SAINTS CORNER- Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry: The Story of Saint Padre Pio

Hi! It's Julia! Today, we're going to learn about a special saint known as Saint Padre Pio. He was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrilcina, Italy. Padre Pio's family had religion in the center of their lives.

Padre Pio's parents first heard their son's longing to become a priest in 1897. When he was 15, he became a Capuchin Friar. Padre Pio was called "Fra Pio" until he got ordained a priest, and then he was called "Padre Pio."

On September 7, 1910, a remarkable thing happened. Jesus and Mary appeared to him and gave him Jesus' wounds from the cross. This is called the stigmata. Padre Pio kept being ill after he received the stigmata.

On September 4, 1916, Padre Pio was told to go to the Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary in the Gargano Mountains. At the time, Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary was small and a mile from the town that they served. When Padre Pio got there, there were only seven friars. Soon, Padre Pio was at the head of a college.

In August 1917, he was ordered to the Italian Medical Corps for the first world war. During this time he was extremely unhappy. Soon, he was allowed to return to the Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary.

Later, the Pope asked for people to pray for the end of the first world war. Around August 5-7, Padre Pio saw Jesus in a vision and Jesus pierced his side. Padre Pio had the wound after the vision.

Padre Pio's health got very bad around the 1960s. He kept on saying Daily Mass and hearing lots of confessions every day. On September 23, Padre Pio passed away. Many people came to pay their respects to the holy man.

AWESOME FACTS!

• Padre Pio heard confessions for several hours every day. People talked about how Padre Pio could read their souls. He was able to know their sins they had before they confessed and he helped them confess when they forgot their sins. 
• Padre Pio gave his time to a hospital, the Home of Relief and Suffering. It was for the poor. 

St. Padre Pio, PRAY FOR US!!!!