23/09/2026
23 September | Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Today is feast day of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. He was, and still is, one of the most famous priest known for bearing the stigmataโthe Holy Wounds of Christโfor 50 long years! He cleansed, healed, prophesied, and guided many believers to follow the will of God.
Here are some facts about him:
1. Eucharistic devotion
Any account of Padre Pioโs life must start with Jesus. His offering of the Mass often lasted hours, due to a few reasons. Padre Pio models for us in how we should approach Mass. The more we approach the altar of the Lord with awe and love, the more we will appreciate it. The more we appreciate it, the more the Eucharist will transform our lives.
2. Devotion to Our Lady
Padre Pio had a great love for Our Lady. He named the rosary โthe weapon for these times.โ The reason why the rosary is one of our greatest assets is that โit has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety... it is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb.โ The rosary is a beautiful prayer thatโs meant to unite us to our Heavenly Mother, who in turn brings us to Jesus.
3. Confession
Confessing to a priest who has the charism of reading souls might seem interesting, maybe attractiveโin reality, it was humbling for many. Padre Pio was not afraid to be gruff or confrontational to impenitent souls! He once called a man a pig and told him to get out of his confessional. He knew penitentsโ sins better than the penitents themselves, and called out anyone trying to hide something. If you havenโt been to confession in years, go. Ask Padre Pioโs intercession and run to Christ who can give healing and forgiveness!
4.Battles with the devil
The devil is very real, and desires the damnation of every human soul. He went after Padre Pio on every front he could. Sometimes he appeared as an ugly animal to frighten him; as a naked woman to tempt him to lust; as one of his superiors to trick him; or as a heavenly figure, like Jesus, Our Lady, or St. Francis. And, like St. John Vianney before him, the devil physically beat Padre Pio more than once.
The reality of spiritual warfare highlights the importance of all the virtues on this list that Padre Pio excelled in: humility, poverty, fasting, and obedience. We should cultivate these virtues so to have them at our side on the day of temptation. The prideful, opulent, selfish soul is easy prey for the devil. In addition, we need to avail ourselves of key intercessors, like Our Lady and our guardian angel. No matter our personal take on spiritual warfare, we should heed the word of one who knows: "The human soul is the battlefield between God and Satanโฆ do not let the infernal beast frighten you. God will fight it with you and for you."
5. Stigmata
This is a rare charism of only a handful of saints in the entire history of the Catholic Church. The stigmatist bears the wounds of Christ: nail marks in the hands and feet, and the wound in the side from the spear. Doctors tried to treat Padre Pioโs wounds, but neither the condition nor the pain ever improved. Besides the five wounds of Christ, Padre Pio experienced additional marks of the Passion: the crown of thorns, scourging, and a shoulder wound. Decades after his death, an encounter between Padre Pio and a young Fr. Karol Wojtyla was recounted. Padre Pio said the most painful wound was in his shoulder; that is, the primary shoulder that the cross rested on. As far as we know, the future pope was the only person Padre Pio told about this.
6. Relationship with his guardian angel
One of the things Padre Pio is known for is his relationship with his guardian angel. He sent his angel on errands! Or, the guardian angels of his spiritual children would serve as couriers of information to Padre Pio. God gave this special grace to Padre Pio, of working with his guardian angel in a special way.
7. Capuchin
At age 15 he joined the Capuchin order and took the name Pio in honour of St. Pius I.
8. Padre Pio had the gift of bilocation
Bilocation is the presence of a person in two different places at one time.
St. Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us!
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Sources:
1. Padre Pio โ Britannica
2. 12 Amazing Facts about the Life of the Beloved St. Padre Pio โ Core Evans
3. Five facts about St. Padre Pio โ Catholic Digest
