St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
1887 - 1968
Canonized By: Pope John Paul II
Francesco, named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, was born to Giuseppa and Grazio Forgione, peasant farmers, in the small Italian village of Pietrelcina on May 25, 1887. From his childhood, it was evident that he was a special child of God. Francesco was very devout even as a child, and at an early age felt drawn to the priesthood. He became a Capuchin novice at the age of sixteen and received the habit in 1902. Francesco was ordained to the priesthood in 1910 after seven years of study and became known as Padre Pio.
On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when he received the visible marks of the crucifixion, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of Church. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds. Upon his death in 1968, the wounds were no longer visible. In fact, there was no scaring and the skin was completely renewed. He had predicted 50 years prior that upon his death the wounds would heal. The wounds of the stigmata were not the only mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio.
The blood from the stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers, and the gift of bilocation was attributed to him. Padre Pio had the ability to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for confession which he heard for ten or twelve hours per day. Padre Pio used the confessional to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God; he would know just the right word of counsel or encouragement that was needed. Even before his death, people spoke to Padre Pio about his possible canonization. He died on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. His funeral was attended by about 100,000 people.
Pope John Paul II - Homily at the Canonization of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin Priest - 16 June 2002
1. "For my yoke is easy and my burden light" (Mt 11,30).
Jesus' words to his disciples, which we just heard, help us to understand the most important message of this solemn celebration. Indeed, in a certain sense, we can consider them as a magnificent summary of the whole life of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, today proclaimed a saint.
The evangelical image of the "yoke" recalls the many trials that the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo had to face. Today we contemplate in him how gentle the "yoke" of Christ is, and how truly light is his burden when it is borne with faithful love. The life and mission of Padre Pio prove that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted out of love, are transformed into a privileged way of holiness, which opens onto the horizons of a greater good, known only to the Lord.
2. "But may I never boast except in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal 6,14).
Is it not, precisely, the "glory of the Cross" that shines above all in Padre Pio? How timely is the spirituality of the Cross lived by the humble Capuchin of Pietrelcina. Our time needs to rediscover the value of the Cross in order to open the heart to hope.
Throughout his life, he always sought greater conformity with the Crucified, since he was very conscious of having been called to collaborate in a special way in the work of redemption. His holiness cannot be understood without this constant reference to the Cross.
In God's plan, the Cross constitutes the true instrument of salvation for the whole of humanity and the way clearly offered by the Lord to those who wish to follow him (cf. Mk 16,24). The Holy Franciscan of the Gargano understood this well, when on the Feast of the Assumption in 1914, he wrote: "In order to succeed in reaching our ultimate end we must follow the divine Head, who does not wish to lead the chosen soul on any way other than the one he followed; by that, I say, of abnegation and the Cross" (Epistolario II, p. 155).
3. "I am the Lord who acts with mercy" (Jer 9,23).
Padre Pio was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making himself available to all by welcoming them, by spiritual direction and, especially, by the administration of the sacrament of Penance. I also had the privilege, during my young years, of benefitting from his availability for penitents. The ministry of the confessional, which is one of the distinctive traits of his apostolate, attracted great crowds of the faithful to the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo. Even when that unusual confessor treated pilgrims with apparent severity, the latter, becoming conscious of the gravity of sins and sincerely repentant, almost always came back for the peaceful embrace of sacramental forgiveness. May his example encourage priests to carry out with joy and zeal this ministry which is so important today, as I wished to confirm this year in the Letter to Priests on the occasion of Holy Thursday.
4. "You, Lord, are my only good".
This is what we sang in the responsorial psalm. Through these words, the new Saint invites us to place God above everything, to consider him our sole and highest good.
In fact, the ultimate reason for the apostolic effectiveness of Padre Pio, the profound root of so much spiritual fruitfulness can be found in that intimate and constant union with God, attested to by his long hours spent in prayer and in the confessional. He loved to repeat, "I am a poor Franciscan who prays" convinced that "prayer is the best weapon we have, a key that opens the heart of God".
This fundamental characteristic of his spirituality continues in the "Prayer Groups" that he founded, which offer to the Church and to society the wonderful contribution of incessant and confident prayer. To prayer, Padre Pio joined an intense charitable activity, of which the "Home for the Relief of Suffering" is an extraordinary expression. Prayer and charity, this is the most concrete synthesis of Padre Pio's teaching, which today is offered to everyone.
5. "I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because ... these things ... you have revealed to little ones" (Mt 11,25).
How appropriate are these words of Jesus, when we think of them as applied to you, humble and beloved Padre Pio.
Teach us, we ask you, humility of heart so we may be counted among the little ones of the Gospel, to whom the Father promised to reveal the mysteries of his Kingdom.
Help us to pray without ceasing, certain that God knows what we need even before we ask him. Obtain for us the eyes of faith that will be able to recognize right away in the poor and suffering the face of Jesus.
Sustain us in the hour of the combat and of the trial and, if we fall, make us experience the joy of the sacrament of forgiveness.
Grant us your tender devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother.
Accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage toward the blessed homeland, where we hope to arrive in order to contemplate forever the glory of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
More than 800 years after he was born, St. Francis remains one of the most popular personalities in history. Well known for his care for animals, an advocate for peace, and his simple lifestyle, St. Francis, above all, gave himself completely to God because he realized God's total love for him. CLICK HERE!
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Dear Saint Pio,
Pray for Tad and I to do the will of God every day that we have left on this planet..And at the hour of death you may be there to welcome us with Jesus and Mother Mary..thank you
Dear Padire Pio,
Thank you so much for all your help,my partner and myself have been unemployed for a while and we have been having alot of difficulity trying to make ends meet.Thankfully my partner has now going some work and i pray that this will continue. Thank you so much for your help
Dear Saint Padre Pio,
My wife and I have been trying to have a baby for along time now. Lately I have been praying Day and night for a miracle. I think this will really strengthen our marriage even more. I love my wife very much and would like to see her happy.
Please pray for my daughter who is having anxiety attacks about school. Padre Pio please let her do well and relax. Also, please help my daughters do well in all that they try.
I Love You
Padre Pio please keep watch over my family and i ask you to guide me through the right path.Thank you
Dear Padre Pio,
Please pray for my family. Please let them be happy, healthy, do well in everything. Please pray that my daughters make good decisions and do well in school. Thank you
Did St. Padre Pio really insist that women wear dresses or skirts 8 inches below the knee and a veil over their heads in order to receive the Sacrament of Reconiliation? If that is true, how come the Catholic Church doesn't insist on that, as well? If you are a short woman, can you have a dress or skirt be 4 inches below the knee?
Padre Pio please pray for my family and help my girls do well in school, make good decisions and be healthy and happy. Thank you
Padre pio pls intercede for my elder brother to get a job, and for my results to be a great one.
have a gud day.i wantto know if where is the church of St.Pio here in Philippines. can u help me? thanks
Dear padre pio, please take care of my son please make him emotionally a strong person let not Amy thought come to him which will distract his stidies and health. Please bless him and protect him data and night. Please I require your help and also I leave him under your care and protection. Please I trust in you. I am going to be at ease because I know you are taking care of him thanks you for all the blessings. Received
Dear Padre pio please bless me and my family . Help us to take the right decisions. Please bless us and also take care of us. Please protect us . Thanks
Padre Pio please pray for my family that they do well in all. Please pray that my Alexis does well in her tests today and that Emilyrose does well in school also. Pray that they are healthy happy and make good decisions. And please watch over my entire family. Thank you
Dear padre pio thanks for all the blessings received please bless me and my family with good health please take care of us and guide us thanks
Dear padre pio thanks For all the blessings received. Thanks
Dear Padre Pio,
Our daughter has been put in a difficult situation. She has made a decision which we feel is beneficial to her right now. Please do not let her get penalized for it. She is a really good and hard working girl who needs your prayers.
Thank you
Dear Padre Pio,
You have always been our family's intercessor along with Mary our Mother. Thank you for your intercessions. I pray for all those in most need of your intercessions. May they be be blessed with God's mercy and ever-present grace. I pray that God will reveal his presence so that those who lack faith may be enlightened.
Padre Pio please pray for my family that they do well in all. Please pray that my Alexis does well in her tests today and that Emilyrose does well in school also. Pray that they are healthy happy and make good decisions. And please watch over my entire family. Thank you
Padre Pio please pray for my family that they do well in all. Please pray that my Alexis does well in her tests today and that Emilyrose does well in school also. Pray that they are healthy happy and make good decisions. And please watch over my entire family. Thank you
Dear Padre Pio - My life needs a total miracle right now, I need a decent job with health benefits, a financial blessing, a loving husband and a physical healing as well as a mental one. Peace of mind, devoid of any anger against anyone who has hurt me. I love you, St. Pio