On December 18, 1997, the Servant of God, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was pronounced "Venerable" by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.VENERABlE PADRE PIO Padre Pio 1887-1968
"On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when
he received the visible marks of the crucifixion. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could
not find any natural cause for the wounds. These wounds, which neither healed nor
festered, were still bleeding at the time of his
death in 1968, fifty years later. The wounds of the stigmata were not the only
mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio. He had many more gifts. He died on September
23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. His funeral was attended by about 100,000 people. Padre
Pio was an exceptional man. He had a great love of Jesus. As a priest he heard confessions
for hours. People came from all over the world to attend his Masses. One person who went
to him for confession said Padre Pio told him every sin he committed and with whom. After
confessing his sins to Padre Pio, he was converted....and believed. This person said, 'I
know I'm thick, but not that thick.' Padre Pio was known to, by God's design, to be in two
places at one time. He was in the monastery and at the same time giving the last
sacraments to a wounded soldier on the battlefield.
Padre Pio touched the lives of thousands of people when he was alive....and thousands of people since he went to heaven. Many are praying for his canonization. Padre Pio, pray for us! "
From Padre Pio and Saint Joseph homepage
Continue
at part 3: about Saint Francis
