All at once he heard rustling [ritselende] noises.
Looking around, he saw that the ancient tree and all the other plants were bending in reverence. After having them resume their proper bearing [terug in normale houding], Daniele exhorted the ancient cedar to speak to him about Padre Pio.
It spoke to Daniele for a long time about Jesus as High Priest, and then launched into a panegyric [lofrede] on the priesthood of Padre Pio, the man so pleasing to God, who knew how to make present the person and the message of Jesus in every way.
The discourse of the ancient cedar was marvelous, and Daniele had never heard of anyone speak of Padre Pio so beautifully. Since he knew Padre Pio well, he could confirm that what he was hearing about him was truthful. Unfortunately, he can now no longer remember all the particulars, only that it was a magnificent tribute.
-
It was at this point...
that Daniele found himself sitting on his bed, wide awake.
He thought to himself, “How is this possible. I was awake and yet was there, in all those places. I don't understand what happened, or what to call it. One thing I am sure of – it all really happened.”
Afterwards, he laid down on the bed, trying to make sense out of it in his mind. But the more he thought about that journey, the more mysterious it seemed. “Now I understand Saint Francis, I understand his Canticle of the Creatures: Praised be You, my Lord, through all Your creatures.”
-
The next morning...
when Daniele was traveling by bus and trolley for his radiation therapy...
whenever they passed by any trees, he felt he wanted to greet them, and in fact he did greet them.
But he was very careful not to be noticed, otherwise people would think he was crazy.
-
When he returned from his treatments in Rome back to San Giovanni Rotondo, he related the entire occurrence to Padre Pio. After he listened to it all, Padre Pio said, “And so it is, my son.”
In this way he confirmed and sealed as the truth:
that all Creation converges on him,
and he offers everything to the Creator.
~bron~
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