St. Padre Pio - Sept. 23rd

 

Today is the feast of St. Padre Pio, who was born May 25^th of 1887 in Italy and given the name Francisco.  A very devout young boy at the age 5, he told his parents he wanted to be consecrated to God.  As a young boy he tended sheep with his peasant parents.  His family daily attended Mass and he served as an altar boy of his local parish.  As a young child he was known for taking on penances and his mother scolded him for sleeping on a stone floor.  He was able to see guardian angels, and he spoke with Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He was sickly as a child. At the age of 15, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin friars at Morcone. He took the name of "Pio" in honor of Pope Pius I. On September 20, Padre Pio was hearing confessions when he felt pain in his hands and feet. He noticed the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appearing on his hands and feet. The wounds smelled of roses. He was seen levitating in the air, and was capable of performing miracles.

One man who was born with one leg shorter than the other came to Padre Pio in Confession. When the Confession was over, Padre Pio took his fist and hit him on the top of his head. The man said, “Padre Pio, why did you hit me on the top of my head?” Padre Pio didn’t say anything and as the man walked away, he realized both legs were now the same length.

He bilocated (physically in more than one place at time).  He was falsely accused and forbidden from offering public Masses and hearing confessions, but he never complained. Three years later, he was exonerated by the pope.  Greater than the miracles and mystical event during his life was his greatest virtue, his silent obedience to the his superiors and Church representatives. He had the ability to read souls (to know the sins of people). His Masses would last often times hours at a time. When offering the Mass it was though he suffered the Passion of Jesus. He built a hospital for the sick in San Giovanni Rotondo.  He died Sept. 23^rd of 1968 and was canonized in 2000.  After his death his wounds disappeared and today he remains incorrupt. Padre Pio, pray for us!