The relationship between cremation and the Catholic religion has long been a subject of misunderstanding and confusion. Here’s what is and isn’t allowed when deciding to cremate the body of a deceased loved one

Today, we discuss cremation and the Catholic religion. As the day of the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed approaches, it becomes a priority for Christians to reflect on many aspects of Faith and Catholic spirituality. The relationship between cremation and the Church is one of those aspects that is not entirely clear to many. During this time dedicated to reflection and meditation, as well as prayer for the souls of those who are no longer with us, not in the form we were used to knowing, it is natural to focus on deep realities, practices, and symbols that belong to our daily life, to the point that we often stop questioning their origins and why they are so important to us.

Meaning of the Cross Before Christianity

One of the most evident examples is the Cross, the quintessential Christian symbol, but much older than the origin of Christianity, which was certainly not the first religion to use it. As early as the Stone Age, it was used, though with a completely different meaning, and many pre-Christian religions endowed it with solemn significance centuries before it was associated with the death of Jesus. Indeed, the ease with which it can be reproduced suggests why it is one of the oldest symbols of humanity.

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Corpus straight crucifix in natural wax Valgardena wood

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In Viking mythology, Odin was symbolised by a cross enclosed in a circle, now known as the Celtic cross, while for the Egyptians, a cross with a circle on top, the ankh, was a symbol of life and fertility. But the pre-Christian cross was also used as a religious symbol and ornament in Syria, Greece, India, Africa, and Mexico. While today the Cross is considered by Catholic Christians as the symbol of God’s Love, remembering the death of Jesus, who sacrificed Himself for all of us, in ancient times it was not appreciated by Christians themselves, as it was seen as a symbol of disgrace, associated only with the idea of torture. Gradually, it began to be used with the meaning we attribute to it today.

Cremation and Catholicism

Regarding cremation, the practice of reducing the bodies of the deceased to ashes, what is the Church’s stance? Well, cremation is permitted by the Catholic Church. This needs to be clarified, as there have been periods of open condemnation in the past. In reality, it was never the practice of cremation itself that was condemned. Although in the West burial has always been preferred, in many periods of human history there was no other choice but to burn the dead, especially in cases of critical sanitary conditions, such as epidemics or wars. This possibility in no way questioned the right of souls to achieve immortality.

However, it is true that in many cases cremation was a practice associated with paganism and those who denied life after death and Resurrection. During the Age of Enlightenment, rampant atheism made cremation one of its strongholds, a way to mock believers and religion, and for this reason, the Church had to condemn the practice of cremation for a time due to what it had come to symbolise for the enemies of Christianity. It was rehabilitated by the Holy See only in 1963, with the document Piam et Constantem, and since then it has been considered a form of care for the deceased as respectful as burial. When, at the end of time, all believers are resurrected, it will not matter if they have remained dust or rather ashes, as long as they have fallen asleep in the light and love of God.

How to Keep the Ashes of the Deceased

And after cremation, what can be done with the ashes? While we have seen that the Church permits cremation, a completely different attitude is taken towards the cremation and scattering of ashes. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith accepts cremation but prohibits the scattering of the ashes of the deceased in air, water, or earth, and also the keeping of funeral ashes at home. The instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo, approved by Pope Francis in 2016 and updating the previous Piam et Constantem, confirms that “cremation is not forbidden, unless it is chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine,” provided that “the ashes of the deceased are kept in a sacred place, that is, in a cemetery, church, or an area specifically designated for this purpose by the competent ecclesiastical authority.” Moreover, burial is always considered the preferred practice, unless “hygienic, economic, or social reasons lead to choosing cremation.”

If civil laws permit keeping the ashes of deceased loved ones at home after cremation, or placing them in commemorative objects (jewellery, sculptures), or scattering them according to sanitary regulations set by the municipality, for the Church, any preservation of the ashes that deviates from the imposed rules may result in the legitimate refusal of the funeral rites.

In our store, you will find funeral items of all kinds, including funeral urns and cremation urns handcrafted by Italian artisans, plaques and applications for cemetery headstones, flower vases, and a wide range of votive candles, luminaires, wax or electric lamps to illuminate the resting place of your loved ones.

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Funeral urns

Urns to keep the ashes of deceased loved ones. These funeral urns are handmade by Italian craftsmen in precious and high-quality materials…

Burial or Cremation: What Does the Bible Say?

So we have seen the position of the Catholic Church on cremation. But what does the Bible say about it? As far as the Bible is concerned, the Old Testament does not condemn cremation, nor does it provide instructions either for or against this practice. The Jews buried their dead in tombs and caves, but the Bible never indicates burial as the only permissible way to deal with a corpse.

The rose, the moon, but also the Gate of Heaven and the Ivory Tower: Marian symbols that help us understand how devotion to Mary has grown throughout history.

Speaking about Marian symbols in May is almost a must. May is the quintessential Marian month. Always dedicated to rebirth and the cycle of life, it was already in ancient civilisations assigned to the celebration of pagan rites connected to renewal, fertility, and love. Just think of Persephone, Proserpina to the Romans, who returns from the Underworld where she spent the winter with her husband Hades, who kidnapped her, and with her return brings spring back to Earth.
All these rites evolved over the centuries, transforming and adapting to new beliefs, to the new religion. For this reason, it is easy to find references in certain devotional forms dedicated to the Madonna and in Marian symbols that seem to recall ancient cults. Even among Marian titles, that is the names by which Mary is venerated, we find names derived from attributes referring to the Virgin in the Holy Scriptures, but also, and especially, arising from popular veneration or from characteristics attributed to her by ordinary people. After all, Mary, Mother of God and Mother of all men, is already a symbol in herself — a symbol of the Mother indeed, but also of the merciful mediator, the feminine ideal to which all women should aspire, the feminine integration of every man through her maternal function. Thus, Marian symbols are not only signs but live, change, and grow as human awareness addressing them grows.

Christianity, after all, is rich in symbols, and many Catholic symbols are borrowed from other religions, reinterpreted by the new faith. Think of the Cross, which has become the quintessential symbol of Christians, but only from the fourth century is the veneration of this symbol documented. Early Christians venerated the monogram of Christ XP or the stylised fish.

Returning to Marian religious symbols, they appear in devotion but also in the history of sacred art. The iconography of the Madonna developed over centuries, drawing both from sacred texts and popular tales, in a continuous interplay of exchanges, references, and connections between words and objects.

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Odighitria Virgin with blue mantle

Screen-printed icon depicting the Odighitria Virgin: “she who shows the way to salvation”. Choose the desired size…

Let us look at some of the most recurring Marian symbols, but also the most curious ones.

The Mirror of Justice (Speculum iustitiae)

In the Litany of Loreto Mary is invoked as Speculum iustitiæ, “Mirror of Justice”. The meaning of this symbol is simple: the Madonna expresses the perfect incarnation of the divine image, so much so that she reflects in herself, as in a mirror, harmony, truth, and beauty that belong only to God. Indeed, the Immaculate Virgin is also called Speculum sine macula(“mirror without stain”) and Speculum pulchritudinis (“mirror always clear and bright”). Just as Saint Joseph, her spouse, is called a “just” man (Mt 1:19) for his holiness and determination to observe the Law of God, so the virtue of “justice” in the Virgin is another definition of her holiness, of her will to conform to the Divine Will. Clear, pure, humble, she became a reflecting surface of God’s light, a docile instrument to refract it in all its shining colours.

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Saint Joseph

In addition to the traditional depictions of Saint Joseph, you can also find the Sleeping Saint Joseph….

Let us remember that the Litany of Loreto, or the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are prayers to God and above all to the Madonna, made in the form of a litany, linked to devotion in the Holy House of Loreto from the sixteenth century onwards.

The Moon

The moon has always been one of the recurring symbols in many ancient civilisations and religions. The Catholic religion has also adopted it, linking it to the figure of Mary the Virgin, but even earlier it was one of the Bible’s symbols and represented the Jewish people, God’s people, who illuminated the world by reflecting the Creator’s light. Also in the Bible, particularly in the Apocalypse of John, the Church appears as a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars. In reality, the woman is Mary herself, clothed with the glory of God, “full of grace,” destined to reflect His light with her purity, just as the moon reflects the sun’s light. In countless depictions of Mary, we see her with the moon at her feet, sometimes waning, to symbolise her purity, sometimes waxing, with the hump upwards, emblematic of Christ’s triumph over sin and death. In this case, the moon as a symbol of the Madonna represents death and mortality.

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Mary

A selection of products dedicated to the Virgin Mary…

The Rose

Another Marian symbol, as well as a symbol of May, the month dedicated to Mary, is the rose. Crowns of these wonderful flowers placed on statues of the Virgin have over time become the Rosary, one of the most widespread and solemn devotional prayers.
The petals of the roses are also associated with the Holy Spirit, as in Rome, where on Pentecost they are dropped from the central oculus of the Pantheon to recall the tongues of fire that touched the Madonna and the Apostles.

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Rosary beads and rosary cases

Rosary Crowns: here you’ll find a wide selection of rosaries — we have more than 700!…

Considered at all times the queen of flowers, a symbol of Aphrodite and, in general, of perfection, the rose appears in many works of art depicting Mary the Virgin. Mary herself, again in the Litany of Loreto, is called Rosa mystica or Rosa sine spine, she who was born free of Original Sin. Roses associated with Mary also change meaning according to their colour: the yellow roses at the feet of the Virgin of Lourdes, as described by Bernadette Soubirous, recall the light of God, the colour of holiness; at Fatima the white roses symbolise purity; the red roses recall the blood of Christ.

The Ivory Tower

The Ivory Tower, or Turris Eburnea, is also a symbol of purity and nobility, first in Jewish culture and then in Christian religion. Mentioned in the Song of Solomon (“Your neck is like an ivory tower”) it becomes an appellation of Mary in the Litany of Loreto. The Madonna is the Turris Eburnea of popular devotion, because through her pass the graces of which Christ is the source and head of the body represented by the Church, and Mary—the ivory tower—is the neck connecting the head to the limbs.
The ivory tower also indicates Mary’s solitude, her inviolate and inviolable chastity, precious and immaculate.

The Ark of the Covenant

Besides being a mirror of God’s light and a link between Christ—the head of the mystical body—and the Church—the body’s members—Mary is also the incarnation of the Ark of the Covenant, which according to Jewish tradition contained the tablets of the Law, allowed Moses to speak with God, and represented God’s very presence. Mary, who welcomed Jesus in her womb, became the new Ark of the Covenant, the living receptacle of the Word, of God’s will, of the new and eternal covenant that Christ represents.

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Our Lady of Hope Statue, 20 cm in resin

The pregnant Madonna statue wears a white dress with a gold trimmed blue mantle. She holds a red book in her hand…

The Gate of Heaven

Another Marian symbol comparing Mary to a passage identifies her as the Gate of Heaven. This is how the ancient Fathers of the Church described her, as well as the sanctuary of divinity, rest and peace of the Holy Trinity, throne of God, city of God, altar of God, temple of God, world of God, and paradise of God, emphasising her role of intercession between men and God the Father, due to her humility, selflessness, and obedience, which placed her at the opposite pole to Eve. Indeed, Eve’s sin had closed the gate of Heaven, and a new gentle woman was needed to open it to allow Grace to flow back into the world.

In the Letter to the Church in Philadelphia in the Apocalypse we read:
“7 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: these things says the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: 8 ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut, because you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.’” (Revelation 3:7-13)
The Immaculate Heart of Mary represents this door, always open to those who wish to believe, to those who, like her, know how to humbly present themselves before God confessing all their weakness.

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The Immaculate Heart of Mary in wood of Valgardena burnished in 3 colours

Sculpture in maple wood of Valgardena, hand painted and decorated with a painted thread …

The Seat of Wisdom

Another of the most famous Marian titles is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom. As Mother of Christ, she welcomed all the Wisdom of God within herself, becoming its cradle and treasure, and once again a means, because through the Virgin we can grasp the sweetness of the Word, enjoy the Wisdom of God, which is Christ. Mary is also called the Wise and Teacher of Truth, who knows how to interpret the message of Jesus her son and make it accessible to men. Saint Ambrose also called her Mary, the model of life, perfect disciple of Christ.

The Burning Bush

Among the most famous Marian icons is that of the Mother of God called the Burning Bush. The connection with Moses is inevitable, who in the third chapter of Exodus heard the voice of God on Mount Horeb through a bush burning with fire but not consumed. “I am who I am,” said the voice, then ordered Moses to save the Hebrews from slavery. In the miracle of the burning bush it has been read as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ birth. Just as the bush burns without being consumed, so the Madonna became mother while remaining chaste and virgin, and as fire is a symbol of God, so Jesus, born from her womb, is God Himself.

Gideon’s Fleece

In the late medieval period, Gideon’s fleece became a symbol of Mary’s virginal conception. According to biblical tradition, an angel appeared to Gideon, entrusting him with the task of freeing the Hebrew people from the raids of nomadic peoples. Since the young man was reluctant, God sent him two signs: He burnt a kid and caused dew to soak a fleece spread out in the threshing floor, while all around the ground remained dry (Judges 6:36-40).
The Virgin, fertilised by divine dew, was called to bear a grave and fundamental mission for Salvation and chose to embrace it in absolute freedom, entrusting herself with trust and purity to God’s will.

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Immaculate Mary 20 cm

Handicraft carved with pantograph, hand finished and hand-painted. Statue blue and white with fine golden …

It is said to be the cloth that wrapped the body of Christ after His burial. Between faith and science, the Holy Shroud divides and fascinates people of all ages with its immortal mystery

Among the symbols of Christ’s Passion, the Holy Shroud is one of the most emblematic and mysterious. Although it may seem out of place to speak of mysteries when discussing the Death of Jesus, it is undoubtedly the greatest mystery in the history of humanity. Among the relics handed down from this unparalleled event, the Shroud is certainly one of those around which the most myths and legends have arisen, along with ancient cults and modern devotions.

But what exactly is the Holy Shroud, and why is it so important for the history of Christianity?

It is said to be the burial cloth of Jesus, the linen sheet in which His body was wrapped at the moment of deposition from the Cross. On this ancient herringbone-patterned linen, measuring approximately 4.41 metres by 1.13 metres, there is indeed the faint imprint of a life-sized man, bearing marks of wounds and mutilations consistent with those inflicted on Jesus in the final tragic moments of His life, up to the Crucifixion. The image is double, front and back, joined at the height of the head.

The Gospels make reference to this cloth. Matthew, Mark, and Luke openly mention a linen cloth (sindòn), with which Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body before laying it in the tomb, as was customary Jewish funeral practice at the time. The deceased’s eyes would be closed, the chin tied with a cloth knotted at the crown of the head to keep the mouth closed, then the body washed, anointed with fragrant oils, and clothed in linen garments or wrapped in a linen sheet prior to burial.

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This statue represents one of the best known images of the death of Jesus: the body Christ lifeless in the arms of Mary…

Other relics and sacred objects are linked to the Shroud or share common features with it, such as the Sudarium kept in the Cathedral of Oviedo, Spain, stained with what could be the blood of Christ. It is thought to be the cloth placed under His head at the time of deposition; the Mandylion of Edessa, a cloth bearing the face of Jesus, now lost; and the Veil of Veronica, said to have been used by the woman who wiped Christ’s face as He carried the Cross, as recounted in one of the Stations of the Cross.

Many make pilgrimages to see the Holy Shroud in Turin during the occasions when it is publicly displayed. These exhibitions are known as ostensions, from the Latin ostendere, meaning “to show.” Beyond those who visit the Shroud for reasons of faith, it has been the subject of scientific study and analysis for centuries by scholars worldwide and remains one of the most debated sacred objects ever.

Where the Holy Shroud Is Kept

The Holy Shroud is housed in the Cathedral of Turin, in Piazza San Giovanni, in the last chapel of the left nave, beneath the Royal Tribune. It is contained in a special preservation case, itself enclosed within a metal box, and so can only be seen during the aforementioned public ostensions. However, visitors may enter the chapel to pray in the pews placed in front of the case holding this precious relic.

The History of the Holy Shroud

The earliest historical record regarding the Holy Shroud dates to 1353. It is said that a knight named Geoffroi de Charny brought it from the Holy Land to the town of Lirey, where he lived and had a church built to house it. Here, the first ostensions were held for the devotion of the faithful. A descendant later sold it to the Dukes of Savoy, who took it to their capital Chambéry, placing it in a specially constructed chapel.

The story of the sacred cloth is, in a way, woven into its very fibres. Pollen from plants native to Palestine has been found among its threads, and scientific dating of the fabric has suggested it could originate from the first century AD. Until 1532, it was kept in the Sainte-Chapelle du Saint-Suaire in Chambéry, showing burn marks caused by a fire that nearly destroyed it. Notably, traces of molten silver, fallen from the reliquary that contained it, are also visible.

Duke Charles III of Savoy removed the Shroud from Chambéry and, after various relocations, the precious relic was brought to Turin in 1563, first housed in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud between the Cathedral and the Royal Palace, then moved to the Cathedral of Turin, in the chapel where it still resides today.

In 2002, a conservation restoration removed the supporting cloths applied after the Chambéry fire, as well as burnt portions of fabric, and cleaned the Shroud.

Dating the Holy Shroud

Given the Shroud’s symbolic importance, its authenticity has been questioned since the time of Geoffroi de Charny, who brought it from the Holy Land to Europe. Following numerous photographic studies, spectrometry, chemical analyses of bloodstains, and tests conducted under the supervision of witnesses and notaries, in 1988 a sample of the Shroud’s fabric underwent radiocarbon dating (carbon-14 technique) by three laboratories: Tucson, Oxford, and Zurich. This dating placed the cloth’s origin between 1260 and 1390, the period when it was brought to Europe. Those who consider the Shroud authentic reject this result, claiming it to have an older provenance, consistent with the story of Jesus as we know it.

Historical and archaeological analyses also suggest a later date for the Turin cloth, as Jewish burial linens from the first century were different in fabric, weave, and the way bodies were wrapped.

More recently, however, further measurements using a new technique called Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) have challenged previously accepted theories: the Holy Shroud could indeed date back to the time of Christ’s death. This would be demonstrated by the ageing of the linen’s cellulose, which according to Liberato De Caro, a physicist and Shroud researcher at the Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council in Bari, places the Shroud’s date at around 2,000 years ago.

In truth, the mystery of the Shroud continues to captivate and divide the scientific world and humanity as a whole.

Guardian Angels have always accompanied the existence of human beings, acting as messengers, counsellors in everyday life, and protectors against temptations and the snares of evil

On 2 October each year, millions of people around the world celebrate the Feast of the Guardian Angels – a special occasion to honour and thank these celestial and ethereal beings who watch over us, serving as intermediaries between each individual and Heaven, as protectors, confidants, and guardians of our secrets and most intimate fears.
It is believed that each person is assigned a Guardian Angel who prays for them, protects them from danger, and guides them along life’s path.
This feast holds significance in the Christian religious tradition and has deep roots in the history of the Catholic Church. It offers a special opportunity for those who believe in the existence of Guardian Angels to dedicate the day to reflecting on their protection and guidance in everyday life.

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Guardian Angel Figurine, Stylized

Protective Guardian Angel figurine, stylized, made of fire clay. Hand-crafted 100% by the Italian company “Ceramiche Centro Ave” in Loppiano…

The existence of Angels is a recognised dogma of faith, and the celebration of Guardian Angels has a long history that dates back to the early years of Christianity. However, the feast as we know it today was officially established in 1670 under the papacy of Pope Clement X. It was originally celebrated in September, but the date was soon changed to 2 October, where it remains today. For this reason, September is still often considered the month dedicated to angels.

The Feast of the Guardian Angels is celebrated with prayers and reflections on the presence and protection of these Angels, and many Catholic churches hold special Masses in their honour. Some people choose to perform acts of kindness on 2 October in honour of their Guardian Angels, such as helping others, making donations, or simply being more compassionate and caring.

The idea of Guardian Angels comes from Holy Scripture. In the Bible, they appear in several passages as protectors and guardians of the men and women dear to God, who sends them to guard against the snares of demons. In this sense, faith in Guardian Angels has always belonged to Christianity, as well as to many other religious traditions, which likewise recognise the existence of spiritual beings tasked with watching over people and helping them face their daily challenges.
The veneration of Angels predates that of Saints, and their worship is an ancient practice that has evolved over the ages.
With the evolution of Christianity in both East and West, the bond between Guardian Angels and humanity has grown ever stronger. In the medieval era, monks frequently invoked Guardian Angels in their prayers and supplications. During the Renaissance, their stories and invocations were largely directed towards children. But after the Council of Trent, devotion to Guardian Angels regained strength, to the point that it became necessary to create a specific field of study: angelology, a doctrine dedicated to angels, which illustrates what the Bible says about them and studies how they have acted and continue to act as intermediaries between humanity and God through the centuries.

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Sacred books

Sacred Books and Texts: Jerusalem Bibles, St. Paul’s, Italian Episcopal Conferences, Missals, Lectionaries, Liturgy of the Hours, Gospels…

The Feast of the Guardian Angels and Grandparents’ Day

In Italy, 2 October is not only a special day dedicated to Guardian Angels. On this date, we also celebrate Grandparents’ Day, which was added to the Italian calendar through a specific law published in the Official Gazette on 12 August 2005, recognising “the importance of the role played by grandparents within families and society at large.” Other countries also celebrate Grandparents’ Day, though on different dates.

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Guardian Angel

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It is noteworthy that this date coincides with the religious feast of the Guardian Angels, further highlighting the importance of grandparents. Grandparents are often seen as true Guardian Angels in the flesh. However, while their role was once widely recognised and respected, this is less often the case today.
Keepers of ancient wisdom passed down orally from generation to generation, people once turned to them for advice and guidance when faced with difficult decisions. But the modern world, with its fast pace and focus on efficiency and success at all costs, has led to a decline in some of these traditions.
That is why Grandparents’ Day on 2 October is so important. The Italian Parliament wanted to formalise the importance of grandparents – not only as an economic support (as they often help families save on childcare and babysitting costs), but also as custodians of wisdom and knowledge that must be passed down to younger generations.
They carry with them a treasure trove of knowledge, lived experiences, and stories that intertwine with recent history, often overlooked in school textbooks. This heritage is invaluable for the education of the young, helping them to develop a strong civic and historical awareness.

Who Are the Guardian Angels in Christian Tradition?

According to tradition, angels are divided into hosts and hierarchies, outlined in ancient classifications such as the famous De coelesti hierarchia by Pseudo-Dionysius, who defined three main hierarchies, each of which includes three orders or choirs – for a total of nine types of angels:

In the First Hierarchy: Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones
In the Second Hierarchy: Dominions, Virtues, and Powers
In the Third Hierarchy: Principalities, Archangels, and Angels

This same classification was later adopted by Saint Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica.

Guardian Angels therefore fall under the Third Hierarchy – the lowest – but they form a special order within this very hierarchy, as they are the closest to human beings and their daily lives. They reside in the cosmic space nearest to Earth, a place symbolised by the Moon, and their presence is intimate and constant.
They are also considered divine messengers, tasked with communicating with humankind. The word “angel” itself comes from the Greek anghelos, meaning “messenger.”

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

From childhood, we learn the Angel of God prayer – perhaps the most famous invocation to the Guardian Angel. In truth, there are many other prayers invoking the various angelic hierarchies, such as the Angelic Crown, also known as the Rosary of Saint Michael, which is recited in honour of Saint Michael the Archangel and the heavenly choirs, asking them to intercede with God for blessings and graces.

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Saint Michael crystal rosary with 6 mm colored beads

St Michael crystal rosary with 6 mm colored beads.Metal rosary with 6 mm diameter crystal beads. The beads are colored in different colors…

Angel of God

Also known as Angele Dei in Latin, the Angel of God prayer is deeply rooted in the Catholic religious tradition.
This ancient prayer, dating back to the medieval period, is widespread throughout the Catholic world and holds a special place in the hearts of the faithful due to its simplicity and effectiveness.
It is often taught to children as a way to help them understand how to speak to their Guardian Angel – their guide, companion, and protector against temptation and sin.
Reciting the Angel of God prayer opens a direct channel of dialogue with God – an intimate and profound way to communicate with one’s assigned Guardian Angel, and with the One who placed that angel by our side.

Angel of God
who are my guardian,
enlighten me, guard me,
direct and govern me,
who was entrusted to you
by Heavenly Mercy.
Amen.

Guardian Angel Prayer by Padre Pio

Padre Pio of Pietrelcina often spoke with his own Guardian Angel and claimed to have felt his presence beside him since childhood.
To him we owe a beautiful prayer to the Guardian Angel, one that can be recited by children in the evening, but is suitable for all ages:

O Holy Guardian Angel,
take care of my soul and my body.
Enlighten my mind so that I may know the Lord better
and love Him with all my heart.
Assist me in my prayers so I do not give in to distractions,
but pay the greatest attention.
Help me with your advice so that I may see the good
and carry it out generously.
Defend me from the snares of the infernal enemy and support me in temptations,
so that I may always emerge victorious.
Make up for my coldness in the worship of the Lord:
do not cease to watch over me
until you have brought me to Heaven,
where we shall praise the Good God together for all eternity.

Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups are widespread in Italy and across the world. In the United Kingdom in particular, they bring together devoted followers united by the message of charity of the Friar from Pietrelcina, who, in his name, rediscover a stronger sense of belonging to the Church

On 23 September, the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, one of the most loved and venerated saints in our country. His life was dedicated to prayer, sacrifice, and complete devotion to others, to patient listening, and to a constant desire to relieve the suffering of others. These exceptional gifts of charity and mercy, together with his miraculous gifts as a healer, gave rise to an extraordinary popular devotion to the Saint, which began during his lifetime. His example is heroic, as Pope Francis described it, which explains why even today there are so many Padre Pio prayer groups in Italy and abroad. These groups gather Christians who see in the Saint of Pietrelcina a model to imitate in becoming “instruments of God’s love towards the weakest” (Pope Francis in Pietrelcina, 17 March 2018).

Born in Pietrelcina, in the province of Benevento, on 25 May 1887, Padre Pio displayed an early religious faith, which led him to enter the Capuchin Order at a very young age. In addition to his inclination for charity, Padre Pio’s life was marked by miraculous events and frequent dialogues with God, which would lead him to receive the stigmata, experience mystical visions, be involved in episodes of bilocation, and emit a sweet floral fragrance – a miraculous sign perceptible to those who approached him. Above all, the Saint had the marvellous gift of reading the minds and hearts of his followers. Even during his lifetime, Padre Pio was a figure of extraordinary devotion and affection, and after his death, the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he lived, became a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world.

In this regard, it is interesting to note that Padre Pio is also greatly loved and venerated in the United Kingdom, where both clergy and lay people have organised themselves into prayer groups dedicated to him throughout the country – from Northern Ireland to Wales and Cornwall. In particular, the shrine of Walsingham, the heart of Marian devotion in England, is a significant place for prayer communities, which gather there under the guidance of Franciscan friars to promote a return to communal prayer. But in general, all the English seem particularly receptive to devotion to this Saint, who was so attentive to the suffering of others, so outward-looking in thought, action and feeling. According to testimonies, praying to him and with him fosters in the people of the United Kingdom a strong sense of belonging to the Church as a community of faith and humanity.

Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups: What They Are and What They Do

Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups continue to carry forward the spiritual legacy of Padre Pio, offering a space for prayer, meditation and spiritual growth for those who wish to draw closer to God and strengthen their faith within a community of believers. These Groups arose directly from the primary importance that Padre Pio gave to prayer, recommending his followers practise it as much as possible. Members of the Prayer Groups meet regularly, usually once a month on the same day. In addition to communal prayer and spiritual meditation, they attend Mass and reflect on the Holy Scriptures. Sharing prayer and spiritual experience promotes the growth of each participant, both within the group and in their private experience as a person and as a Christian.

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St Father Pio of Pietralcina wooden statue painted

St Father Pio of Pietralcina wooden statue made in Val Gardena Italy. Statue in maple wood completely handmade and painted by Italian craftsmen…

Each Padre Pio Prayer Group is led by a priest appointed by the Bishop, who acts as the spiritual guide for all members, who are also encouraged to manage themselves independently, deciding on the Group’s programmes and activities in line with availability and adapting to the needs of each individual.

Padre Pio in the World

Devotion to Padre Pio has spread throughout the world, touching the hearts of millions of people from different cultures and beliefs. His holiness has always inspired deep veneration and admiration among the faithful. One need only look at how many Prayer Groups are dedicated to him – groups born as a result of his priestly ministry – which have helped to spread his spiritual message. Across the globe, many devotees gather in his name, in private homes, care homes, hospitals, and many of these groups are coordinated from San Giovanni Rotondo by a commission created specifically: the International Centre for Padre Pio Prayer Groups of San Giovanni Rotondo. This centre also publishes a magazine, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which since September 1949 has served, among other things, as a bulletin for the activities of the Prayer Groups spread throughout the world. The magazine is monthly and serves as the official publication of the Prayer Groups to spread Padre Pio’s teaching.
National and international conferences are also held in San Giovanni Rotondo, bringing together representatives of Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups from all over Italy and other countries.

The Padre Pio Prayer Group in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, there are over seventy Padre Pio Prayer Groups.
The Padre Pio Prayer Group in Derry, near Belfast, for example, meets on the evening of the first Tuesday of every month. Those who cannot attend in person follow online, as they did during the pandemic. Together, they recite the Holy Rosary, follow Holy Mass, and say prayers to Saint Pio, along with other prayers and the Novena in his name.
In the United Kingdom, compared to other countries, it can be more difficult for associations of the faithful to obtain the bishop’s approval and to find a priest available to guide them, but this does not deter Padre Pio’s devotees. A simple Google search for Padre Pio Prayer Groups reveals just how widespread the love for the Saint of Pietrelcina is across the Channel, in cities and small communities alike. This helps us understand the reach of his message of love and charity, and the spiritual legacy he left behind.

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The birthday of the Madonna: 5 August or 8 September? Let’s discover when and why the Church celebrates the Nativity of Mary, Mother of Jesus.

It is never easy to imagine what the lives of the protagonists of Christian history might have been like. If we think of the lives of the Saints, we can draw on numerous hagiographic and historical documents, which become increasingly numerous and comprehensive the closer we come to our own era. Some Saints, such as Saint Augustine, to name just one, have told the story of their own human and spiritual journey directly in their most famous writings. But things become more complicated when we pause to reflect on the lives of Jesus, the Madonna, and other figures central to the Gospels. Although the Gospels themselves provide us with precious information to reconstruct events, it is also true that some parts of their lives are completely left out, or almost so. Think of the lost years of Jesus, those years of His childhood and youth before He began to preach.

Even in the case of the Virgin Mary, it is difficult to reconstruct the events of her life after the Annunciation and the birth of Jesus, up to that fateful day at the foot of the Cross on Calvary. For example, have you ever wondered when the Madonna’s birthday is? We have previously dwelt on the figure of Saint Anne, Mary’s mother, and on Saint Joachim, her father, but it is important for Christians to reflect on the Nativity of the Madonna herself, celebrated on 8 September, for her role in being and remaining over time the symbol of a renewed covenant between God and mankind, a new Eve come to wash away Original Sin and carry within her own womb the Salvation for all. Blessed among women, just as Eve was cursed by God for her disobedience.

Why do we sometimes hear the 5th of August referred to as the Madonna’s birthday? As we have written, the Nativity of the Virgin is celebrated on 8 September, but the choice of this date is purely conventional, as there are no precise indications regarding the date of the Madonna’s birth. The main reason this date was chosen is that it coincides with the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Anne in Jerusalem, built in the 4th century AD on the site where the house of Mary’s parents once stood. It is here that still today, every year on 8 September, the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land – the Franciscan Order that since the beginning of the 13th century has been responsible for promoting and encouraging pilgrimages to the Holy Places – celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Initially celebrated only in the East, the feast of the Nativity of Mary was later introduced in the West by Pope Sergius I in the 7th century AD.

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However, there are other traditions that associate the Madonna’s birthday with different dates. For example, on 5 August the feast of Our Lady of the Snows is celebrated. She is said to have appeared during the night of 4 August in the year 352 AD to a Roman patrician named John and his wife, and asked them to build a basilica in her name at the place where snow would fall the following day. And indeed, that August, snow did fall on the Esquiline Hill, and here, faithful to the promise made, John and his wife built what would become the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

The Madonna’s Birthday in Medjugorje

The Madonna’s birthday is also celebrated on 5 August in Medjugorje. It is said that the Virgin herself indicated this date to the visionaries as her birthday, during the apparition of 1 August 1984, asking that three days of prayer and fasting be offered in preparation:
“On the next 5 August, the second millennium of my birth will be celebrated. On that day God allows me to grant you special graces and to give the world a special blessing. I ask you to prepare yourselves intensely with three days dedicated exclusively to me. During those days do not work. Take your rosary and pray. Fast on bread and water. Throughout all these centuries I have dedicated myself completely to you: is it too much if I now ask you to dedicate at least three days to me?”

The same date is said to have been indicated by the Madonna to other holy men during various apparitions.

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The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary According to the Church

The Church therefore recognises 8 September as the conventional date of Mary’s Nativity, and although devotion to the Child Mary has always existed, in 1572 Charles Borromeo consecrated the Cathedral of Milan, then nearing completion, precisely to the “Nascent Mary.”

Also in Milan, in 1720, the devotion to the Child Mary is said to have originated, linked to a small wax figure representing the newborn Madonna who was the protagonist of a miraculous healing. It was donated by the Franciscan nun Sister Chiara Isabella Fornari to the Capuchin Sisters of Saint Mary of the Angels. Still today, the sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Lovere in Milan are called the Sisters of the Child Mary.

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Prayer to the Child Mary

We now present the Novena to the Child Mary, which grants partial indulgence once a day to those who recite it:

Holy Child of the royal lineage of David, Queen of the Angels, Mother of grace and love, I greet you with all the affection of my heart. Obtain for me from the Lord the grace to love Him with generous fidelity all the days of my life and grant me a most tender devotion to you, who are the Firstborn of Divine Love.
(Hail Mary,…)

O heavenly Little One, who like a white dove came into the world Immaculate and beautiful, my soul exults before You, true marvel of the wisdom and goodness of God. Unblemished and pure, help me to guard jealously, at the cost of any sacrifice, the angelic virtue of holy purity.
(Hail Mary,…)

Hail, gracious and Holy Child, spiritual paradise of delights where, on the day of the Incarnation, the true Tree of Life, the Saviour of the world, was planted. Since You love me so much, help me to flee and detest the poisoned fruits of worldly vanities and pleasures. Inspire in my soul the thoughts, affections, and virtues of Your Divine Son, most sweet fruits of immortal life.
(Hail Mary,…)

Hail, admirable Little One, enclosed garden, impenetrable to creatures, open only to the heavenly Spouse who delights in resting among the flowers of your exalted virtues. O lily of Paradise, marvellous example of a humble and hidden life: grant that the heavenly Spouse may always find the door of my heart open to the loving visits of His graces and inspirations.
(Hail Mary,…)

O Holy Child, mystical dawn, happy gate of Heaven, in You my soul trusts and hopes. How deep is my tepidity in the service of God! How great is the danger of my damnation! O powerful Advocate, from your little cradle stretch out your kind hand, awaken me from my painful lethargy, sustain me on the path of life… Grant that I may dedicate myself to the service of the Lord with fervour and perseverance until death, and so attain the eternal crown.
(Hail Mary,…)

But there are many prayers linked to the Nativity of Mary, to be recited on the occasion of the Madonna’s birthday or whenever one feels the need:

“O Most Holy Mary, chosen and destined to be the Mother of the Only-Begotten Son of the Father, foretold by the Prophets, awaited by the Patriarchs and desired by all peoples, shrine and living temple of the Holy Spirit, spotless sun, because conceived without sin, Lady of Heaven and earth, Queen of Angels, we humbly prostrate ourselves before you and rejoice in the annual commemoration of your most happy birth.
We beg you to be spiritually born in our souls, so that, captivated by your loveliness and gentleness, they may always remain united to your sweetest and most lovable Heart.”

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