Saint Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione in Pietretina, Campania in 1887. He was raised by peasant parents and at the tender age of five he knew he wanted to live a life serving god.
Choose from a villa in Campania to visit where this famous monk was born and raised or a vacation rental in Apulia where his final resting place is in San Giovanni Rotondo.
He regularly attended mass, fasted and undertook harsh penances to prove his devotion and joined the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Capuchin aged 15. By this stage he reported experiencing vivid visions and conversations with Jesus, Mary and his guardian angel and found it strange that those around him couldn’t do the same.
During his seven year study at age 17, Padre Pio became very ill, suffering terrible migraines, insomnia and extreme nausea among other symptoms. Terrible screams and noises came from his room at night and eventually due to his deteriorating health, he was sent home in the hope of recovery.
Choose from a villa in Campania to visit where this famous monk was born and raised or a vacation rental in Apulia where his final resting place is in San Giovanni Rotondo.
He regularly attended mass, fasted and undertook harsh penances to prove his devotion and joined the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Capuchin aged 15. By this stage he reported experiencing vivid visions and conversations with Jesus, Mary and his guardian angel and found it strange that those around him couldn’t do the same.
During his seven year study at age 17, Padre Pio became very ill, suffering terrible migraines, insomnia and extreme nausea among other symptoms. Terrible screams and noises came from his room at night and eventually due to his deteriorating health, he was sent home in the hope of recovery.
He recovered somewhat until 1918 when he was hearing confessions. He began experiencing stabbing pains on his body and bleeding on his hands and feet, corresponding to the wounds of Jesus when he was nailed to the cross and crucified. Later he experienced a vision where he was stabbed in the side with a spear and soon that wound appeared on him, causing him excruciating pain.
The story of the monk with stigmata spread quickly and soon doctors and specialists from all over were brought in to make sense of the wounds that Padre Pio was to suffer for the next fifty years. But nothing could explain why they wouldn’t heal and why they never became infected!
Although for many years, Padre Pio’s stigmata was not recognised by the Vatican and even though he was not allowed to say public mass and hear confessions, hundreds of thousands of believers still flocked to see him. They hoped to witness the visions he encountered and watch his miraculous healing of the sick.
The story of the monk with stigmata spread quickly and soon doctors and specialists from all over were brought in to make sense of the wounds that Padre Pio was to suffer for the next fifty years. But nothing could explain why they wouldn’t heal and why they never became infected!
Although for many years, Padre Pio’s stigmata was not recognised by the Vatican and even though he was not allowed to say public mass and hear confessions, hundreds of thousands of believers still flocked to see him. They hoped to witness the visions he encountered and watch his miraculous healing of the sick.
A famous case of his miracles included a blind Sicilian girl whose vision was restored much to the disbelief of doctors. His name was blackened by many who believed him to be a fraud, guilty of self-mutilation with carbonic acid in order to trick the masses.
He died in 1968 at the age of 81 and mysteriously, around this time, his stigmata disappeared! No doubt he was one of the most famous saints in the Catholic Church and his story has enthralled millions. His story becomes ever more unusual when his body was exhumed forty years later in 2008 and was in almost perfect condition.
His relics are on display in the church of Saint Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo of which a viewing must be pre-booked due to an immense demand. Eventually Pope John Paul II made certain to clear the monk’s name and embrace him to the church. In 2001 he was canonised.
He died in 1968 at the age of 81 and mysteriously, around this time, his stigmata disappeared! No doubt he was one of the most famous saints in the Catholic Church and his story has enthralled millions. His story becomes ever more unusual when his body was exhumed forty years later in 2008 and was in almost perfect condition.
His relics are on display in the church of Saint Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo of which a viewing must be pre-booked due to an immense demand. Eventually Pope John Paul II made certain to clear the monk’s name and embrace him to the church. In 2001 he was canonised.
Photo credits
picture 1: Roberto Dughetti / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 1: Roberto Dughetti / CC BY-SA 3.0;