Francesco Forgone was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, a small town in Southern Italy, to the parents of Guiseppa and Grazio Forgone. He was given the name Francisco, in honour of St. Francis of Assisi. At an early age Francisco was very devoted to the Mass and felt drawn to the priesthood. At the age of fifteen he entered the Capuchin Friars. In 1902, he received his habit. Then, in 1910, Francisco was ordained to priesthood and would take the name Padre Pio.On September 20, 1918, whilst meditating on the sufferings of Jesus he received the visible wounds of Christ's crucifixion. Padre Pio was the first priest in the history of the Church to receive the stigmata. (St. Francis who also had the stigmata was a deacon, not a priest). Padre Pio bore the stigmata for fifty years until his death. The blood from his stigmata was calculated to be about a cup a day and gave off a scent of perfume. He also had the gift of bi-location (being in two places at the onetime) as well as the ability to read minds. Padre Pio's life was filled with ineffable sufferings, physical and spiritual. He was noted for his very deep union with God and his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and our Blessed Lady. He continually prayed the Rosary.Padre Pio had the ability to read hearts and many people flocked to him for confession. For most of his priesthood he heard confessions ten or twelve hours a day. Padre Pio used the confessional to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God. Many more people received his saintly and spiritual guidance through correspondence. Worn out by over a half century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, he was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968.The steps taken on the process of Padre Pio's canonization are as follows; March 20, 1983 the Diocesan Process was begun; January 21, 1990 the process was closed; Sunday May 2, 1999 Pope John Paul II declared Padre Pio Blessed; June 16,2002 Pope John Paul II declared Padre Pio a Saint
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The Secret Story of Padre Pio's Stigmata |
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Thursday, 02 October 2008 08:30 |
Volume Reveals Report of Vatican Investigator By Mirko TestaROME, SEPT. 22, 2008 (Zenit.org) 
A volume detailing the report of a Vatican investigator into Padre Pio gives new information on the wounds of the Passion that the friar suffered. Padre Pio da Pietrelcina received the stigmata from the crucified Christ, who in an apparition invited the Capuchin friar to unite himself to his passion so as to participate in the salvation of others, particularly consecrated persons: This is what we can know with certainty thanks to the recent opening -- at the request of Benedict XVI -- of the archives of the former Holy Office up to 1939, which contain information on revelations to Padre Pio that were not previously published. These revelations have been released in a book titled "Padre Pio Sotto Inchiesta: l''Autobiografia Segreta'" ("Padre Pio Under Investigation: The 'Secret Autobiography'"). |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 October 2008 08:48 )
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Saturday, 24 May 2008 10:57 |
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We are the first parish in Australia to take Padre Pio as our parish patron. We began as a Parochial district affiliated with St. Nicholas of Myra Parish at Penrith, NSW in 1994. The Glenmore Park Catholic community began the canonical process of becoming a separate parish financially and was deemed to be in a position to build a parish church, presbytery and offices in 2004. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 05 August 2008 22:07 )
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Sunday, 17 February 2008 13:03 |
Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
CAPUCHIN FRANCISCAN MYSTIC AND STIGMATIC
Feast: September 23
Feast Day: September 23
Born: May 25, 1887, Pietrelcina, Italy
Died: September 23, 1968, San Giovanni Rotondo
Canonized: June 16, 2002, Rome, Italy by Pope John Paul II Major
Shrine: San Giovanni Rotondo
Like the Apostle Paul, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina placed at the centre of his life and apostolic work the Cross of his Lord as his strength, his wisdom and his glory. Inflamed by love of Jesus Christ, he became like him in the sacrifice of himself for the salvation of the world. In his following and imitation of the crucified Christ he was so generous and perfect that he could have said: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal 2:20). And the treasures of grace which God had granted him so lavishly he unceasingly passed on through his ministry, serving the men and women who came to him in ever greater numbers, and bringing to birth an immense host of spiritual sons and daughters. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 November 2008 12:48 )
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Our Patron Saint - Padre Pio |
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Sunday, 17 February 2008 12:55 |
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Many people believe St. Pio was the greatest man of the 20th century. On September 23rd 1968, a few weeks before Richard Nixon would be elected president of the United States, while the world was listening to the latest Beatles album, a man died in a small town in eastern Italy. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 03 August 2008 16:35 )
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