Ritty Tomichen | Reporter
St Padre Pio was born as Francesco Forgione, in 1887 to a small family of farmers. He grew up in a strong, faithful environment and from a very young age of 5 , he devoted his life to God. Due to his family being poverty-stricken he had to work long hours, which resulted in him falling behind in class. However, his faith always stood strong as he was empowered by the faithful community he lived in.
As well as serving at mass as an alter boy, he had the wonderful gift of being able to see guardian angels and often spoke with Mary ! These remarkable gifts were only the beginning of what was to take place in his wonderful life. As he grew older he acquired the amazing gift of the Stigmata of Jesus, the wounds of Jesus while he was on the cross, which science can never explain.
He was on the path of priesthood from the age of 15 and it was at the age of 23, he was fully ordained as a priest. From then on he continually dedicated his life for those in purgatory and as a ‘Victim for poor sinners’. During his time on Earth, he performed many miracles including curing a 14-year-old boy from typhus, which caused severe deformity on his back, with only a touch.
Acknowledging his wonders, he was officially declared a Saint by St John Paul II (Pope) on the 16th of June 2002. St Padre Pio’s Feast Day is celebrated on the 23rd of September and he is the Patron Saint of Civil defense volunteers, Adolescents, Pietrelcina, Stress relief, & January blues.
His ability to truly experience the passion of Jesus with great hope, having the Stigmata of Jesus for 51 years, should inspire us to cope with the problems thrown at us in our everyday lives. We should also ask for the intercession through his prayer as he is able to perform wonderful miracles in our lives too:
Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant,
St. Pio of Pietrelcina,
with the gifts of the Spirit.
You marked his body with the five wounds
of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness
to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son.
Endowed with the gift of discernment,
St. Pio labored endlessly in the confessional
for the salvation of souls.
With reverence and intense devotion
in the celebration of Mass,
he invited countless men and women
to a greater union with Jesus Christ
in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina,
I confidently beseech You to grant me
the grace of (here state your petition).Glory be to the Father… (three times). Amen.
