St Pio of Pietrelcina
Today we will be remembering the life that was lived by one of my favorite saints because of how inspirational he was. St. Pio was born Francesco Forgione, and he had grown up in a family of farmers in southern Italy.
When St. Pio was around the age of 15, he had joined the Capuchins and he was able to take the name of Pio. St. Pio was actually ordained during the year 1910 and he was drafted during World War I. After he was discovered to have tuberculosis, he was later discharged. During the year 1917, St. Pio was assigned to a friary that was located in San Giovanni Rotondo.
During September 20, 1918, as he was celebrating his thanksgiving after he had served Mass, St. Pio had a very inspirational and deep vision of Jesus. When the vision ended, he had the stigmata in his hands, feet, and side.
St. Pio had rarely even left the friary after he had received the stigmata, but many different people had begun to visit him. Each morning after he had celebrated the 5 a.m. Mass in a crowded church, he would always hear confessions until noon. He would actually take a mid-morning break so that he could bless the sick and all who had came to see him. After this break during the afternoon he had returned to hearing confessions. His confessional ministry would take 10 hours a day; penitents had to take a number so that the situation could be handled. Many of them have said that St. Pio was able to know about certain details or aspects of their lives that they had never mentioned.
During his life St. Pio was a man that was able to see Jesus in all the sick and suffering. At his urging, a very fine hospital was built on nearby Mount Gargano. The idea came into existence during the year 1940; a committee had began to collect money. The ground was broken during the year 1946. Building the hospital was a technical wonder because of the many difficulties encountered during the building process such as the issue with hauling up the building supplies. This “House for the Alleviation of Suffering” has 350 beds.
A Very large number of people have actually reported cures that they have said occurred through the powerful intercession of St. Pio.
St. Pio passed away on September 23, 1968 and he was later beatified during the year 1999. St. Pio’s feast day is celebrated on September 23. St. Pio is the patron saint of civil workers, adolescents and his birthplace of Pietrelcina, Italy.
Prayer to St. Pio:
St. Pio intercede that we may be able to do the will of the Lord during our daily lives. We pray that you may protect all of the people dealing with any physical illnesses, mental illnesses, depression, anxiety or suffering a loss of a loved one, we pray that you may help them to overcome any obstacles, pain, temptation or sadness that they may be dealing with.
Amen
St. Pio pray for us
St. Joseph pray for us
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works cited
Information (read from, not taken):
Franciscan Media. "Saint Pio of Pietrelcina." https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina.September 26, 2021.
Images:
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. September 26, 2021.Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.