St. Padre Pio
On the Grapevine 21
St. Padre Pio was born in Italy and joined the Capuchin Friars in 1903 at the age of 15. He was ordained a priest seven years later. Within a month of his ordination, he received the wounds of Christ Crucified from Jesus and Mary, which is called the stigmata. He didn't want the attention and asked Jesus to hide the wounds, which went away - for a while. He fell ill, then began receiving "edifying, theologically correct" ecstasies that "expressed a deep love for God."
Later, he offered himself to Christ as a victim for the end of World War I. Christ appeared and pierced his side, which is known as "transverberation": the piercing of the heart through the side which indicates a union of love with God. Later, the stigmata also reappeared, and this time it stayed. Other spiritual gifts Padre Pio received were bilocation, perfume, and prophecy. People began to learn of Padre Pio, and traveled in droves to meet with him. The conversation we used for our comic here took place between Padre Pio and a reporter who'd come to write about this new "celebrity." Padre Pio usually slept less than 2 hours a day and spent the rest of the day serving God and His people by hearing confessions, offering the mass, leading prayers, and answering correspondence asking for spiritual direction. He was temporarily ordered by the Holy See to stop all of these activities except private mass, because Pope Pius XI had been badly informed about Padre Pio - but the Pope later lifted the ban. Padre Pio, with others, began a hospital, the "Home to Relieve Suffering." He died on September 23rd, 1968 - 3 days after the 50th anniversary of his receiving the stigmata the second time. You can read a LOT more about him HERE.
-Meg
Later, he offered himself to Christ as a victim for the end of World War I. Christ appeared and pierced his side, which is known as "transverberation": the piercing of the heart through the side which indicates a union of love with God. Later, the stigmata also reappeared, and this time it stayed. Other spiritual gifts Padre Pio received were bilocation, perfume, and prophecy. People began to learn of Padre Pio, and traveled in droves to meet with him. The conversation we used for our comic here took place between Padre Pio and a reporter who'd come to write about this new "celebrity." Padre Pio usually slept less than 2 hours a day and spent the rest of the day serving God and His people by hearing confessions, offering the mass, leading prayers, and answering correspondence asking for spiritual direction. He was temporarily ordered by the Holy See to stop all of these activities except private mass, because Pope Pius XI had been badly informed about Padre Pio - but the Pope later lifted the ban. Padre Pio, with others, began a hospital, the "Home to Relieve Suffering." He died on September 23rd, 1968 - 3 days after the 50th anniversary of his receiving the stigmata the second time. You can read a LOT more about him HERE.
-Meg