One of the most popular saints of this generation is a humble priest from Pietrelcina, Italy. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, or Padre Pio, as he is often referred to, is a model of holiness and wisdom. He didn’t choose to do particularly extraordinary things but through his holiness and the miracles that occurred because of it, his life was anything but ordinary.
What can we learn from this Capuchin friar who became known worldwide for his visible stigmata, physical attacks from the devil, bilocation, and other miraculous occurrences? Here are three lessons:
Don’t Delay Holiness
Born Francesco Forgione in 1887, Padre Pio didn’t accept the common attitude of having his whole life ahead of him to attain holiness. He was all in from a very young age, choosing to consecrate himself to Jesus at the age of 5! His family began to look into ways for him to fulfill his call to a priestly vocation at age 10, and he entered the Capuchin friars as a novice at age 15.
So often we think we have time. We think that we can put off the next step towards holiness, finally kick that sinful habit another day or pray more when we have more time. But Padre Pio knew that this life is short, and tomorrow is never guaranteed. Be a saint today.
Suffer Well
Like many of our great saints, Padre Pio was no stranger to suffering. He suffered from frail health at a very young age, and his poor health during his priestly studies resulted in him being sent home for a time. Then in 1918, after celebrating the Holy Mass, Padre Pio received the wounds of Christ’s Passion. The stigmata remained visibly present throughout his life, bleeding and causing him pain.
We often try to run from pain, hide from suffering. But Padre Pio saw his sufferings as a way to unite himself to Christ. He saw the redemptive qualities of suffering as a means to save souls and prepare his own soul for eternity.
Seek God’s Forgiveness
A saint isn’t in need of frequent Confession, right? Wrong! The saints knew the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and they remained close to Christ through the frequent forgiveness of their sins.
Padre Pio spent many hours a day hearing confessions, and as fame of his piety grew, people waited days or even weeks to have their confession heard by him. It is said that Padre Pio could even read the souls of penitents and remind them of sins they needed to confess. He once said, “Confession is the soul’s bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!”
This only scratches the surface of the depth of wisdom Padre Pio has to share. Invoke his intercession in your life as you strive towards heaven and a closer relationship with Christ.
TODAY ONLY, November 8, we are offering a very special Padre Pio gift for every dollar-a-day, $365 donation to our Relevant Radio Fall Pledge Drive. In addition to the book “Highlights of the Catholic Faith” by Rev. Peter Armenio, you will receive a blessed Padre Pio medal and a bottle of Holy Water from Our Lady of Grace church in Italy. These special gifts are limited in number and only available today, so don’t delay in making your $365 gift (just one dollar a day) to support the vital mission of Relevant Radio! If you have already given to our Fall Pledge Drive, we thank you for your generous support and prayers.
If you give to Relevant Radio at the $365 level TODAY ONLY, you will receive both this blessed St. Padre Pio Medal and this bottle of Holy Water from Our Lady of Grace! Don’t miss your chance to Join the Family!
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