It's easy to make a mistake today of thinking that the miracle workers lived long, long ago. Because many of them did, and you don't hear about many people in 2021 performing miracles. But the saint that we celebrate today died as recently as 1968! And he performed many miracles (or rather, God performed many miracles through him.)!
First, let's talk about the fact that he came from a poor family and they couldn't afford his education. So his father left Italy and went to work in America to raise money to send Padre Pio to school. A father's love produced the saint we see above.
And then Padre Pio did many miraculous things in his life. He received the stigmata. He could read people's minds, especially in confession. He could bilocate. His body (especially after his death) carried the odor of sanctity, which was described as either roses or tobacco (which makes me smile), depending on who was smelling it.
As often happens with saints, he faced opposition. Some people say his stigmata was faked. He was forbidden from saying mass or hearing confessions for years due to these accusations. He was eventually cleared of these charges and was allowed to say mass and hear confessions again. He died while praying the rosary, which was one of his favorite prayers.
So much to think about with St Pio. I'll let you decide what to focus on today.
God, thanks for all the amazing things YOU did in the life of this amazing priest. St Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us.
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