MARY, OUR MOTHER

SAINT PIO OF PIETRELCINA

Today we celebrate one of my favorite Saints, Padre Pio!

Padre Pio's life

Padre Pio, in the world Francesco Forgione, was born in Pietrelcina near Benevento, on May 25 1887. He entered as a cleric in the Capuchin Order on January 6, 1903 and was ordained a priest on 10 August 1910, in the Cathedral of Benevento.
On July 28, 1916, he came to San Giovanni Rotondo, on the Gargano, where, except for a brief interruption, he remained until his death on September 23, 1968.

On the morning of Friday, September 20, 1918, praying before the Crucifix in the choir of the old church, he received the gift of the stigmata, that remained in his body, fresh and bleeding, for half a century.

During his life which was dedicated entirely to the fulfillment of his priestly ministry; he was a much sought after spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor who was devoted to the Eucharist and Mother Mary! He would often say, "I only want to be a poor friar who prays." He founded the "Prayer Groups" and a modern hospital to which he gave the name "The Home for the Relief of Suffering".

The diocesan process for his canonization, begun on March 20, 1983, was concluded on January 21, 1990. All the many documents gathered and compiled in 104 volumes were consigned to the Congregation for Causes of Saints.
On June 13, 1997, the Theological Commission, unanimously expressed a favorable opinion on the herocity of the virtues of the Padre; and the following October 21, the same favorable opinion, equally unanimous, was issued by the Commission of Cardinals.

The Holy Father John Paul II granted the title of Venerable, with the publication of the "Decretum super virtutibus" on December 18, 1997. From this aforementioned decree we reproduce the introduction:

" 'But far be it from me to glory except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus' - Gal 6,14.
Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, like the Apostle Paul, placed the holy Cross, that was his strength, his wisdom and his glory at the apex of his life and his apostolate.
Free from the vanities of the world and enamored of Jesus Christ, he conformed himself to Him, offering up his life for the salvation of the world.
His following and imitation of the divine victim was so generous and perfect that he could say: 'I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me' - Gal 2,19. Nor did he wish to keep for himself the treasures of grace, which God conceded him in abundance; so without rest he served those who came to him through his sacred ministry and there grew a great multitude of spiritual children".

After the publication of the aforesaid Decree, the Postulation for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Padre Pio presented to the competent Vatican Congregation an occurrence held to be miraculous that took place through the intercession of the Padre.
The miracle was recognized by the Pope, after the approval of the three commissions canonically required. The Medical Consultations of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which met on April 30, 1998, examined the cure of Mrs Consiglia De Martino from "a traumatic rupture of the thoracic duct in the neck", that took place on November 3, 1995, and with a unanimous vote (5 out of 5) judged it "scientifically inexplicable".

The Theological Commission, that consisted of the Promoter General of the Faith and six theological consultants, on June 22, 1998, examined the same extraordinary fact and, after detailed discussion, expressed themselves clearly in the affirmative (7 votes out of 7), qualifying it a third degree miracle or quoad modum. The same favorable opinion was expressed by the Commission of Cardinals in the month of October of the same year.

Finally the Pope officially recognized the miracle with the Decree of December 21, 1998 and fixed the date for the Beatification for Sunday, May 2, 1999.
Millions of faithful throughout the world exulted with joy in this happy ceremony in Saint Peter's Square.

On June 16, 2002, over 500,000 Padre Pio devotees gathered in Rome to witness Pope John Paul II proclaim Padre Pio, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.

Dear Padre Pio, please pray for us, your spiritual children!