A Catholic magazine did a survey asking Italian Catholics who do they pray to the most.
Pause for a moment...Who would you guess it is?
Jesus? - Yeah right.
Mary? - Long shot.
Believe it or not...neither were even close.
Actually the person prayed to the most by Italian Roman Catholics - Padre Pio
Have you ever heard of this guy?
Padre Pio's real name is Francesco Forgione. He died 40 years ago in 1968. Why do Italian Roman Catholics pray to him? Two reasons. First, he is credited with having performed more than one thousand miracles by the time of his death. Also, they believe he had a stigmata, which means he miraculously bore actual wounds of the crucified Christ on his hands, feet and side for at least 50 years. They say he lost of pint of blood a day from these wounds.
Recently, an Italian business magazine called Economy reported that Pio's shrine had become the second most popular destination for religious tourists behind only the Vatican in Rome. His shrine brings in 188 million a year in revenue from tickets, souvenirs, and offerings.
Acts 17:16 - Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
1 comment:
Wow, part of me wants to be really mad at someone who would allow people to worship him in such a manner. How arrogant! But then of course, part of me understands that people want to worship something they can see. If only they would just worship the origination of their religion, Christ.
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