Padre Pio

Memorial of Padre Pio
Today we celebrate the Memorial of a wonderful and mysterious saint, St Pio of Pietrelcina popularly known as Padre Pio. He is loved throughout the world for the great and numerous miracles he worked while on earth and he is working from Heaven.
He was born on 25th May 1887 in Pietralcina, Italy. He joined the Capuchin Friars Minor in 1907.
He received the gift of Stigmata on 20th September, 1918. He had the wounds in his palms, his feet and his side that corresponded to the wounds that Jesus Christ suffered during crucifixion.
He was graced with the "Ordor of Sanctity". He also had the gift of "Bilocation"; being in two places at the same time, like saying mass in one place and hearing confession in another place at the same time.
One of the great Miracles of Padre Pio was the protection and conversion of a soldier who was to be executed by firing squad. At the request of his wife for protection and conversion from Padre Pio, the mysterious Priest appeared at the scene of the execution and shielded her husband. Every effort to open fire on him failed until they freed him and pardoned him. He came home, converted to the Catholic Church.
On our Lady, St Pio said: "love the Madonna and pray her Rosary, for the Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today... All  graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother"
He died on September 23rd, 1968. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome on 2nd May, 1999. During his beatification, the Pope himself testified that Padre Pio had prophesied that he would become a Pope.
On June 16, 2002, Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio at St Peter's Square, Rome. The Pope laid emphasis on Padre Pio's witness to suffering. The Holy Father stressed that if accepted with love, such suffering can lead to a privileged path of sanctity. His Feast occurs on 23rd of September.