Saint Padre Pio Feast Day
St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
St Pio of Pietrelcina, baptized Francesco Forgione, was lovingly known as Padre Pio. He lived from May 25, 1887 – September 23, 1968. He was a Capuchin Franciscan priest from the region of Campania in Italy.
St. Padre Pio is most known for his stigmata which he had for 50 years. He received the stigmata while praying before the Crucifix in an old church. This of course, is the same history of St. Francis of Assisi, his order’s founder, who was the first recorded Christian to receive the stigmata. He also received the stigmata while praying before the Cross of Christ in a church at San Damiano. The stigmata are the bleeding wounds of Christ on the hands and feet.
He led many souls to holiness through reconciliation. It was reported that St. Pio had true insight into a person’s soul and was able to identify their sins and assist the penitent to identify sins they had forgotten or were unwilling to confess. As one of the Church’s greatest spiritual directors his guidance included 5 rules for spiritual growth:
1. Weekly confession
2. Daily Communion
3. Spiritual Reading
4. Meditation
5. Examination of conscience
| St. Pio lived with the cross of Christ and The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the center of his life. He believed that the love of God is inseparable from suffering and that suffering all things for the sake of God is the way for the soul to reach God. This explanation of the value of suffering with Christ is a recurring theme with all saints and held by the great Blessed John Paul II as well. The life of St. Pio was an example of living out our call to be conformed to the image of Jesus and His Gospel.Padre Pio was also blessed with the vision of souls in purgatory who would appear to him and request his prayers. It is a wonderful gift to recognize this great saint and invoke his prayers as we wear and display a St Pio Saint Medal. We should remember daily to pray for all souls to assist them on their journey to heaven. | |
