I've turned to Padre Pio when I first read about him in Lucy's articles. I've always sought St. Pio's intercession personally since then and more so when recently my mother-in-law got sick and was scheduled to be operated. I prayed to Padre Pio for her immediate healing and that the operation wouldn't endanger her health and life. She's now discharged from the hospital and so far things are getting well.
The prayer I got hold of was the one in Greenbelt chapel. Before turning to his powerful intercession I tried to learn things about him to better understand the man whose "concrete synthesis of teaching is PRAYER and CHARITY".
"Padre Pio (Francesco Forgione) was born to Giuseppa and Grazio Forgione, in the small farming town of Pietrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887. Although the Forgiones were poor in material goods, they were certainly rich in their faith, life and in the love of God.
Padre Pio is understood above all else as a man of prayer. He prayed almost continuously. His prayers were usually very simple. He loved to pray the Rosary and recommended it to others. To someone who asked him what legacy he wished to leave to his spiritual children, his brief reply was, “My child, the Rosary.” He had a special mission to the souls in Purgatory and encouraged everyone to pray for them. He used to say, “We must empty Purgatory with our prayers.”
The marks of the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appeared on Padre Pio’s body, on Friday, September 20, 1918, while he was praying before a crucifix and making his thanksgiving after Mass. He was thirty-one years old and became the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. With resignation and serenity, he bore the painful wounds in his hands, feet, and side for fifty years.
Although he received more than his share of spiritual gifts, he never sought them, never felt worthy of them. He never put the gifts before the Giver. He always remained humble, constantly at the disposal of Almighty God.
Serene and well prepared, he surrendered to Sister Death on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. He died as he had lived, with his Rosary in his hands. His last words were Gesú, Maria – Jesus, Mary – which
he repeated over and over until he breathed his last. He had often declared, “After my death I will do more. My real mission will begin after my death.”"
The prayer I got hold of was the one in Greenbelt chapel. Before turning to his powerful intercession I tried to learn things about him to better understand the man whose "concrete synthesis of teaching is PRAYER and CHARITY".
"Padre Pio (Francesco Forgione) was born to Giuseppa and Grazio Forgione, in the small farming town of Pietrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887. Although the Forgiones were poor in material goods, they were certainly rich in their faith, life and in the love of God.
Padre Pio is understood above all else as a man of prayer. He prayed almost continuously. His prayers were usually very simple. He loved to pray the Rosary and recommended it to others. To someone who asked him what legacy he wished to leave to his spiritual children, his brief reply was, “My child, the Rosary.” He had a special mission to the souls in Purgatory and encouraged everyone to pray for them. He used to say, “We must empty Purgatory with our prayers.”
The marks of the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appeared on Padre Pio’s body, on Friday, September 20, 1918, while he was praying before a crucifix and making his thanksgiving after Mass. He was thirty-one years old and became the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. With resignation and serenity, he bore the painful wounds in his hands, feet, and side for fifty years.
Although he received more than his share of spiritual gifts, he never sought them, never felt worthy of them. He never put the gifts before the Giver. He always remained humble, constantly at the disposal of Almighty God.
Serene and well prepared, he surrendered to Sister Death on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. He died as he had lived, with his Rosary in his hands. His last words were Gesú, Maria – Jesus, Mary – which
he repeated over and over until he breathed his last. He had often declared, “After my death I will do more. My real mission will begin after my death.”"
(Source: www.padrepiodevotions.org)