You've probably heard about many of St. Padre Pio's miracles.
Miraculous healings, the stigmata, speaking to angels
But did you know St. Padre Pio appeard to a Cardinal tortured by communists in prison while never leaving his monestary?
Padre Pio & the communist prison - a 🧵
Venerable Cardinal József Mindszenty was one of the greatest Catholic heroes of the 20th century.
He defied the Communists in Hungary, endured years of torture, and never betrayed the Faith.
Venerable Cardinal József Mindszenty was imprisoned, drugged, and tortured by Marxists for defending Christ’s Church.
Mindszenty was arrested in 1948, falsely accused of plotting to crown Archduke Otto von Habsburg, launch WWIII, and steal Hungary’s crown jewels.
Yes, that’s how absurd Communist lies were.
He endured 8 years in prison and house arrest.
His torturers injected drugs until he signed false “confessions” under duress.
When freedom fighters liberated him during the 1956 uprising, he took asylum in the US Embassy in Budapest, for 15 years.
His mere presence terrified the regime.
The Vatican, under Paul VI, eventually pressured him to resign in 1973.
Returning to Rome, he sighed: “Ego debuissem in Hungaria mori.” (I should have died in Hungary.)
Now, the miracle.
While locked away, his desire to celebrate Mass grew unbearable.
One morning, a mysterious friar appeared in his cell bringing everything needed for Mass.
That friar? Padre Pio.
Mindszenty celebrated Mass in his dungeon.
Padre Pio served as acolyte.
They spoke.
And then, as suddenly as he appeared, the Capuchin vanished, taking everything he had brought with him.
This was bilocation, a rare mystical gift allowing someone to be in two places at once.
Padre Pio’s bilocations are well-attested by witnesses all over the world.
This one was confirmed years later by one of his close friends, Angelo Battisti.
When asked if the Cardinal had recognized him, Padre Pio bristled: “Well, we met and talked, so you think he wouldn’t have recognized me?”
Then, with sadness, he said of Mindszenty: “The devil is ugly, but they had left him uglier than the devil.”
Padre Pio urged: “Remember to pray for this great confessor of the Faith, who suffered so much for the Church.”
Mindszenty died in exile in Vienna in 1975. His cause for canonization is underway.
May he one day be raised to the altars.
May we have the same courage as Venerable József Mindszenty in the face of our enemies.
And may we aspire to be living saints as Padre Pio!
St. Padre Pio, Venerable József Mindszenty, pray for us!
The Catholic Men's Podcast covers this in an amazing video:
Check them out!
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