Category: Life of Padre Pio da Pietrelcina

September 20, 1968 was the 50th anniversary of Padre Pio’s stigmata. The Mass on September 20th was at the usual early morning hour of 5:00 a.m. and the church was filled to capacity. For Padre Pio, it would be a day like any other day, a day devoted...

He knew that the Capuchins were planning to build a crypt for his burial. Nevertheless, he indicated that it was not his desire to be buried in a specially made crypt. Rather, he wanted to be buried in a simple grave. The construction of the new church of...

Padre Pio also spoke about his death to his friend. He said to Carlo, “When my time comes to leave this life, if my heavenly Mother is not there to hold my hand, how will I have courage?” Carlo then began to contemplate the thought of his own...

Padre Pio had always looked forward to the end of his earthly pilgrimage. He longed to return to his true home, Heaven, where he could be united to God for eternity. He wrote a letter to Padre Agostino and said: “Living here below is wearisome to me, my...

Several months before his death, Padre Pio asked that a picture of St. Joseph be hung near his cell. His confreres noticed that he would stop every day before the picture and gaze at it in silence. It was only later that they learned that Padre Pio had...

Padre Pio passed away on September 23, 1968. He lived a holy life and died a holy death. The following is the remarkable story of his last days: Padre Pio’s health steadily declined during the last years of his life. In 1968, the year that Padre Pio died,...

The life of Padre Pio: the years of childhood. Francesco Forgione (Saint Padre Pio) was born in the bosom of a humble and religious family, on Wednesday, May 25, 1887 at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, time when the bells of the Church sounded to call all the...

The life of Saint Padre Pio. Studies to prepare him for Religious Life – Admission to the Novitiate and First Profession (1901 – 1909 ) Francesco had a great thirst to learn. Because there were no schools in the village, some farmers volunteered to teach the children in...

Biography of Padre Pio. Priestly Ordination, Seven years of sickness, First appearance of stigmas. (1909 – 1916 ) On August 10, 1910, Padre Pio is ordained a priest in the Cathedral of Benevento, Italy. The afternoon of that day, write this prayer: “Oh Jesus, my sigh and my...

History of Padre Pio. Entry into the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo. Proclamation of Padre Pio Blessed and Saint. (1916 – 2002) On July 28, 1916, Padre Pio arrived in San Giovanni Rotondo for the first time. San Giovanni Rotondo was at that time a small village on...