St. Padre Pio was an Italian Capuchin friar who had a remarkable devotion to the poor and hearing confessions, with many reports indicating he heard confessions for 10 hours per day and had the gift of reading souls. Following a vision that he received after celebrating a Mass, he had the stigmata (wounds of Christ) in his hands, feet, and side which remained with him the rest of his life. Despite these painful wounds, he lived a life full of joy and peace that touched those around him, as evidenced by his famous quote, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”

The relics of St. Padre Pio made stops on their tour at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church in Tarpon Springs on May 19 and at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tampa on May 21.

Relics are small pieces of the body of a canonized Saint or Blessed (called first-class relics) or objects that have come in direct contact with the body of a canonized Saint or Blessed. When one venerates, or honors, a relic, they ask that particular Saint or Blessed to intercede on their behalf. It is a special way to express gratitude for the Saint and seek their intercession.

This tour provided the opportunity to venerate five relics of St. Padre Pio: his glove, a blood-stained sock, a lock of hair, a blood-stained bandage, and scabs from his stigmata. St. Padre Pio also had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to recognize this, a relic of her veil was also present for veneration.

Coupled with a period of veneration, Masses were offered in honor of St. Padre Pio and a representative from the National Centre for Padre Pio provided a presentation on the life of St. Padre Pio and the mission of the organization.

For more information about St. Padre Pio and the National Centre for Padre Pio, click here.