![]() ![]() He habitually practised mortification in order to gain the virtue of temperance, in keeping with the Franciscan style. In the face of unjust accusations and calumnies he remained silent, trusting always in the judgement of God, of his immediate superiors and of his own conscience. When he had to submit to investigations and restrictions in his priestly ministry, he accepted everything with profound humility and resignation. For years he endured the pains of his wounds with admirable serenity. For many years, he experienced spiritual sufferings. He understood very early in life that his would be the way of the Cross, and he accepted it at once with courage and out of love. He treated everyone with justice, frankness and great respect. His concern was the glory of God and the good of souls. He exercised to an exemplary degree the virtue of prudence, acting and counselling in the light of God. But especially in the poor, the suffering and the sick he saw the image of Christ, and he gave himself particularly to them. And he gave himself to everyone, rekindling faith, dispensing grace, bringing light. He was almost besieged: they sought him in church, in the sacristy, in the friary. He demonstrated to the full his love of neighbour by welcoming, for more than fifty years, countless people who had recourse to his ministry and his confessional, his counsel and his consolation. His special concern was to grow in charity and to lead others to do so. The love of God filled him, and satisfied his every desire charity was the chief inspiration of his day: to love God and to help others to love him. Not only was he himself a man of hope and total trust in God, but by word and example he communicated these virtues to all who approached him. He was always immersed in supernatural realities. Faith led him always to accept God's mysterious will. Prayer is the key which opens God's heart”. He would say: “In books we seek God, in prayer we find him. He passed the day and a large part of the night in conversation with God. ![]() įor Padre Pio, faith was life: he willed everything and did everything in the light of faith. On the level of social charity, he committed himself to relieving the pain and suffering of many families, chiefly through the foundation of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering), opened on. The faithful who took part witnessed the summit and fullness of his spirituality. The pinnacle of his apostolic activity was the celebration of Holy Mass. In September of that year he was sent to the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo and remained there until his death.įilled with love of God and love of neighbour, Padre Pio lived to the full his vocation to work for the redemption of man, in accordance with the special mission which marked his entire life and which he exercised through the spiritual direction of the faithful: the sacramental reconciliation of penitents and the celebration of the Eucharist. At the end of his novitiate year he took simple vows, and on 27 January 1907 made his solemn profession.Īfter he was ordained priest on 10 August 1910 at Benevento, he stayed at home with his family until 1916 for health reasons. On 6 January 1903, at the age of sixteen, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at Morcone, where on 22 January he took the Franciscan habit and the name Brother Pio. At the age of twelve he received the Sacrament of Confirmation and made his First Holy Communion. He was baptized the next day and given the name Francesco. This worthy follower of Saint Francis of Assisi was born on at Pietrelcina in the Archdiocese of Benevento, the son of Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppa De Nunzio. And the treasures of grace which God had granted him so lavishly and unceasingly he passed on through his ministry, serving the men and women who came to him in ever greater numbers, and bringing to birth an immense host of spiritual sons and daughters. In his following and imitation of the Crucified Christ he was so generous and perfect that he could have said: “I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” ( Gal 2:20). ![]() Inflamed by love of Jesus Christ, he became like him in the sacrifice of himself for the salvation of the world. Like the Apostle Paul, Padre Pio da Pietrelcina placed at the centre of his life and apostolic work the Cross of his Lord as his strength, his wisdom and his glory. “Far be it from me to glory except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” ( Gal 6:14). ![]()
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