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healing, hope, light, Padre Pio, pray, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, suffering, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, the stigmata
Today Christians everywhere celebrate Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, who died on this date in 1968. We know him as Padre Pio. There is much to say about this humble servant of God, which you can find on http://www.franciscanmedia.org or in any number of books, documentaries and internet sites or perhaps from people, still alive, who have had experience of his life. It was not easy; he suffered spiritually and physically, and, perhaps most of all, psychologically from the words and actions of those who did not believe the movements of God in his life.
The verse before the gospel in today’s lectionary could be called “difficult grace” in the life of Padre Pio. It calls us all to humility and truth in recognition of our gifts, and reads as follows: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Clearly, Padre Pio did not take credit for his extraordinary gift of healing or complain about the trials of his suffering, especially when he received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ in his physical form). It was his willingness to serve God in whatever way was asked of him that we honor today.
May we be willing each day to do the same.
Today people all over the world are celebrating St. Pio of Pietrelcina, one of the most controversial and beloved saints in the history of Christianity. Unlike many of those holy people recognized in the Christian canon of saints, Francesco Forgione lived during the life of many of us (5/25/1887 – 9/23/1968). He entered the Capuchin Franciscan order at the age of 15 and took the name of Pio (Pius). He was ordained in 1910. After September 20, 1918, when he had a vision of Jesus and received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ) in his hands, feet and side, Pio suffered for the rest of his life. His deepest suffering came not from the wounds but from the notoriety, the claims that the wounds were self-inflicted, and from the embarrassment and humiliation of the cross he bore. Much of his life was spent in hearing the confessions of penitents and healing people near and far. He was reported to have several spiritual gifts including bi-location and was investigated many times but in the end was found to have been the conduit for many healings and declared a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 2002. Most notable, it seems to me, is the fact that throughout the long and arduous process and steps toward canonization, there was no treatment of the extraordinary spiritual “gifts” but rather only focus on the verified healings and the holiness of life of this “suffering servant” of God.