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| St. Padre Pio |
In 1910, the Lord singled out a worthy son of St. Francis of Assisi,
for a unique grace, to receive the stigmata, the representation of the five
wounds of Christ. On September 20, 1918,
these wounds became visible on his person at San Giovanni Rotondo in Southern
Italy. He is Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. Today, 23rd September, the Church
celebrates the feast of Saint Padre Pio.
Welcome to the saint of the day.
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina popularly
known as Padre Pio was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, a farming town in
South Italy. His parents were illiterate
peasant farmers. His baptismal name was
Francesco. He decided to dedicate his entire
life to God when he was five years old.
Francesco was afflicted with a number of illnesses from his childhood
days.
When he was a young boy, Francesco had
experienced heavenly visions and ecstasies.
He was drawn to the life of a friar, after listening to a Capuchin friar who came
to his town seeking donations. At the
age of 15 he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin friars at Morcone. He took the name of Fra Pio in honour of Pope
St. Pius I. He was ordained a priest in
1910 by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi at the Cathedral of Benevento.
Though Padre Pio was selected for
military service, due to his ill health he was declared unfit and
discharged. On September 18, 1918, Padre
Pio had the first occurrence of stigmata, bodily marks corresponding to
crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. He
was blessed with spiritual gifts, including gifts of healing, prophecy, gift of
tongues, miracles, levitation, bilocation, fragrance from his stigmata wounds
and so on. He became very popular within
a short period of time. Though the Church restricted his activities and public interactions
initially, by 1934 she allowed him to perform, his public duties.
After a prolonged period of illness,
Padre Pio died on September 23, 1968 at the age of 81 whispering ‘Maria’. Padre Pio was canonized as a saint by Pope
John Paul II on June 16, 2002. He is the
patron of civil defence warriors and adolescents.
Sayings of Padre Pio:
“Pray, hope and don’t worry”.
"Through the study of books one seeks God; by meditation one
finds him".
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