San Padre Pio di Pietrelcina

Today is the feast of Padre Pio. Padre Pio was a Capuchin priest who was a member of the convent at San Giovanni Rotondo, Italia. Padre Pio was the 1st Catholic priest to bear the Stigmata. He was born in Pietrelcina, Italia on 25 May 1887.

1903 - Begins novitiate

1904 - 1st vows

1907 - Solemn vows

1910 - Ordained a priest 1st signs of stigmata

After this suffered many illnesses & spent time between various convents & family home

1918 - Transverberation, 5-7 August; Stigmatization, 20 September

From this time on he underwent various medical examinations . At times he was attacked by Satan. He had various spiritual gifts such as the ability to read hearts, bilocation, prophecy, working of miracles as well as the gift of perfume. At times he was silenced by the Vatican. Throughout it all he simply desired to minister to those who came to him by providing the sacraments to them. He never sought notoriety, fame or financial gain. His concern with the sick included the founding of a hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, La Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (The House for the Relief of Suffering).

On 22 Sept 1968 he celebrated his last Mass. he died early in the day on 23 Sept.

1999 - 2 May beatified by Pope John Paul II

2002 - 16 June canonized by Pope John Paul II, feast day 23 Sept made an obligatory memorial

There are many stories of the miracles worked by Padre Pio. He was sought after as a confessor. Here too, many stories abound. He would often remind someone of a sin he or she forgot. At other times he would refuse to grant absolution because the Holy Spirit revealed to him that the person was not truly sorry for the sins. Most times that was the opening for the Holy Spirit to begin to convict the person who later returned & made a sincere confession.

This is only a small survey of the life & work of San Pio. It is impossible for me to go into great detail about all God did through His servant. I would highly recommend a couple of books. The 1st is Padre Pio and America by Frank Riga (TAN Books). Another one I reccomend as a good introduction to Padre Pio is a small booklet Who is Padre Pio? (TAN Books) These & many other good books about Padre Pio that can be found through the groups below.

Sadly there are also some groups who are trying to use Padre Pio to undermine Pope Benedict, Pope John Paul & Vatican II. Padre Pio was an obedient son of the Church. He didn't celebrate the Novus Ordo Mass as it wasn't promulgated until after his death. So, if you read that he was opposed to it, this is a lie as he couldn't have been. Yes, he did continue to say the Mass in Latin. He took advantage of the special permission given to older priests to do so. But, he did so facing the people when it was allowed post Vatican II. I have seen the film of his last Mass. He was clearly facing the people with the High Altar behind him.

Padre Pio on obedience:

"Where there is no obedience, there is no virtue; where there is no virtue, there is no good. Where good is wanting, there is no love; where there is no love, God is absent; where God is absent, there is no heaven."

On love:

"The pivot of perfection is love; he who lives in love lives in God, because God is love, as the Apostle says."

"God can reject everything in a creature conceived in sin and of which it bears the indelible impression inherited from Adam. But He can absolutely not reject the sincere desire to love Him."

"Humility and charity go hand in hand. The one glorifies, the other sanctifies."

Padre Pio Foundation of America
http://www.padrepio.com/

National Centre for Padre Pio (Official site in USA for the canonization process)
http://www.padrepio.org/intro.asp

Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Frank M Rega Padre Pio Prayer Group
www.sanpadrepio.com

Padre Pio Devotions
http://www.saintpio.org/

Padre Pio Prayer Groups USA
http://www.pppg.org/