The 20th century was marked by wars, persecutions and a profound human and spiritual crisis. In the midst of this panorama, God wanted to give the Church an exceptional example of holiness: St. Pio of Pietrelcinabetter known as Padre Pio. This humble and humorous Capuchin friar became a focus of attraction for millions of faithful around the world who continue to be moved by his life today.
Its simple message -"Pray, wait and don't worry."- encloses a spirituality of absolute trust in the goodness and mercy of God. For seminarians and diocesan priests, and for everyone, his life was an example of love for God and the Church. His figure is a living model of what it means to be configured to Christ, the Good Shepherd, in favor of souls.
The future saint was born as Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina (Italy) in 1887, in the bosom of a humble and deeply believing peasant family. From childhood he stood out for his prayer life and spiritual sensitivity. His parents, Grazio and Maria GiuseppaThey transmitted to him a simple and solid faith, which became the basis of his whole life.
At the age of ten, Francesco clearly expressed his desire to consecrate himself to God. He entered the Capuchin order, where he took the name of Pío in honor of St. Pius V. His training was marked by austerity and discipline, but above all by an ardent love for Christ the Eucharist and a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
This detail is key to understanding his later ministry: the priesthood was not for him an office or a task, but a total and radical dedication to others for Jesus Christ.
In 1910, at the age of 23, he was awarded the priestly ordination. From the beginning of his ministry he stood out for his pastoral zeal and intense interior life.
During most of his priestly life he resided in San Giovanni RotondoThe small Capuchin convent was soon to become a center of worldwide pilgrimage. There, Padre Pio dedicated himself to two great missions: celebrate Holy Mass with extraordinary fervor y spending countless hours at the confessionalreconciling the faithful with God.
His life demonstrates that the mission of a priest does not depend on grand scenarios or complicated programs, but on living faithfully the mystery of Jesus Christ through the sacraments and, above all, in the Eucharist and in the forgiveness of sins. As St. Josemaría Escrivá reminds us in many of his texts, holiness is achieved in the ordinary, in fidelity to one's daily duties and in the love with which one serves God and others.
One of the most surprising phenomena of his life were the stigmasThe visible wounds of the Passion of Christ, which appeared on his body in 1918 while he was praying before a crucifix, remained with him for 50 years, until his death in 1968. These wounds on his hands, feet and side remained with him for 50 years, until his death in 1968. No saint has lived so long with the stigmata of the Passion. As an example, St. Francis of Assisi had them for the last two years of his life.
Padre Pio accepted this suffering as a participation in the Cross of Christ. He never boasted of these extraordinary gifts; on the contrary, he lived them with discretion and humility, enduring much misunderstanding and even investigations by ecclesiastical authorities.
The stigmata were a visible sign of what every priest is called to be: another Christ. The priestly ministry is not a career of prestige, but of a dedication that passes through the cross. For seminarians training to become priests, contemplating the life of Padre Pio is an invitation not to fear sacrifice, but to embrace it with love.
Among Padre Pio's most notable charisms are:
But, above all, Padre Pio was characterized by his deep devotion to the Eucharist, to the Virgin Mary and to the Passion of Christ. His life was marked by constant prayer, penance, obedience to the Church (even in times of persecution and false accusations; among other things he was forbidden to celebrate Mass in public from 1923 to 1933) and a tireless dedication to confession and spiritual direction.
These charisms impressed the crowds, but he always insisted on the essential: God's grace is poured out mainly through those who have the grace of the Holy Spirit. sacraments.
His life reminds us that the most important aspect of the priestly ministry is not extraordinary phenomena, but fidelity in daily life: celebrating Mass with devotion, confessing with patience, preaching with truth and pray with perseverance.
Padre Pio's love was not limited to the spiritual realm. In 1956 he inaugurated the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospitalan institution that to this day remains a medical reference in Italy.
This project was born out of his conviction that the sick should not only be treated with medical techniques, but also with compassion and spiritual care. The hospital was the fruit of her prayer, divine Providence and the collaboration of many benefactors.
In this way, Padre Pio showed that Christian charity does not remain in words, but is translated into concrete works that alleviate human suffering. A very current lesson for the Church: priests are called to be instruments of hope and mercy for those who suffer.
On September 23, 1968, Padre Pio gave up his soul to God after a life of heroic dedication. He was 81 years old. His last words were: "Jesus, Mary."
His funeral was attended by more than 100,000 people, a testimony to the immense affection and devotion he had aroused during his lifetime. In 1999 he was beatified by St. John Paul IIand in 2002, the Pope himself canonized himproposing him to the world as a model of holiness.
Today, millions of pilgrims flock to San Giovanni Rotondo to pray at his tomb, and his devotion has spread to every continent.
Beyond the extraordinary phenomena, what is most appealing about Padre Pio is the depth of his spiritual life. His message can be summed up in three words: prayer, suffering and trust.
These three attitudes are fundamental for any Christian, but especially for those preparing for the priesthood. The priest must be a man of prayer, who offers his life with Christ and trusts fully in the Providence of God the Father.
The CARF Foundation works so that thousands of seminarians and diocesan priests, especially from poor countries around the world, receive training at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and at the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra in Pamplona.
The seminarian or priest, and all the lay faithful, in looking at the life of Padre Pio, find a direct inspiration:
Future priests, sustained by the support of the Foundation's benefactorsmust follow this path of holiness. Padre Pio's testimony reminds us that the priest does not belong to himself, but is all of Christ and of the whole Church.
His example of life invites the faithful to rediscover the value of Confession, the Eucharist, prayer and trust in God the Father. For priests and seminarians, he should be a mirror in which to contemplate what it means to live configured to Christ to the ultimate consequences.
Today, his voice resonates as strongly as it did in life: "Pray, wait and don't worry. Anxiety is of no use. God is merciful and will hear your prayer." Mediaset Italia produced a major film production about his life lasting more than three hours. Here is the link to watch it
