The place where Padre Pio prayed at the moment of the stigmatization and the image of Saint Michael
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| Saint Michael above the choir of the friars in the church of the Cappuccins in San Giovanni Rotondo (FG) Italy. Under the Archangel is the the crucufix seen in front of which Padre Pio was stigmatized the 20 th of September 1918. |
Padre Pio of Pietralcina ( 25th of May 1887 - 23rd of September 1968) | The crucifix in the choir. |
The Stigmatization
"What can I tell you in answer to your questions regarding my crucifixion? My God ! What embarrassment and humiliation I suffer by being obliged to explain what you have done to this wretched creature! On the morning of the 20th of last month , in the choir , after I had celebrated Mass I yielded to a drowsiness similar to a sweet sleep. All the internal and external senses and even the very faculties of my soul were immersed in indescribable stillness. Absolute silence surrounded and invaded me. I was suddenly filled with great peace and abandonment which effaced everything else and caused a lull in the turmoil. All this happened in a flash. While this was taking place I saw before me a Mysterious Person similar to the one I had seen on the evening of 5th August. The only difference was that his hands and feet and side were dripping blood. This sight terrified me and what I felt at that moment is indescribable. I thought I should die and really should have died if the lord had not intervened and strengthened my heart which was about to burst out of my chest. The vision disappeared and I became aware that my hands , feet and side were dripping blood. Imagine the agony I experienced and continue to experience almost every day. The heart wound bleeds continually , especially from Thursday evening until Saturday. Dear Father , I am dying of pain because of the wounds and the resulting embarrassment I feel deep in my soul. I am afraid I shall bleed to death if the lord does not hear my heartfelt supplication to relieve me of this condition." Padre Pio would always remember the two most important dates in his life: August 5 , 1918 , when he received the wound in his heart , which never closed , and September 20th of the same year , when he received the bleeding and visible wounds in his hands , feet and chest.
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| Padre Pio witht the stigmata. The photo was taken May 1919 on the desire of the superiors. |
As we read in the letters , these awoke frequent and ardent desires to become a "Second Crucifix" and as the Jesuit , Padre Mondrone , writes: the lord offered him a blank cheque
to sing , and his faithful servant signed.
And God wrote on it an incalculable amount to pay. Padre Pio was not frightened , he bore the stigmata for fifty years , and paid up to the last penny by a horribly crucified
life: crucified in the flesh , in the spirit , and in his priestly activities. When seen in this manner, Padre Pio appeared to souls as a coredemptor , the continuation of the
redemption of Christ."
From "Padre Pio of Pietralcina, Memories, Experiences, Testimonials"
by Padre Alberto D'Apolito
Edition Our lady of Grace Friary
71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
Continue at part 2
