SAINT OF THE WEEK

St Pio of Pietrilcina: Padre Pio

September 23

Known affectionately to the world as Padre Pio, St. Pio of Pietrilcina was a very holy priest who died not that long agoin 1968, when many of your parents were children themselves. Although he lived a simple life as a Franciscan friar in a monastery in a little town in the boot of Italy named San Giovanni Rotondo, his reputation as an amazing confessor, healer, and stigmatist amazed the world. He is the only priest in history who is known to have the Stigmatathe same wounds in his hands, feet, and side that Jesus received on the Cross which Padre Pio bore out of love for Jesus. Because Padre Pio had the amazing gift of being able to read hearts, people would travel hundreds of miles and wait a week to go to Confession to himhe often sat in the confessional for 12 hours or more. Many of those who made their confession to him said that he could name their sins before they did and would remind them of sins they had forgotten! Once he met a young priest who came to him for confessionhe told the priest that One day you will be the Pope. That young priest from Poland was named Karol Wojtyla, the man we know as Pope John Paul II.

SAINT OF THE WEEK

St Pio of Pietrilcina: Padre Pio

September 23
St. Pio, known in his lifetime with great affection as Padre Pio, has only been a canonized saint for 4 years! More than a million pilgrims traveled to Rome for his Mass of Canonization in 2002, many of whom had known and been touched by his amazing gifts. Born in 1887 in Pietrilcina, Italy, he was taught by his simple, hardworking parents until he joined the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Although his health was not good, he persisted in his studies and became a priest in 1910, when he was 23. Eight years later, after a life of intense prayer, he received the Stigmatathe same wounds that Christ bore on the crossin his hands, feet, and side. Padre Pio received these wounds as a giftlike St. Francis, he loved Jesus so much that he wanted to suffer with Him. Padre Pio is the only priest in the history of the Catholic Church to have the Stigmata. The life of Padre Pio is so amazing that it would take more than one saint report to tell about the healings, miracles, and conversions that came to people through his intercession! He was best known for his gift of reading hearts. People came from all over the world to his monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo (in the boot of Italy) to wait over a week for the chance to go to confession to him. Those who received the Sacrament of Penance from him report that he would remind them of sins they had forgotten and give advice that seemed to see into their hearts. Padre Pios Mass, offered early each morning in a little chapel, took several hours, but people would start coming in the middle of the night to wait outside the church doors; those who attended said his Mass was a deeply moving experience because it was clear that Padre Pio, deeply in love with the Eucharistic Christ, was offering himself to Jesus, Who offers Himself at every Mass to God the Fatherjust as He offered Himself on Good Friday, out of Love for each of us! There are hundreds of reports by eyewitnesses of Padre Pios healingshe was known to appear inexplicably in the hospital or at the deathbed of someone who had prayed for him to intercede, and, after his visit, they would experience miraculous healing of body and soul. It is said that Padre Pio could see his guardian angel and conversed with him regularly and that he would send his guardian angel to protect others who were in danger or needed help. There are many other amazing stories about Padre Pios spiritual gifts and graces, but what he wanted to be remembered for was his deep love for Christhe saw himself as a living crucifix that reminded the world of Christs Love for each of us! Padre Pio also had a great love for the Blessed Mother (he said many rosaries every day) and for the poor and suffering. He built a hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo called the House for the Relief of Suffering where thousands have been cared for and healed. He died on September 23, 1968, with the words Jesus, Mary on his lips.