignorance in Catholics, and seem unable to entertain the idea that a few of us might actually believe in God. Certainly, some SAY that a few of us may believe and be saved, but that group doesn't seem to include those who defend and engage in Catholic faith and practice.

I'm reminded of my godmother saying that catholics were superstitious despite the fact that she knew about John Cardinal Newman.

In related news, being crucified is more than wounds in hands and feet. It is also being put in a position where breathing is exhausting and painful and finally one suffocates. The reason they broke the legs of the people crucified with Jesus was so that they wouldn't be able to push themselves up to inhale and thus would suffocate faster.

So no one is claiming that Padre Pio suffered the torture that Jesus suffered.

And that doesn't address the question of Jesus actively giving up His life, rather than merely waiting for death to come to Him. "I have the power to lay it down ..."

But the main point of my objection is that you are seem to be saying that God would not give the stigmata to Padre Pio (or Francis or any of the host of people who have had them) because it would lead people astray. But the Bible has led some people astray, and He gave us that.

The Way is straight. That some wander from it does not show that the way is bad.