Canonized in 2002, Padre Pio has become a widely held example of living out the faith and caring for the poor. His feast day is celebrated on September 23.

During his priestly ministry, Padre Pio spent countless hours serving the Catholics in his area. He is said to have heard 10-12 hours of confessions daily with thousands making pilgrimages to wait for days and sleep in the streets just to get in line to have their confession heard by this beloved priest. He was also reported to have the gift of “reading souls” and often told penitents sins they forgot or that they were too ashamed to confess. His holiness was not just in miracles, but through the enduring availability and love for those he served.

In addition to his time spent providing the sacraments, he had a deep love for the poor which carries to today. Padre Pio spent years fundraising and planning to build a hospital. This hospital, titled Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, or Home for the Relief of Suffering, was established in an impoverished region of southern Italy that had little access to medical care. It opened in 1956 and continues to provide life-saving medical care today. His contributions to serving the sick show a profound practicality to his theology of “redemptive suffering” – the idea that suffering has meaning and purpose when united to Jesus on the cross.

In 1918, 50 years before he died from tuberculosis, he received the stigmata – the wounds of Christ – during a vision as he prayed following Mass. These wounds bled daily and when examined by medical professionals, they were found to have no medical explanation. Rather than view them as something glorious or to be shared with the world, Padre Pio found them embarrassing and tried to cover them with gloves and wrappings, humbly wanting the Lord to be the focus rather than himself. He continuously bled even through his attempts to cover them, becoming a witness to countless people around him.

Due to the crowds and the many claims about the stigmata as well as his other gifts, the Church was suspicious and doubtful, so much so that he was forbidden from celebrating Mass publicly, responding to letters, or performing his ministry for over two years before he was given permission once again. His deep faith endured despite these hardships and setbacks.

Devotion to Padre Pio continues today with many churches around the country forming groups focused on prayer and charitable works in the spirit of this beloved saint. In addition to his witness of love for the poor, his life is a great reminder to frequent the sacrament of reconciliation. As we celebrate his feast day, let us take the opportunity to examine our own lives and how we can live a life of prayer and love for the poor.

May Padre Pio inspire us to live deeper lives of faith. St. Padre Pio, pray for us!

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