In this episode of The Drew Mariani Show, Drew Mariani explores the remarkable life of St. Padre Pio, reflecting on his profound sufferings. He’s joined by Nick Gibboni from the National Center for Padre Pio to share incredible stories about this beloved saint, who bore the wounds of Christ for 50 years.

🔴 The Stigmata: The full wounds—on his hands, feet, and side—appeared in 1918. For half a century, he bled daily from these wounds, losing up to half a pint of blood a day! For half a century, he bled daily from these wounds, losing up to half a pint of blood a day! Yet, miraculously, he remained robust, hearing confessions for hours and even battling the devil. 😮 Can you even imagine experiencing this pain??

🔥 Otherworldly Phenomena: It doesn’t stop at the stigmata! St. Padre Pio experienced mind-blowing phenomena like bilocation, levitation, and even prophecy. And here’s a wild fact: he had hyperthermia, where his body temperature would soar to an unbelievable 118.4°F! Thermometers literally broke trying to measure it. How did he survive? Well, as Drew puts it, “If we accept the stigmata, why not this?”

Fun fact—this holy man had a simple diet, sometimes just a cup of hot chocolate or beer for dinner, and yet, he thrived with an exhausting schedule. St. Padre Pio was a powerhouse of faith, endurance, and grace.

The Hidden Sufferings: One of the most surprising details was Padre Pio’s shoulder wound—a suffering he carried in silence. When St. Pope John Paul II asked which wound hurt the most, Padre Pio revealed that this hidden wound, from carrying the cross like Christ, was his greatest agony. And it ties in with other mystics, like St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who also had visions of Jesus’ painful shoulder wound.

Drew and Nick also touch on the fascinating relationship between St. Pope John Paul II and Padre Pio. There’s a story that Padre Pio once prophesied that the future pope would ascend to the highest place in the Church—a prediction that was fulfilled when Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II. Amazing, right?

If you’re fascinated by St. Padre Pio’s life and spiritual gifts, check out the National Center for Padre Pio for even more incredible stories and insights into this saint’s extraordinary life.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us! 🙏

 

 

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