About Saint Padre Pio

Padre Pio, a humble Capuchin priest from San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy , was graciously blessed by God in many wonderful and mysterious ways. The most dramatic was the stigmata. Padre Pio bore the wounds of Christ for fifty years!

Padre Pio was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, southern Italy . He came from a simple, hardworking farming family who loved him dearly.  In his early years, he was tutored privately until his entry to the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Of feeble health but strong will, with the help of grace he completed the required studies and was ordained a priest in 1910.

On September 20, 1918 the five wounds of our Lord's passion appeared on his body, making Padre Pio the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Catholic Church. Countless persons were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly counsel and spiritual guidance through correspondence.

His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the indescribable suffering, both physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life. They also reveal his deep union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and Our Blessed Lady. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968 . After a public funeral, which attracted over 100,000 mourners, his body was entombed in the crypt of Our Lady of Grace Church. Increasing numbers congregate to his tomb from all parts of the world and many testify to spiritual and temporal graces received.

People are still being cured through his intercession in ways that cannot be explained by medicine or science.

More important, if less spectacular, are the spiritual healings that take place in all parts of the world! Padre Pio is a powerful intercessor!!  

Canonization

VATICAN CITY - Before one of the largest crowds ever to fill the Vatican area, Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, a 20th century mystic monk who is said to have borne the bleeding wounds of Christ for 50 years. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world thronged St. Peter's Square and all the streets in the vicinity for hours before the ceremony started in front of Christendom's largest church. The Pope remarked that Padre Pio's spirituality and suffering is a valuable model for modern times. The Pope reemphasized his message at the end of the canonization liturgy by announcing Padre Pio's feast day, September 23rd, is an "obligatory memorial" in the church's general liturgical calendar.    

Highlights of the Cause for Canonization
4 November 1968 Opening of the Preliminary Process.
16 February 1973 Presentation of these documents to the Congregation of Saints
29 November 1982 Process for the Cause of the Servant of God Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. 
20 March 1983 Official Opening of the Canonical Informative Process. This is the formal beginning, at the diocesan level, of the Cause for the Canonization of Padre Pio. 
18 December 1997 Pope John Paul approves the decree on the Heroic Virtues of the Servant of God Padre Pio of Pietrelcina.
21 December 1998 Pope John Paul approves a miracle attributed to the Venerable Servant of God Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. 
2 May 1999 On this Sunday at 9:59 a.m. Central European Time, before the largest crowd ever assembled in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II declares him Blessed (Padre) Pio of Pietrelcina. 
Post-Beatification
23 October 2000 The results of the canonical process of the diocese of Manfredonia-Vieste on the cure of a young boy, Matteo Pio Colella of San Giovanni Rotondo, were forwarded to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. 
18 December 2000 After examination by the officials of the Congregation and a special congress of consulters, the miracle is approved by the ordinary Session of the Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.
20 December 2000 In the presence of John Paul II, the Decree on the miracle was promulgated. 
28 February 2002 The Decree of Canonization was promulgated. 
16 June 2002 Padre Pio of Pietrelcina will be solemnly canonized by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square in Rome. 

The Blessed Mother and Padre Pio

Padre Pio once said: "Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother.” 

“When one acknowledges the importance of the Blessed Mother in Her Immaculate Conception, it is the first step on the path of salvation."

"Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today."

"All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother."

Many photographs show Padre Pio laughing and smiling with his right hand hidden in his chest-high pocket. He is actually doing two things at the same time. He is laughing, telling humorous stories and praying his rosary. This is another gift granted by God to his special chosen son.

With great tenderness, he always spoke of the Blessed Mother as "my dear little Mother."

He always said: "The Blessed Mother is the Mother of all Mothers."

On Padre Pio's death bed, his final words that he kept repeating were: "Jesus-Mary; Jesus-Mary; Jesus-Mary."

Padre Pio often told his fellow priests when they asked him of the Blessed Mother and if she was with him during his Mass: "The Blessed Mother accompanies me to the altar and remains at my side while I offer up the Holy Mass."

Padre Pio often said Mass at the altar of "The Immaculate Conception" in her honor.

A priest, a member of the monastery, asked Padre Pio: 'Does the Blessed Mother ever come to your room?' And he replied: "Why not ask me instead, 'does she ever leave my room?"

Padre Pio's dear friend, Padre Eusebio, asked him: "Does the Blessed Mother ever appear to you, and do you see her?" Padre Pio replied: "The Blessed Mother comes to me whenever I need her."

Giuseppa Forgione, Padre Pio's mother, loved the Blessed Mother like her son. When Francesco left for the Seminary in 1902, his mother's gift to him was a large, framed, beautiful picture of the Blessed Mother entitled, "Our Lady of Purity." His mother's gift was always with him. He always hung this picture at the foot of the bed, so that he could see his beautiful Madonna as he prayed his Rosary before sleeping. The pilgrims touring the Monastery today will see in Padre Pio's bedroom, Cell #1, this picture of "Our Lady of Purity" still hanging at the foot of his bed.

TO THOSE WHO CAME TO PADRE PIO TO THANK HIM FOR FAVORS GRANTED, HE SAID: "ALL THANKS MUST BE GIVEN TO THE BLESSED MOTHER SINCE SHE IS THE MEDIATRIX FOR ALL GRACES."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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