St Padre Pio (1887-1968), a humble Capuchin friar, bore the visible wounds of Christ for fifty years. His life was marked by miraculous healings, bilocation, the ability to read souls, and intense devotion to the Eucharist.
On September 20, 1918, while praying before a crucifix, Padre Pio received the visible stigmata. The wounds never healed, emitted a fragrance of flowers, and caused him intense suffering. Church authorities subjected him to years of investigation.
Padre Pio could read souls, bilocate, heal the sick, and had supernatural knowledge of future events. Despite these gifts, he remained humble, calling himself “a poor friar who prays.”
The Holy Mass was the center of his life. He said: “It would be easier for the world to exist without the sun than without the Holy Mass.” He urged frequent Communion and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002, Padre Pio’s incorrupt body is venerated at San Giovanni Rotondo. His simple words continue to comfort: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”
“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” — St Padre Pio
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