Padre Pio (Saint Pio of Pietrelcina)

Padre Pio, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

http://www.padrepio.net

Vatican - Padre Pio

http://www.padrepio.com

http://www.scborromeo.org/saints/padrepio.htm

http://www.ewtn.com/padrepio/index.htm

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=311

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp27.htm

Padre Pio was born of simple, hard working farming people on May 25, 1887 in
Pietrelcina, southern Italy. He was tutored privately until entry to the novitiate of the
Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Of feeble health but strong will, with the help of
grace he completed the required studies and was ordained a priest in 1910.

On September 20, 1918 the five wounds of Our Lord's Passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. Countless numbers were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly counsel and spiritual guidance through correspondence.

His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the ineffable sufferings, physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life. They also reveal his very deep union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and Our Blessed Lady. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, he was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968. After a public funeral which attracted almost 100,000 mourners his body was entombed in the crypt of Our Lady of Grace Church. Increasing numbers flock to his tomb from all parts of the world and many testify to the spiritual and temporal graces received.

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