VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — One of the most famous and astounding saints
of the twentieth century, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, was born Francesco Forgione
in 1887 to a destitute but pious couple in southern Italy. He was named in
honor of St. Francis of Assisi and even as a small boy wanted to become a
Franciscan friar. He was so sensitive that, in spite of his own playful and
humorous nature, he refused to play with other boys when they used foul
language.
Of the many books about Pio, I especially recommend two: Padre Pio: The
True Story, Bernard Ruffin’s matchless biography, and Padre Pio: Man of
Hope, Renzo Allegri’s shorter portrait. Even if the word “hagiography” tends
to scare you off, these books will draw you in and fill you with warmth,
reminding you that sanctity means love and joy as well as sacrifice. It may also
mean enduring horrible lies.
True Story, Bernard Ruffin’s matchless biography, and Padre Pio: Man of
Hope, Renzo Allegri’s shorter portrait. Even if the word “hagiography” tends
to scare you off, these books will draw you in and fill you with warmth,
reminding you that sanctity means love and joy as well as sacrifice. It may also
mean enduring horrible lies.
At the age of 16, Francesco entered a Franciscan (Capuchin, to be exact)
monastery as a novice, where he was given the name Pio. The monastery’s regimen
was, to put it mildly, severe: much prayer, difficult studies, physical
labor carried out in silence, skimpy meals, little recreation (half an hour
daily), strict rules, rough and ill-fitting clothing (a monk’s habit over a
coarse wool undershirt, with only sandals for the feet), no heating or air
conditioning.
monastery as a novice, where he was given the name Pio. The monastery’s regimen
was, to put it mildly, severe: much prayer, difficult studies, physical
labor carried out in silence, skimpy meals, little recreation (half an hour
daily), strict rules, rough and ill-fitting clothing (a monk’s habit over a
coarse wool undershirt, with only sandals for the feet), no heating or air
conditioning.
The novices sometimes had to eat their meals while kneeling, with frequent
fasts as well. They were made to sleep flat on their backs (on wooden beds
with “mattresses” filled with corn husks), their arms crossed over their chests.
They were required to sleep motionless, and at midnight were awakened for more
than an hour of religious exercises, after which it was often hard to get back
to sleep.
fasts as well. They were made to sleep flat on their backs (on wooden beds
with “mattresses” filled with corn husks), their arms crossed over their chests.
They were required to sleep motionless, and at midnight were awakened for more
than an hour of religious exercises, after which it was often hard to get back
to sleep.
This first-year regimen made basic training in the U.S. Marine Corps seem a
life of comparative ease and luxury. And this sketch omits some features of that
daunting regimen, which weeded out many young men whose commitment to the
religious life was less than total. But Pio, in his zeal, never
complained, and in fact often imposed further rigors on himself. He embraced
suffering. And he received it in abundance.
life of comparative ease and luxury. And this sketch omits some features of that
daunting regimen, which weeded out many young men whose commitment to the
religious life was less than total. But Pio, in his zeal, never
complained, and in fact often imposed further rigors on himself. He embraced
suffering. And he received it in abundance.
As a young priest, Pio was the recipient of a rare and miraculous, but
painful, gift: the stigmata, or the five wounds of Christ. He bore them
for the next 50 years, losing a cup of blood every day. They finally vanished,
leaving no scars, when his death was imminent in 1968. In the meantime, he
exercised many other spiritual gifts: prophecy, the odor of sanctity (a
fragrance of roses and violets), the power of bilocation (appearing in two or
even three places at once), the ability to read souls, and visions of Jesus and
Mary as he celebrated his morning Mass.
painful, gift: the stigmata, or the five wounds of Christ. He bore them
for the next 50 years, losing a cup of blood every day. They finally vanished,
leaving no scars, when his death was imminent in 1968. In the meantime, he
exercised many other spiritual gifts: prophecy, the odor of sanctity (a
fragrance of roses and violets), the power of bilocation (appearing in two or
even three places at once), the ability to read souls, and visions of Jesus and
Mary as he celebrated his morning Mass.
I once spoke to an old Italian woman in Rome who told me, in broken
English, that she and her sister had on one occasion gone to Pio for confession;
he was able to remind them of sins they had forgotten to mention! Many others
have recounted similar experiences of his supernatural gifts. Though such
miraculous acts seemed almost routine for him, his demeanor was unassuming, and
in most respects he impressed others as an ordinary humble friar with an impish
streak.
English, that she and her sister had on one occasion gone to Pio for confession;
he was able to remind them of sins they had forgotten to mention! Many others
have recounted similar experiences of his supernatural gifts. Though such
miraculous acts seemed almost routine for him, his demeanor was unassuming, and
in most respects he impressed others as an ordinary humble friar with an impish
streak.
Pio was also subject to “hyperthermia” — fevers reaching as high as 120
degrees, the highest in medical history. A temperature of 109 degrees usually
means certain death, but Pio seemed to suffer no ill effects and he recovered
quickly.
degrees, the highest in medical history. A temperature of 109 degrees usually
means certain death, but Pio seemed to suffer no ill effects and he recovered
quickly.
He performed countless acts of healing. One of the most remarkable was that
of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who was born blind, with no pupils in her
eyes. Pio cured her, giving her perfect vision for the remainder of her life.
Doctors were stupefied to find her eyesight flawless by every test — though she
still had no pupils.
of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who was born blind, with no pupils in her
eyes. Pio cured her, giving her perfect vision for the remainder of her life.
Doctors were stupefied to find her eyesight flawless by every test — though she
still had no pupils.
And yet Pio had bitter enemies inside the Church. He was foully slandered
and even officially condemned for most of his life. He bore it all patiently and
never complained or recriminated.
and even officially condemned for most of his life. He bore it all patiently and
never complained or recriminated.
Among Pio’s admirers was a young Polish priest, Karol Wotyla. Legend has it
that when they met in the 1960s, Pio recognized him as a future pope. Be that as
it may, John Paul II later had the joy of proclaiming Pio a canonized saint of
the Catholic Church. And when, a few years ago, Pio’s body was exhumed, it was
found to be miraculously preserved from corruption.
that when they met in the 1960s, Pio recognized him as a future pope. Be that as
it may, John Paul II later had the joy of proclaiming Pio a canonized saint of
the Catholic Church. And when, a few years ago, Pio’s body was exhumed, it was
found to be miraculously preserved from corruption.
###
The Reactionary Utopian by Joe Sobran is copyright (c) 2009 by the
Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation, http://www.fgfbooks.com.
Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation, http://www.fgfbooks.com.
Joe Sobran is an author and a syndicated columnist. See his latest writings
at http://www.fgfbooks.com/ and see
him on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJZ3FZ4iiw
.
at http://www.fgfbooks.com/ and see
him on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJZ3FZ4iiw
.
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