When I was young, I used to think that all the saints were from a long, long time ago. Some of them were, of course. But I can remember being surprised that St. Pio of Pietrelcina was alive on this earth until I was 13 years old. I was further surprised to discover that there were actual photos of him as well as films of him saying Mass! The first time I saw photos of him, like the one you see here, I was captivated by what I saw, and I wanted to know more.
Who was St. Pio Of Pietrelcina?
St. Pio of Pietrelcina, who is well known as “Padre Pio”, was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy. His parents were devout Catholics, and their son was extremely devoted to Our Lord. By the time he was five years old, he had dedicated his life to God. He prayed and offered sacrifices out of love for God. When he was 15, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars and took the name “Brother Pio.”
The Stigmata
Eventually, in 1910, he was ordained a priest. Several years later, in August 1918, Padre Pio began experiencing severe pain. He received on his body the Stigmata: the wounds of Christ on the Cross. He offered the pain for the good of all humanity. For the next 50 years, Padre Pio lost about a cup of blood every day from the Stigmata:
- From the wound Christ suffered from the lance piercing his left side,
- From the nail wounds of the crucifixion in both His hands and His feet,
- Even from the secret shoulder wound from Christ carrying his cross.
Miraculously, a few days before his death in September 1968, all these wounds on Padre Pio’s body disappeared!
Other Miracles of Padre Pio
Many miracles are attributed to Padre Pio, and they are well documented. He had gifts of healing, bilocation, levitation, prophecy, abstinence from both sleep and food–he once lived for 20 days on the Holy Eucharist alone, the ability to read hearts and souls, the gift of tongues, and the gift of conversions. He even healed a girl of her blindness who had no pupils in her eyes! He heard the confession of John Paul II when he was 27-year-old Father Karol Wojtyla, wherein Padre Pio told him that he would someday become Pope. He was so well known for his holiness and spiritual insights that he would often spend up to 16 hours a day hearing the confessions of the multitudes of people who waited for days to confess to him.
Padre Pio and His Spiritual Children
Padre Pio died on September 23, 1968. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1999 and canonized in 2002. I wear a medal with his image on it around my neck, and I pray to him everyday as one of my patron saints. Anytime my faith is tested, I can turn to him and ask him to pray for me. You can, too! Ask him in prayer to accept you as one of his spiritual children. He is famously quoted as saying, “I love my spiritual children as much as my own soul, and even more.” St. Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us!
Actual Footage of His Last Mass
Finally, I want you to see St. Pio saying Mass. Here is rare footage of Padre Pio’s last Mass on September 22, 1968. Isn’t it amazing that we can actually see him praying the Mass on film? It blows me away every time I watch it! Please be sure to click on the x by the speaker icon at the bottom right to turn on the sound.
Coming up next…
Building Block of the Catholic Faith #5: The Seven Sacraments
By Kathleen M. Alford
Wow! That’s beautiful to see a saint in action. Makes me love him even more, and it makes him relatable to see his weakness.