Many think that saintly souls, especially those who have received remarkable gifts such as prophecy and healing, are to be admired rather than emulated. They seem unaware that God gives these gifts so that people may be drawn to learn more about the life of that person and try to imitate his virtues and heed of his teachings. If this is true of holy people generally, it is especially true of Padre Pio who has been given to remind twentieth century men of truths which they have evidently half-forgotten.

Before considering Padre Pio's life, teachings and message, a few remarks should be made about stigmatization. Stigmatization is a wonderful thing, usually associated with great holiness but does not seem in itself to constitute proof of sanctity. Pope Pius XI warned that false stigmatization is the work of the devil, who sometimes seeks to lead souls to damnation by a spurious show of externals. However, where sanctity is evident, it is reasonable to accept the stigmatization as general.

EARLY LIFE

Francesco Forgione, the son of Orazio Forgione and Maria Guiseppa De Nunzio, was born in Pietrelcina a small village in the Italian province of Benevento on 25 May 1887. He was one of a family of the eight, three of whom died in their infancy. His parents were good Catholics. Franceso's mother was a typical pious village woman, who abstained from meat three times in honour of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and tried to attend daily Mass. Orazio Forgione was a farmer, but there were times when his small farm was insufficient to support his family, and Orazio was forced on two occasions to migrate to the United States in order to earn money to supplement the family income.

Francesco was a quite and retiring child who showed early evidence of piety. At the age of five when he was considering dedicating himself to St Francis, he was favoured with a vision of Our Lady. Francesco never mentioned what Our Lady said to him on that occasion, but soon afterwards he dedicated himself to St Francis.

Francesco received his early education from the local pastor, Don Domenico Tizzani. He was later sent to another tutor, Maestro Carvaco. Francesco progressed rapidly in his studies, and soon reached the standard required to be admitted to the nearby school conducted by the Capuchin Friars, whom he impressed by his obedience. At school, he was loved by his teachers and schoolmates. His goodness and simplicity were free from priggishness. Whenever the other students wanted a favour, they always asked Francesco to negotiate the deal. Once the school had been given a two-day leave. This was too short for some of the boys who lived far away and would have to spend most of the time travelling. They appealed to Francesco to ask the Superior for an extended vacation. Francesco was shy and disliked the task assigned to him, but he also hated to disappoint his friends, so he plucked up courage and asked the Superior for an extra day. The Superior looked surprised and then said: 'Ah yes, I understand you are asking for your friends. Well, give them the good news, their vacation has been extended.' Francesco's father encouraged him in his studies by assuring him that if he did well at school he would pay for his seminary course.

Before entering the seminary, Francesco had a vision in which he was given to see his future conflicts with the devil. During the vision, Our Lord promised to guide him, and that the good angels would help him in the battle.

Seminary Years

Francesco entered the Capuchin novitiate in Marcone in the Italian province of Benevento. Because of his devotion to Pope St Pius V, Francesco took the name Fra Pio (Brother Pius). The community life, with its fasts and rigorous discipline, was a strain on Fra Pio's delicate constitution. When his parents saw him at the end of the year, they were shocked by his emaciated appearance and pale face. Believing that he was being starved, they begged the Father Director to let them take him home. However, they were assured that he was getting plenty to eat. To give him a change of air. Fra Pio was sent to St Elia in Pasini, where he stayed for four years.

Despite the change of air, Fra Pio's health did not improve. He was subject to frequent bouts of fever, which would disappear as suddenly as they came. Fra Pio could not retain food for long periods. Once he subsisted for twenty-one days on no other nourishment than the sacred Host. At the same time, his faithful observance of the Rule was in no way impaired. Fra Pio spent many hours in prayer. So great was his respect for sacred theology that he often read his textbooks on his knees.

Diabolical Visitations

The diabolical visitations which were to plague Fra Pio throughout his whole life began during his seminary days. Sometimes demons visited his cell during his absence and left everything in disarray, strewing his blankets on the floor and splattering the ink all over the walls. Sometimes monsters appeared to him as monsters, black and filthy animals. At other times the devil came disguised as monks, or even as his Guardian Angel, Our Lady and the Crucified. The devil often came in the form of his Spiritual Father of Father Provincial. Once the devil appeared to him in the likeness of his Spiritual Director, Padre Agostino, and advised him to give up his penitential life because God did not approve it. When Fra Pio had the presence of mind to ask the 'friar' to repeat after him, 'Blessed be Jesus,' the devil left in a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a sulphurous smell.

Ordination and Early Ministry

Although it was discovered that Fra Pio had tuberculosis this did not delay his ordination which took place on 10 August 1910. The following day, Padre Pio celebrated his first Mass at Pietrelcina and on 14 August 1910, he sang his first Solemn High Mass in the church of St Mary of the Angels, Pietrelcina, where he had been baptized twenty-three years earlier. Padre Pio must have been disappointed by the fact that his father had been forced to leave for the United States shortly before his ordination.

Soon after his ordination, Padre Pio was sent to Pietrelcina, where he remained for some years, helping the aged pastor, Don Salvatore Panullo. As Don Panullo wished to retain his services, Padre Pio wrote to Rome seeking secularization. Though his petition was granted, Padre Pio, after reflecting that at the age of five he had dedicated himself to St Francis, decided not to make use of the permission. Although the people of Pietrelcina admired Padre Pio's virtues, they considered that he took too long to celebrate Mass. Even then, he would make long pauses before beginning the different parts of the Mass. Many times during Mass, Padre Pio would be lost in ecstacy. He would have continued in ecstacy had not Don Panullo made a mental command and rung a little bell for the purpose of recalling him to go on with the Mass.

Padre Pio built himself a straw hut about a hundred metres behind his parent's home, and there he lived while he was stationed in Pietrelcina. It was there, on 20 September 1915, that Padre Pio received the invisible stigmata. Padre Pio did tell Don Panullo what had happened, but he did not tell his mother. Because of the great pain he suffered from his stigmata, Don Panullo suggested that Padre Pio should omit celebrating Mass at least on Fridays. Padre Pio would not follow that advice.

During World War 1, Padre Pio was called up for military service. His sensitive nature made it a terrible trial to have to listen to the smut, irreverence and blasphemy which filled the soldiers' conversations. When the army learned that Padre Pio had tuberculosis, they sent him to the military hospital in Naples, where, after six months, he was discharged and told to await instructions.

San Giovanni Rotondo

On being discharged from the hospital, Padre Pio went to the Capuchin friary of Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo. On learning his whereabouts, the army officers asked him to return to the army. However, he was discharged from the army when a medical examination revealed that he was still suffering from tuberculosis.

At that time, San Giovanni Rotondo was a poor, primitive mountain village, which was reached mainly on foot or mule back. The village was half way up Mount Gargano. The nearest cities, Foggia and Manfredonia, were twenty-two and forty kilometers away respectively. The Capuchin friary, which was later to attract crowds to see Padre Pio was already a place of pilgrimage, because it was there that St Camillus de Lellis had made his noviciate.

The Visible Stigmata

Padre Pio received the visible stigmata on his hands, feet and left side, while kneeling in the choir of the friary chapel on 20 September 1918. Seeing Padre Pio prostrate on the floor, with his wounds visible, his confreres carried him to the cell. The fact that he had received the visible stigmata soon became public knowledge. On learning of Padre Pio's stigmatization, the Provincial of the Capuchins had Padre Pio's wounds photographed and the photographs sent to the Vatican for the record and for instructions for he did not know what attitude to adopt towards Padre Pio.

In order to obtain further information on which to base his decision, the Provincial asked a number of doctors to examine Padre Pio's wounds. Dr Luigi Romanella of Barletta examined Padre Pio. Then followed for the next few years the most persistent and trying medical investigations, as well as every variety of attempted cure. However, nothing changed the character of the wounds. They never closed, never stopped bleeding, neither did they ever become infected, whether they were covered in unguents and air tight bandages or the dark woollen mittens he wore for years. The authorities finally decreed that Padre Pio was to be left in peace, and that no more cures were to be attempted and no further examinations made. Padre Pio was unable to close his hands and it was difficult for him to tie a knot when vesting for Mass. Walking was painful for him. He would come down the altar steps backwards when distributing Communion to save his wounded feet. Padre Pio never complained. When asked by a foolish person whether his wounds hurt Padre Pio replied: 'Do you think that the Lord gave them to me for a decoration''

Padre Pio's Apostolate

Right from the time of his ordination the confessional was Padre Pio's favourite apostolic field. Even after receiving the stigmata, Padre Pio wished to be regarded primarily as a confessor, rather than a stigmatic. The fact that Padre Pio was a stigmatic drew many to his confessional. Padre Pio's apostolate at that time consisted of hearing confessions, writing letters, giving spiritual direction, celebrating Mass and preaching.

The Church and Padre Pio

Pope Benedict XV considered Padre Pio a very holy man. However, his successor, Pope Pius XI, was influenced by those who believed that his stigmata were due to a psychological condition. Pope Pius XI was later to comment that he had not been against Padre Pio, but that he had been misinformed about him. As a result of the false reports sent to Rome, restrictions were placed on Padre Pio's activities. He was forbidden to preach, write letters, celebrate Mass publicly or hear confession. This last restriction caused Padre Pio the greatest suffering, because he realized that he many souls who sought his advice in the confessional would be deprived of his help. However, he obeyed uncomplainingly. Though the prohibition on his celebrating Mass publicly and hearing confessions were subsequently lifted, Padre Pio was never again allowed to preach and write letters giving spiritual direction. Padre Pio's trial was made hard to bear by the fact that he received little moral support from his superiors, because they did not wish to appear sympathetic to one who was regarded with considerable suspicion in Rome.

The caution of the Roman authorities increased because of the imprudent enthusiasm shown by some of Padre Pio's supporters. There were biographies of Padre Pio published without an imprimatur. In line with the Church's strict policy at that time on works published without an imprimatur, these books were placed on the Index.

After some years, Padre Pio was permitted to answer letters through secretaries. Though most of those replies were simply assurances of prayers,. Padre Pio would sometimes answer questions put to him in letters. Sometimes Padre Pio would destroy would destroy letters before reading them, because he knew, by supernatural knowledge, that those letters did not deserve an answer. Not only would time have prevented him from answering all his letters personally, (he received an average of six hundred letters a day), but the wound in his right hand made writing painful for him.

Prayer and Prayer Groups

Padre Pio spent a considerable time in prayer each day. He would rise at three thirty and pray until celebrating Mass at five o'clock. He recited his Office privately, because the wounds in his feet made it too painful for him to stand while reciting Office with the community. However, he would join his confreres for night prayers and lead those prayers. The night prayers included a perpetual novena to the Sacred Heart, which was offered for all who had requested his prayers. Padre Pio's devotion to Our Lady, which will be considered in detail later, led him to recite many rosaries every day.

When in 1952, Pope Pius XII urged the world to pray in groups for the intentions of the Church, Padre Pio responded to the call and formed a group in San Giovanni Rotondo. The people called it a Padre Pio Prayer Group. The name caught on and thousands of devotees of Padre Pio formed identical Groups in their own communities and parishes throughout the world.

Perfume and Bilocation

Many wonders were associated Padre Pio's life. Some people, while in his presence, smelt a mysterious perfume, presumed to be the odour of sanctity associated with some of the saints.

On a number of occasions, Padre Pio was bilocated. He was seen in such places as St Peter's Rome, the Holy House of Loreto, and overseas countries at times when it was definitely established that he was at the friary. The contention that Padre Pio received the gift of bilocation is strengthened by the fact that when asked concerning bilocation: 'When the phenomenon occurs, is it possible that the saints are not really aware of it'' Padre Pio replied: 'Oh yes they are. They may be uncertain where the body or the soul goes, but they are certainly aware of what is happening and where they are going.' Padre Pio would not have been able to speak with such assurance about bilocation had he not experienced it. Sometimes when Padre Pio was bilocated, people saw and heard him. At other times, he was merely bilocated by his voice. Venues to which Padre Pio was bilocated included places in Italy, Austria, Uruguay and Wisconsin. He admitted, when asked, that he was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on 25 January 1950 to assist at the death of a Capuchin's father. Padre Pio was bilocated to St Peter's Rome for the beatification of St Therese of Lisieux. When a prelate approached to speak to him, Padre Pio disappeared.

Prophecy

Padre Pio had the gift of prophecy. During the war, he assured the people of San Giovanni Rotondo that their town would not be bombed. It wasn't. Speaking to a man from Genoa, Padre Pio prophesied that Genoa would be bombed during the war, but that the man's house would be spared. The prophecy was fulfilled. In January 1936, three laymen were in Padre Pio's cell. Padre Pio knelt down and asked them to pray 'for a soul that is soon to appear before the tribunal of God.' They all knelt down and prayed. After they arose, Padre Pio asked: 'Do you know for whom you prayed'' They replied: 'No, except for your intention.' Padre Pio said: 'It was for the King of England.' True to his prophecy, the next day news was in the paper that the King of England had died.

Padre Pio's Mass

Padre Pio used to take from an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half to celebrate Mass He said the audible part of the Mass at an ordinary pace, but he made long pauses before the introit, before the priest's communion and at the remembrances of the living and the dead, during which he would mention the names of all those whom he had been asked to remember at Mass. Those present were so absorbed at his Mass that they did not experience any boredom. They would remain kneeling in their pews long after Padre Pio's Mass had ended. At certain times during the Mass, Padre Pio appeared racked with pain, while at other times he appeared in ecstacy.

It was only during his Mass that people had the opportunity to see the stigmata on Padre Pio's hands. In obedience to his superiors' instructions, apart from when celebrating Mass, Padre Pio always wore brown woollen mittens. When celebrating Mass, Padre Pio always wore an alb with long sleeves in order to conceal his stigmata as much as possible.

Golden Jubilee

Padre Pio celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his entrance into the Capuchin Order on 22 January 1953. Following the ceremonial of the Order, the friars assembled in the refectory and from there led Padre Pio in procession to the Church. On the way psalm one hundred and twenty-one was recited. Arriving at the altar the Provincial, Very Reverend Fr Antonio delivered a short address and then received Padre Pio's renewal of vows. This was followed by a solemn High Mass which Padre Pio celebrated. After the Mass, Padre Pio sat on a chair in front of the altar and received the homage of his brethren. They congratulated him, kissed his hand and received the kiss of peace from him. The crowd was too large for the church. The Father General attended. Besides many friars, Padre Pio's relatives and friends attended the dinner. There was a service of thanksgiving that afternoon. The famous tenor Beniamino Gigli, sang with two priests, a three voiced Litany of Our Lady. He also joined in the Benediction hymns.

Extracts from Padre Pio's Letters

Because Padre Pio's life was so routine one can hardly write it chronologically and it is difficult to convey his spirituality. However, these extracts from letters Padre Pio wrote being told not write letters give some valuable insights into his spirituality.


'The life of a Christian is nothing but a struggle against itself, and its beauty does not manifest except at the price of suffering.'
'Prayer is the best arms we have, it is the key which opens the heart for God'
'The cross will not crush you; if its weight makes you stumble, its power will also sustain
you'
'Charity is the queen of virtues. As the pearls are held together by the thread, thus the virtue of charity, and as the pearls fall when the thread breaks, thus the virtues are lost if charity diminishes'

Cures

Padre Pio worked a number of miracles during his lifetime. One of the most spectacular was the cure of a seven year old blind girl, Gemma di Giorgi, who was born without pupils in her eyes. She was taken to Padre Pio who gave her First Communion and blessed her. Immediately after receiving Padre Pio's blessing, Gemma cried out that she could see.

Although Padre Pio cured Gemma's blindness, when a blind man, known as Pietruccio, asked Padre Pio to cure his blindness, Padre Pio replied. 'Many people sin with their eyes and are lost'. Pietruccio then said, 'I only want my sight if it is good for my soul.'

There were many occasions when Padre Pio's prayers were answered in providential as distinct from miraculous ways. Operations in which success was very doubtful succeeded, thanks to his prayers and the surgeon's skill.

The Confessional

As already noted, the confessional was Padre Pio's favourite field of apostolic endeavour. He would spend from ten to twelve hours a day hearing confessions. Following the Italian custom, Padre Pio would hear the men in the sacristy without a confessional or screen, while he heard the woman in the confessional. Those wishing to go to confession to him had to register the previous day. They were given a number in order to avoid any scrambling for positions in the confessional queue. On occasions, Padre Pio showed something of his supernatural knowledge in the confessional. He was able to read hearts and knew when people were insincere and when they were holding sins back. Sometimes he would tell people how long it was since they had made their last good confession. Padre Pio would rebuke insincere people sternly, but when they returned with newly found sincerity, they would find Padre Pio truly paternal.

Building a Hospital

Padre Pio's charity made him particularly concerned for the sick. When he arrived at San Giovanni Rotondo, the nearest hospital was forty miles away at Foggia. Padre Pio saw the need for a hospital at San Giovanni Rotondo. It seemed an impossibility that he should build one. But Padre Pio knew that to God, nothing was impossible. He relied completely on divine providence. The years passed, and with World War II, and the resulting devastation of Italy, it seemed that Padre Pio's dream would never be realized. Many war casualties made their way to San Giovanni Rotondo. Seeing them made Padre Pio more determined that ever to build a hospital.

The first major step towards the erection of the hospital occurred on the evening of 9 January 1946, when three of Padre Pio's friends, Dr Carlo Kisnardy, Dr Guglielmo Sanguinetti and Dr Mario De Vico gathered in his cell. Padre Pio said: 'We must do something for the sick.' He then spoke of building a hospital. Turning to Dr Sanguinetti, Padre Pio said: 'You will come to live at San Giovanni Rotondo and will be of much help'. Dr Sanguinetti could not see his way clear to retire, but Padre Pio spoke of the lottery. True to Padre Pio's prediction, Dr Sanguinetti won a modest fortune, and this allowed him to retire and go to live at San Giovanni Rotondo.

On 5 October 1946, the project received its official status and legal constitution with its incorporation under the title 'Home for the Relief of Suffering.' The statutes declared that the principal object of the hospital was 'to receive any person who applies for assistance and charity in the name of Christ.' Although the funds available at the time were much less that the amount needed, the founders decided not to ask anything of anyone, but to seek only God's help. The necessary funds were eventually subscribed. Barbara Ward obtained two hundred and fifty million lire from the United States Relief and Re-habilitation Administration for the project. A committee for the building's practical purposes was formed and the work was started. Padre Pio envisaged that the hospital would provide treatment for all, irrespective of their ability to pay.

Because the hospital was built seven hundred and thirty metres above sea level, it was decided to make such things as lime and concrete slabs on the spot, instead of having to transport them up the mountain. Workshops were erected for that purpose. The hospital was built originally to accommodate three hundred patients, but was later extended to accommodate eight hundred.

The hospital was officially opened on 5 May 1956. Padre Pio offered Mass on an altar set up on top of the stairs, just outside the main entrance. Among fifteen thousand people attending were Cardinal Lercaro of Bologna, many bishops, priests and religious, as well as government officials from the province of Foggia.

At the opening Padre Pio spoke briefly saying: 'I thank the benefactors of the whole world who have contributed to the construction of the House for the Relief of Suffering ' May it become a center of the Franciscan spirit of action, a place of prayer and science, where the human race finds itself in Christ Crucified as a single flock under one Shepherd . . . May God bless those who have worked for this House and those who will work for it. May he recompense them a thousand times in this life and with eternal joy beyond. May our blessed Lady of all Graces and our seraphic Father, St Francis intercede for us that these wishes may be accomplished.'

The papal blessing was given. The mayor of San Giovanni Rotondo thanked Padre Pio as the moving spirit of the hospital. Padre Pio cut the traditional ribbon, and together with Cardinal Lercaro, entered the building and blessed the various departments.

Sense of Humour

Padre Pio was a great sense of humour. His conversations were full of fun. When his friends spoke of him, they could not help smiling, remembering how much they made them laugh. Padre Pio's quips are impossible to translate since they were expressed in the local vernacular and were often a play on words.

Death and Funeral

Padre Pio died on 23 September 1968. At the moment of his death, the stigmata disappeared from his body. Padre Pio was buried on 26 September 1968. More than a hundred thousand people attended his funeral. They were mostly Italians, but many from other countries attended. The funeral procession was made up of representatives of the other orders and the secular clergy. Slowly the funeral cortege wended its way down the hill from the church to the town of San Giovanni Rotondo. The open casket with Padre Pio's body was resting in the open hearse in full view of everyone. The Minister General of the Capuchins, Fr Clementine of Vlissingen, presided. There was no hysteria. Only a few cries or outbursts from some women of San Giovanni Rotondo, who had known and loved Padre Pio for so many years, broke the silence of the procession. The procession took more than three hours to wend its way through the streets of San Giovanni Rotondo. Many a rosary and Litany of Our Lady were recited before the procession returned to the outdoor piazza for the outdoor funeral Mass. The Father General of the Capuchins and twenty-six other friars concelebrated the Mass. A magnificent eulogy was preached.







PADRE PIO'S MESSAGE

Padre Pio's cause for Canonization was introduced in January 1973 and is now well advanced. He was declared Venerable in December 1977, and was beatified in May 1999. Now, there are many holy people whose Cause will never be introduced. However, in the designs of Providence, those whose Causes are introduced, have a special message for their age.

Devotion to the Mass

In considering Padre Pio's life, one must remember the Mass was the most important event of his day. This is what we expect from any good priest, but many Catholics today do not value the Mass. Some catechists, despite the statement of Pope Paul VI, have denied that the Sunday Mass obligation is still binding, while some priests are so absorbed with activities that they claim do not have time to celebrate Sunday Mass. Padre Pio's devotion to the Mass is a much needed lesson today.

The Confessional

Padre Pio's life shows the importance of the apostolate of the confessional. Pope Paul VI chided priests who tried to avoid spending long hours in the confessional. Once Padre Pio was bilocated to St Peter's Rome in order that he might hear the confession of a woman who needed his guidance.

Marian Devotion


Padre Pio had a great devotion to Our Lady. He had a number of visions of Our Lady. On at least one occasion Mary appeared to him while he was celebrating Mass. Speaking of that vision, Padre Pio said:

'With what care she accompanied him to the altar this morning. It was as though she had nothing to think about other than me, filling my heart with saintly affections. I felt a mysterious fire from my heart which I could not understand. I felt the need to put ice on it to extinguish the fire which was consuming me! I would like to have a voice strong enough to invite the sinners of the world to love Our Lady.'

Padre Pio had a great devotion to the rosary and was often seen holding his beads. He was holding them when he died and his last words were 'Jesus, Mary.' He would advise those who sought his spiritual direction to recite the rosary daily. When towards the end of his life, Padre Pio was no longer able to officiate at rosary and Benediction, he would attend. Padre Pio spent all his free time reciting the rosary.

Besides his devotion to the rosary, Padre Pio realized the power of the Hail Mary. When a gentleman from Milan visited him, Padre Pio asked him why he had bothered making such a long trip, and assured him that saying a Hail Mary would have been more profitable to his soul than making the long trip. It is significant to remember that St Louis de Montfort claimed he could tell to what extent people were for God by their devotion to the Hail Mary and the rosary.

Padre Pio's Marian devotion was influenced by the Fatima apparitions. Knowing that Mary had requested the rosary at Fatima made him more zealous to promote it. The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima sought his help and prayers in its efforts to promote the Fatima message. Padre Pio prophesied that communism would be defeated when there were as many members of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima as there were communists.

In 1959, when Padre Pio's death seemed near, the Pilgrim Virgin statue of Our Lady of Fatima visited San Giovanni Rotondo. Seeing that his superiors did not forbid him doing so, Padre Pio insisted on leaving his bed in order to venerate the miraculous statue. He was cured of his illness. Padre Pio subsequently made a formal declaration of his instantaneous cure by Our Lady of Fatima, and in gratitude sent a crucifix to Fatima. A few months later, a Blue Army delegation presented him with a hand carved statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which he placed above the vesting table in the sacristy where he prepared for Mass. Later Padre Pio received another statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which was placed in the corridor near his cell.

As a true son of St Fancis and in the Franciscan tradition, Padre Pio was always conscious of Mary's great prerogative, the Immaculate Conception, and its importance. During the last years of his life, Padre Pio said only the Mass of the Immaculate Conception. Padre Pio did not hesitate to affirm Mary's universal mediation. 'All things revert to her, all graces pass through her hands.'

Devotion to the Passion

Given the current decline in devotion to the Passion and the fact that the Stations of the Cross are a somewhat neglected devotion today, it is salutary to consider Padre Pio's devotion to the Passion, especially his devotion to the Stations of the Cross. Given that the Way of the Cross is a traditional Franciscan devotion, it is not surprising that Padre Pio regularly made the Stations. However, it must be stressed what benefits he derived from making the Stations. Meditating on the different Stations led him to try to help people realize the enormity of sin, what Our Lord suffered for her sins and also led him to realize the redemptive value of suffering. When it was suggested that a new set of Stations of the Cross should be erected at the friary, because the one along the busy, noisy road was rather unsuitable, Padre Pio commented: 'Among the many beautiful things which we want to do, this is one of the most beautiful.'

The Angels

Padre Pio had a great devotion to the Angels and had a special devotion to his Guardian Angel. He was on intimate terms with St Michael and the Angels. Towards the end of his life, Padre Pio spoke with affection of his Guardian Angel as 'the companion of my infancy.' While he was still a boy, his Guardian Angel appeared to him in the semblance of another child. His Guardian Angel helped him in his noviciate year and during his studies in preparation for the priesthood. Padre Pio's Guardian Angel helped him to become holy and was near him in the assaults of the devil and often helped him. For example, with his Guardian Angel's help, Padre Pio was able to understand the contents of letters written in French and Greek, although he did not know either of these languages.

Both inside and outside the confessional, Padre Pio would encourage people to have devotion to the Angels. In farewelling pilgrims, Padre Pio would use such phrases as: 'May the Angels of God accompany you.' 'May the Angel of God be for you light, help, strength, comfort, and guidance.' To some of his penitents in great need, Padre Pio would tell them to send their Guardian Angels to him. He would encourage his penitents and pilgrims to visit the shrine of St Michael the Archangel on Mt Gargano before going home. During the fifth century, St Michael appeared in visible form in a cave in the mountainside on Mt Gargano and revealed to the local Bishop that the mountain was under his special protection for the honour of God and the Holy Angels.

Once a lawyer fell asleep while driving his car and the car traveled forty-three kilometers without mishap. The lawyer subsequently visited Padre Pio and asked him what he could attribute his good fortune. Padre Pio replied: 'You fell asleep and your Guardian Angel drove your car.'

Trust in Providence

Padre Pio had a great trust in Providence. His perseverance in the face of the difficulties surrounding the establishment of the hospital clearly shows this. The favours which Padre Pio received through prayer were the type only given those who pray with great confidence.

Obedience

Padre Pio's obedience is a lesson to all. Despite the difficult commands of his superiors, Padre Pio always obeyed wholeheartedly. When Pope Paul VI issued his encyclical Humanae Vitae, Padre Pio wrote to him, thanking him for his teaching and expressing acceptance of it.

May the lessons of the life of Blessed Francesco Forgione be widely heeded.


^{In accordance with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII and other pontifical legislation, the author declares that, for what is written in this article, he makes claim to authority other than that which is purely human and historical and that he in no way intends to anticipate any decision of the Holy See.}


Nihil Obstat: Peter J. Kenny
Diocesan Censor


Imprimatur: Peter J Connors, DCI
Vicar General, Melbourne



This was originally published as a pamphlet by the Australian Catholic Truth Society as Padre Pio ' His Message for Today and has been republished with permission by the


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