St. Pio of Pietrelcina - Padre Pio

The Story of Padre Pio - St. Pio of Pietrelcina

A popular saint for the modern age

A popular saint for modern times is a Capuchin friar named Padre Pio. He was born on May 25, 1887 A.D., in the region of Benevento, Italy, to Mamma Peppa and Grazio Forgione. The fifth of eight children, he became an altar boy, shepherd boy and a scholar. What distinguished him from other boys was seen clearly by his confessor who said that the boy had "celestial visions and diabolical oppressors" at an early age. He was thus known to speak with Jesus and also had to contend with the devil and hell.

A Capuchin Franciscan

In 1903 A.D., he entered the Capuchins and wore their habit. He thus underwent the system of formation of the Capuchins: novitiate, study, vows, prayer, austerity, penance, and discipline. In these years, he had to endure ill health that the doctors diagnosed him as consumptive - certain that he would pass away. But in 1909 A.D., he was back at his mother's side at Pietrelcina. Then and there, he had another round of mystical afflictions, invisible stigmata, and terrible battles with the devil. But he was ordained on August 10, 1910 A.D., and he lived for some more years away from his friary so that his being "co-redeemer", as he was defined by his spiritual director, would mature. After this life in Pietrelcina, the "Nazareth" of his inner life soon ended.

The stigmata

In 1918 A.D., Padre Pio finds himself in San Giovanni Rotondo. It was here that he received the stigmata - "nailed to the cross with Christ...body bears the marks of the Lord Jesus" [Gal 2:19, 6:17]. Crowds started to flock to him to see the bleeding wounds in his hands and feet. From September 20 up until his death, he bore these wounds of Christ in his body for fifty years. Only upon his death did the wounds miraculously disappear - marking the end of the crucifixion in his life.

Other charisms

The stigmata was not the only charism or spiritual gift which Padre Pio received from God. There were other gifts which he was noted to have: hyperthemia, fasting, ecstasies, supernatural knowledge, miracles, bilocations, agility, levitations, tears of blood, fires of love, personal perfume, and many more.

Hyperthemia

The body temperature of this simple Capuchin friar is incredible. It rises up to over 48 degrees Centigrade or 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fasting

Padre Pio lived until 80 years of age living on only 300 calories per day. He did not eat breakfast, nor supper, but only picked up something to eat at midday. It was the Eucharist that gave him real life and strength.

Ecstasies

Padre Pio was seen daily or more than once during Holy Mass, completely absorbed in God, as if in a trance.

Supernatural knowledge

Doctors, scientists, politicians, priests, and people of all walks of life turned to Padre Pio for advice - presenting to him their grave problems, serious decisions to be made, and other difficult questions and situations. When these are presented to him, he would, at each of their own level, give a right reply. He was also known to have prophesied Paul VI's pontificate, the end of certain politicians, the economic crisis before 1960, the phenomenon of deChristianization, and many more.

Miracles

A living miracle himself, Padre Pio worked many real and authentic miracles. The miracles performed by this Capuchin friar is like the rewriting of many pages of miracles in the gospels. Just as St. Francis de Sales wrote, "between the gospel and a saint there is the same difference as between a written symphony and the playing of a symphony". Padre Pio's miracles thus brings the gospel miracles back to life again.

Bilocations

This spiritual gift permitted Padre Pio's presence, at the same time, in different places, even though he never left his friary. Of all his charisms, this is one of the most documented, and one of which he is popularly known for. Through this gift, he is able to accompany his spiritual children though they live faraway.

Sleep

Padre Pio has a charism which is something really beyond human capabilities and understanding. When someone would tell Padre Pio, "Good night, Padre Pio", he would reply: "Good night to who ever sleeps". He was also known to have said, "That which you sleep in a night would do me for a year".

Padre Pio is for everyone

Even though Padre Pio was totally immersed in God, he did not live in seclusion from the social problems of his time. He understood suffering and human pain better than anyone. So on May 5, 1956 A.D., when he was about seventy, he inaugurated his work - a "home for the sick" and a "home for the aged".

Death

Padre Pio passed away from earthly life on September 23, 1968 A.D. Beatified and canonized, St. Pio of Pietrelcina's tomb continues to be the object of continual pilgrimages, to the level of hundreds of thousands of people every year.

Related resources:

• "A History of the Church" by Franzen and Dolan
• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• "A Year with the Saints" by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
• "Passion of the Saints" by Discovery Channel
• Book on Padre Pio, from Ignatius Press.com