Padre Pio said: "If people knew the value of the Mass, there would be policemen at the door,

to regulate the access to the church, every time a Mass is celebrated" .

Being at five in the morning near the altar of Padre Pio was really a close encounter of the special kind with the supernatural.

The Mass of Padre Pio was a spectacular mystical event, mixing the height of the human complete immolation to God, that we could see,

with a mystical and physical renewal of the Passion of Christ from the Garden to the Golgota, that we couldn't see, but were able to feel.

The Mass with Padre Pio

"It is easier for the earth to be without the sun than without the mass."

From his own handwriting to his spiritual directors and the spiritual daughter Cleonice Morcaldi, we know that Padre Pio experienced during

Mass the Passion of Jesus, including the Agony in the Garden with the sweat of blood, the scourging, the crowning of thorns, the hostile crowds,

the Via Crucis, Veronica, Simon of Cyrene, the Crucifixion, the seven words, the sipping of the gall, the death and deposition.

"My Mass  is a sacred accomplishment of the Passion of Jesus."

"In knowing the Passion of Jesus, you will also know my Passion."

"The Mass is the complete union between Jesus and me."

"All of Paradise is close to the altar when I say Mass."

"The angels attend my Mass In legions."

"The angels around the altar adore and love."

"The Holy Virgin assists me."

"During the Consecration a new, awesome and wonderful annihilation and creation happens."

    "I suffer all what Jesus suffered, from the Garden to the Cross."

"I inadequately suffer to the extent a human creature can possibly suffer."

"I suffer the agony of death like Jesus in the Garden of Getsemani."

"The sufferings are so acute that they can neither be described nor imagined."

"I suffer the bitterness of gall very often during the Mass."

"I suffer the most from the Consecration to the Communion."

"My suffering is insignificant compared to the  suffering Jesus experienced."

"I don’t want my Calvary to be alleviated; rather to make it harder. We must suffer."

"The offertory is the moment when the soul becomes detached from all that is profane."

"I suffer the crowning of thorns during the Holy Mass and also before and after  it."

"Without the crown of thorns the immolation would not be complete.  The thorns are around the whole head."

"The crown of thorns is never taken away."

 "The head and the heart are the wound that hurt the most."

"I suffer the scourging from the beginning to the end of the Mass, but more intensely after the Consecration."

      "I also speak the "seven words" that Jesus stated on the Cross."

"During the Way of the Cross I am Jesus Himself. Jesus himself helps me like Simon of Cyrene and Veronica"

"At the Calvary, there where screams, blasphemies, loud clamor, and threats... that was really an uproar."

"I find my rest on the Cross."

"in His last gaze the dying Jesus looked towards His Holy Mother."

"I put last gaze on my brothers in exile." 

"In the Communion I ask the Lord to let me be another Jesus, all Jesus, always Jesus."

"My Communion is a fusion. Like two candles that fuse together and cannot be distinguished one from the other. "

"I die mystically, at the Holy Communion. The Communion is the culminating point of my suffering."

"In the communion Jesus put his delight in his creature."

"The Eucharist gives and idea of the union we will have in heaven."

"How could I live failing even for a single morning to receive Jesus in the Communion?"

"Help me carry the cross. I that carry it for  all."

"O lord, don't strike my poor brothers, strike me."

"I want to expiate the sins of all, like Jesus did on the cross."

"I take all iniquities on myself,  as it is part of the Divine Sacrifice."

"I see all my children who come to the altar, as if in a mirror. I tell Mary: Here are the children of your Son."

"If we only knew how God regards it, we would risk our lives to be present at a single Mass."

"The mass gives to God an infinite glory"

"Mass is redemption of your soul and reconciliation with God."

"Listen to the Mass the way the virgin Mary stood at the Calvary"

"The holy Mass regenerates the world."

"The fruits that we receive at Mass cannot be enumerated. We will know it only in Paradise."

"I want to save my soul at any cost."

"I live for Jesus Christ, I live for his glory, I live to serve him, I live to love him."

"If it depended on me I would never leave the altar."

From a letter to Annita Rodote on July 25, 1915 on how to attend Mass:

"The Divine Master calls the church the house of prayer. In order to avoid irreverence and imperfections I exhort you in the Lord to:

Enter the church in silence and with great respect. Take the holy water and make the sign of the cross carefully and slowly.

Before God in the Blessed Sacrament genuflect devoutly. At your pace, kneel down and render to Jesus the tribute of you presence.

Confide to him all your needs, and those of others. Speak to him with filial abandonment. Be very composed when standing up, kneeling down, and sitting.

Carry out every religious act with the greatest devotion. Be modest in your glance. Don't turn you head here and there to see who enters and leaves.

Don't laugh. Don't speak to anybody, except when requested for charity or other strict necessity.

Say the words distinctly, observe the pauses, and never hurry. Behave in such a way that all the presents are edified by you.

Don't leave without asking Jesus for his blessing, and forgiveness for your shortcomings. Leave the church recollected and calm."

Padre Pio celebrated the Tridentine Latin Mass

Padre Pio approaching the altar for a Solemn Mass

The Mass started with prayers at the foot of the Altar

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Introibo ad altare Dei. Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

I will go to the altar of God. To God, the joy of my youthfulness.

Padre Pio is helped climbing the steps to the altar.

Confiteor (I confess), , Kyrie eleison, Gloria

The Prayer (turning, and facing the assembly).

P. Dominus Vobiscum. S. Et cum spiritu tuo. P. Oremus... P. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. S. Amen

P. May the Lord be with you. S. And with your Spirit. P. Let us pray. P. For ever and ever. S. Amen.

Dominus vobiscum (the missale is still on the right side)

Padre Pio reeds the lecture from the Old Testament

  Than follow: epistula, graduale, Evangelium, sermon, Credo.

Padre Pio Reading the Gospel

Offertory prayers

Suscipe, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus, hanc immaculatam hostiam....

Accept, O Holy Father, Almighty and eternal God, this immaculate host....

Than washing the hands: Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas.

Incensing of the offerings during a rare High Mass

Orate fratres, ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotentem.

Pray brothers, that my Sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty.

Orate fratres when the wounded hands could be seen:

S. Suscipiat Dominus sacrificium de manibus tuis ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque Ecclesiae suae sanctae.

S. May the Lord receive the Sacrifice from your hands to the praise and glory of His Name, for our good, and that of all His holy Church.

Listening to the assembly after Orate Fratres

Prefatio

P. Dominus vobiscum. S. Et cum spiritu tuo.   P. May the Lord be with you. S. And with your spirit.
P. Sursum corda. S. Habemus ad Dominum.  P. Lift up your hearts. S. We have lifted them up to the Lord.
P. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. S. Dignum et justum est. P. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. S. It is right and just.

Sanctus

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Roman Canon

Te igitur, clementissime Pater, per Jesum Cristum Filium tuum, Dominum nostru, supplice rogamus...

Therefore, most Clemens Father, we humbly beg You, through Jesus Christ Your Son....

uti accepta habeas and benedicas haec dona, haec munera, haec sancta sacrificia illibata...

Hold acceptable and bless + these gifts, these + offerings, these + holy and unspotted oblations...

Memento, Domine, famulorum, famularumque tuorum.... (nomina)...... et omnium circumstantium....

Remember, O Lord, Your servants and handmaids.... (names)..... and all here present...........

Quam oblationem, tu Deus, in omnibus, queasumus, benedictam, adscriptam, ratam, rationabilem, acceptabilemque facere digneris......

O God, deign to bless what we offer, and make it approved, effective, right, and wholly pleasing in every way.....

The Consecration

Qui pridie quam pateretur, accepit panem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas....

Who, before he suffered, took bread into His holy and venerable hands.....

et elevatis oculis in coelum at te Deum Patrem suum omnipotentem.....

and having raised His eyes to heaven to you, Gog, His Almighty Father....

tibi gratias agens, benedixit, deditque discipulis suis....

giving thanks to you, He Blessed, + it broke it, and gave it to His disciples,.....

dicens: Eccipite et manducate ex hoc omnes: Hoc est enim corpus meum

saying: "take this all of you, FOR THIS IS MY BODY."

The Body of Christ is lifted up for worship

Simili modo postquam coenatum est, accipiens et hunc praeclarum calicem....

Similarly, when the supper was ended, taking also this goodly chalice....

in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas,

into His holy and venerable hands,

item tibi gratias agens....

again giving thanks to you....

benedixit, deditque discipulis suis...

He blessed it, and gave it to His disciples...

dicens accipite and bibite ex eo omnes...

saying TAKE AND DRINK OF THIS, ALL OF YOU...

hic est enim calix sanguinis mei, novi et aeterni testamenti:

THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD OF THE NEW AND AETERNAL COVENANT:

MYSTERIUM FIDEI QUI PRO VOBIS AND PRO MULTIS EFFUNDETUR IN REMISSIONEM PECCATORUM

THE MYSTERY OF FAITH WHICH IS BEING SHED FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

HAEC QUOTIESCUMQUE FECERITIS, IN MEI MEMORIAM FACIETIS.

WHENEVER YOU WILL DO THESE ACTIONS, YOU WILL DO IN MEMORY OF ME."

    The Blood of Christ is lifted up for worship

kneeling after the Consecration

Memento etiam, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum N. et N. qui nos praecesserunt cum signo fidei, at dormiunt in somno pacis.

Remember also, Lord, Your servants and handmaids (names) who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace.

Remembering the souls in Purgatory

The Communion rite

Oremus. Praeceptis salutaris moniti, et divina institutiione formati, audemus dicere: Pater noster.....

Let us pray: Thought by our Savior's command and formed by the word of God, we dare to say: Our Father......

The Peace

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.  Et cum spiritu tuo.

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.  And with your spirit.

(The was no exchange of signs of peace)

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.(2).... dona nobis pacem

Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us (2)......... grant us peace.

Communion of the priest.

Communion with the Body

Panem coelestem accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo.

I will take the Bread of heaven, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam meam in vitam aeternam. Amen

May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen.

After the Communion with the Blood

 Sanguis Domini nostri Jesu Christi custiodiat animam meam in vitam aeternam. Amen.

May the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen.

Communion of the Faithful

P Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi: 

P. Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.

All. Domine, nom sum dignus et intres sub tectum meum; sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea.

All. Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But say the word and my soul will be healed.

Domine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea. (3 times)

Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But say the word and my soul will be healed.(3 times)

Cleaning the paten after the Communion

At this point Padre Pio would put his half glover back on. There was no need to do this after last Mass. The wounds had disappeared.

Final Prayer and Dismissal

P. Dominus vobiscum. S. Et cum spiritu tuo.

P. May the Lord be with you. S. And with your spirit

P. Ite, Missa est. S. Deo gratias.

D. Go, the Mass is ended. S. Thanks be to God.

 Benedictio Dei Omnipotentis

P. Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus. S. Amen.

P. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. S. Amen.

Last Mass: no wounds.

Close Encounters of the Special Kind with PADRE PIO: hallways, backyard; around the world, ecstasies; Purgatory, Guardian Angel, devil; Americans; confessional, baptisms, first Communions, weddings;  Virgin Mary, Rosary; Wounds; Mass; himself, God, Jesus, Cross, Christmas, Church; spiritual children, meditation, prayer, Prayer Groups; child, novice, priest, soldier, fevers; first inquisition, Saint Mary of the Graces, Home for the Relief of Suffering (Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza); the most famous picture, children, blessings, at the ballots downtown, eating; second inquisition, last ten years, death; the Capuchin friars; entombed in first resting place, blessed, saint, exhumed, displayed, final resting place in golden crypt; mosaics of the life of Padre Pio, Jesus, Saint Francis of Assisi; fists class relics with certificates; original painting, original icon.