Padre Pio

It’s time to reflect on another saint that is closely associated with the Eucharist. Today, we turn our attention to the beloved Padre Pio.

St. Pius of Pietrelcina, his formal name, was born Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887, to a poor family. He decided to dedicate his life to God at the age of only 5. He became a novitiate in the Capuchin Order of Friars Minor at age 15, taking the name "Pio,” in honor of Pope Pius I. He was ordained a priest at the age of 23.

Although he suffered from poor health for most of his life, he truly loved his vocation. He would typically spend 19 hours a day in prayer, saying Mass, and, most famously, hearing confessions. Padre Pio’s life most certainly centered around Jesus, and his unquenchable love for the Lord and his Real Presence in the Eucharist.

Padre Pio spent a great deal of time most days in Eucharistic Adoration. In fact, he was so happy during Adoration that he wrote: "When I am close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I feel as if my heart is bursting out of my chest." When he was first ordained, he would spend an extremely long amount of time during the Consecration portion of Mass, in ecstasy, which caused complaints by parishioners.

"A Mass said by Padre Pio is as effective as a missionary journey," said Pope Paul VI, because of Padre's great love for Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Padre Pio passed away on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. Pope St. John Paul II canonized him on June 16, 2002, and we celebrate his feast day on September 23.

Padre Pio, pray for us, that we might have that same desire to spend quality time with Jesus in Adoration as you did, and that our zeal for participating in Mass and receiving the Eucharist may never be dampened.

"A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent in sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament." - Padre Pio

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact me at eucharist@stmli.org.