Saint Padre Pio (1887-1968)
Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez
(CNA) Born in Italy Benevento, Francesco Forgione (birth name) was one of seven children (two of which died in infancy) Francesco’s parents Grazio and Maria taught him and his siblings to live their faith in Christ in daily Mass, family prayer of the Rosary and regular acts of penance.
Francesco had already at a young age decided to dedicate his life to God, by the age of 10, he felt inspired by the example of a young Capuchin Franciscan and told his parents, “I want to be a Friar–with a beard.” Francesco’s father would spend time in the United States, working to finance his son’s education so that he could enter the religious life.
By the 22 January, 1903 Francesco would don the Franciscan habit for the first time, taking the name ‘Pio’ a modernized Italian form of ‘Pius’ in honor of Pope Saint Pius V (Feast Day: 30 April) he would subsequently make his solemn vows four years later and was Ordained into the Priesthood in 1910 — Shortly thereafter he received the Stigmata — Christ wounds present in his own flesh.
Along with these mystical however real wounds, Padre Pio also suffered some health problems, which forced him to live apart from his Franciscan community for the first six years of his Priesthood. — By 1916 Padre Pio managed to reenter community life at the Friary of ‘San Giovanni Rotondo’ where he would live until his death.
Padre Pio would handle many duties there as spiritual director and teacher, covering for Brothers that were drafted into WW I
During 1917-1918 Padre Pio himself briefly served in a medical unit in the Italian Army, he would later ‘offer himself’ as a victim for an end to the war, accepting suffering as a form of prayer for peace. — Once more he would receive a ‘Stigmata’ which remained with him for 50 years, through a succession of global conflicts.
Against Padre Pio’s own wishes, his reputation for holiness and realizing miracles began to attract huge crowds. Some Church officials however denounced Fr. Pio and would have him banned from public ministry in 1931 — Pope Pius XI ordered the ban be lifted two years later and his successor Pope Pius XII encouraged pilgrimages to Padre Pio’s Friary.
Padre Pio, known for patient suffering, fervent prayer and compassionate spiritual guidance, lent his efforts to the establishment of a major hospital (Cathedral of Charity) to ‘soothe physical pain and wounds’ known as the House for the Relief of Suffering in 1956 according to SQPN which serves 60,000 annually.
On this date in 1968 Padre Pio, passed away, he was Venerated in 1997, Beatified in 1999 and Canonized in 2002 by Pope Saint John Paul in Italy.
Related: For Today’s Bible Readings on the Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina, Visit: -USCCB
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