Padre Pio: Feast Day - September 23
Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant, St. Pio of Pietrelcina,
with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You marked his body with the five wounds
of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death
of Your Son.
Endowed with the gift of discernment, St. Pio labored endlessly in the
confessional for the salvation of souls.
With reverence and intense devotion in the celebration of Mass,
He invited countless men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ
in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina,
I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of
(here state your petition).
Glory be to the Father...(three times). Amen
The blood from the stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers, and the gift of bilocation was attributed to him. Padre Pio had the ability to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for confession which he heard for ten or twelve hours per day. Padre Pio used the confessional to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God; he would know just the right word of counsel or encouragement that was needed.
Even before his death, people spoke to Padre Pio about his possible canonization. He died on September 23, 1968 at age eighty-one. His funeral was attended by about 100,000 people.
St. Padre Pio, pray for us!