Page 13 - St. Joseph Messenger September 2020

St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry
O Little Known Facts about St. Pio of Pietrelcina
n May 25, 1887 Francesco Forgione was
born in Pietrelcina, Italy to a devout family
who made religion the heart of their lives.
This devotion to the Church became an integral
part of Francesco’s early life. When he was only
five years old he consecrated himself to Jesus. It
wasn’t long before he developed a desire to become
a priest; so his parents did everything in their power
to make this happen.
Francesco donned the habit of the Capuchin
Friars in 1903, taking the name “Pio” in honor of
Pope Pius V, who was patron saint of Pietrelcina.
His desire to become a priest was fulfilled on
August 10, 1910, but because of his delicate health,
he spent the years of 1911 to 1916 at his family
home performing the duties of a Capuchin friar by
saying Mass and teaching.
When Padre Pio returned to his community of
friars he was assigned to San Giovanni Rotundo. It
was here that the future saint offered himself to
become a spiritual victim of World War I, in
response to the Pope’s request for everyone to pray
for an end to the war. Not long after that Padre Pio
had an ecstasy during which he received the wound
of Christ in his side. Another ecstasy followed a
few weeks later and this time he received the
stigmata, the five wounds of Jesus.
Padre Pio had a great spiritual influence on
others, and because of this he also had detractors;
but he ignored them and continued with his work.
Just before the beginning of World War II his
mission was to build a home to aid the suffering.
After the war, the project was completed. It was one
of many spiritual efforts of this saint who continued
to help his “children” even through his final illness.
In the early morning of September 23, 1968
Padre Pio died peacefully in his cell. He was
canonized by another future saint, Pope John Paul II
on June 16, 2002. SJM
11
I. He predicted that he would live with the stig-
mata but die without it. He was right.
II. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he
could be in more than one place at the same
moment. He was seen on many continents even
though he never left Italy.
III. His wounds had the odor of sanctity,
particularly from the blood of the wounds..
IV. He conversed with Jesus, Mary, and his
guardian angel when he was young; but he was
also plagued by attacks of the devil.
V. He was inducted into the service in 1917
and for a short period was a member of the 4th
Platoon of the 100th Company of the Italian
Medical Corps.
VI. He had five rules for spiritual growth: weekly
confession, daily Communion, spiritual reading,
meditation, and examination of conscience.
VII. His body was exhumed from the grave in
March 2008. It was found to be incorrupt.
VIII. He wore half-gloves (fingers exposed) to
stem the bleeding from the wounds in his hands.
IX. He often spent 15 to 19 hours hearing
confessions.
X. He sometimes ate no more than an ounce of
food a day, yet remained well and active.
Feast Day - September 23d