September 23 2019 - St. Padre Pio - The perpetual struggle against self

Padre Pio was one of eight children from a poor peasant family in the small Italian village of Pietrelcina. His parents named him Francesco in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Francesco was very devout even as a child, and at an early age felt drawn to the priesthood. He became a Capuchin novice at the age of sixteen, and took the name Pio in honor of Pope Saint Pius V, the patron Saint of Pietrelcina. and after seven years of study was ordained a priest.

On September 20, 1918 Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when he, like his namesake, St. Francis, received the marks of the crucifixion on his hands. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds—they neither healed nor became infected, but would ooze blood continually until his death fifty years later.

The wounds of the stigmata were not the only mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio. The blood of his stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers, he could read people’s souls, people would come to him in confession, and he would know their sins before they confessed them, he was capable of bilocating—on several instances he appeared in the United States while he was also still in Italy.

Yet, when Pope Paul VI visited Padre Pio’s tomb about five months after he died, he said the greatness of Padre Pio was not in these extraordinary mystical phenomena. The greatness of Padre Pio was in the fact that he was a humble friar, who humbly celebrated Mass, heard confessions from dawn to dusk; he was a man of suffering and prayer.

When asked if the wounds of his holy stigmata caused him suffering, he said, “well, the Lord didn’t give them to me for decoration.” 

And speaking of the suffering involved in the spiritual life, he said, "The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain". Many are called to spiritual greatness, but few are willing to accept the suffering involved, the effort involved, and the surrender to God.

May the example and intercession of Padre Pio help us to seek that spiritual greatness the Lord wants for each of us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For perseverance in holiness, especially for our Pope, Bishops, and Priests, and that the lives of all Christians may shine with the light of good and holy works for God.

In thanksgiving for the many miraculous healings experienced through Padre Pio’s intercession, and for continued healing of those who seek his aid.

That all the sick and suffering may know the aid of heaven.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests, deacons and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.