Today, my brothers and sisters, we celebrate the beautiful memorial of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. Born in 1887 and baptized Francesco, he entered the Capuchin Franciscans at the young age of fifteen, taking the religious name Pio. He was ordained a priest in 1910 at the age of twenty-three, and in 1918, while praying before a crucifix, he received the stigmata—the visible wounds of Christ—making him the first priest in history to bear them so openly throughout most of his life. Padre Pio became known throughout the world for his extraordinary gifts: healing, bilocation, prophecy, reading souls in confession, and, above all, his profound love for the Mass and prayer.
Padre Pio’s spirituality was deeply rooted in the Eucharist. He once said it would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to live without the Holy Mass. For him, the Eucharist was the heart of everything. We too must learn to place the Eucharist at the centre of our lives: attending Mass faithfully, preparing well, and living out the graces we receive. Beneath the bread and wine, Christ himself comes to us—offered to the Father on the altar and then entering our very souls.
Alongside his love for the Eucharist, Padre Pio devoted himself tirelessly to the sacrament of confession. He often spent ten to twelve hours a day in the confessional, sometimes even more. Gifted with the ability to read souls, he could tell when people had forgotten or deliberately withheld sins, and for their own good, he would gently bring this to light. He often said: “Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips, but with your heart.” Sincerity was essential to him—whether in confession or in the whole of one’s relationship with Christ.
My brothers and sisters, too many people carry their sins for years without bringing them to confession, allowing them to weigh heavily on their souls. God forbid anyone should die with such burdens still upon them. This is why frequent confession is so important. The saints and mystics all recommend it, not only for our striving towards holiness but also for the healing, courage, and peace it brings.
Padre Pio also teaches us how to live suffering in union with Christ. He endured the constant pain of the stigmata, deep spiritual trials, and even suspicion from the Church itself. At one point, he was ordered to stop celebrating Mass publicly and to refrain from hearing confessions. Yet he accepted these restrictions with obedience and humility, always submitting himself to the authority of the Church. He once wrote: “In all the events of life you must recognize the will of God. Adore and bless it, especially in the things which are hardest for you.” Padre Pio truly understood suffering, but he united it all with Christ out of authentic love.
His charity extended far beyond prayer. He cared deeply for the sick and founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza—the “Home for the Relief of Suffering”—a hospital that joined the best of medical science with Christian compassion. True holiness, he showed us, is not only found in prayer but also in active love and service.
Perhaps his most famous counsel remains his simple words: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” This advice can serve as a guiding mantra for our lives: God hears our prayers, God loves us, and he is always with us. May Saint Padre Pio intercede for us as we continue our journey towards our heavenly homeland. Amen.
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