Here is a brief background on St. Padre Pio. The information below was taken from the following link: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=311
Feastday: September 23
1887 - 1968
Canonized By: Pope John Paul II
Francesco, named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, was born to Giuseppa and Grazio Forgione, peasant farmers, in the small Italian village of Pietrelcina on May 25, 1887. From his childhood, it was evident that he was a special child of God. Francesco was very devout even as a child, and at an early age felt drawn to the priesthood. He became a Capuchin novice at the age of sixteen and received the habit in 1902. Francesco was ordained to the priesthood in 1910 after seven years of study and became known as Padre Pio.
On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when he received the visible marks of the crucifixion, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of Church. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds. Upon his death in 1968, the wounds were no longer visible. In fact, there was no scaring and the skin was completely renewed. He had predicted 50 years prior that upon his death the wounds would heal. The wounds of the stigmata were not the only mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio.
The blood from the stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers, and the gift of bilocation was attributed to him. Padre Pio had the ability to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for confession which he heard for ten or twelve hours per day. Padre Pio used the confessional to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God; he would know just the right word of counsel or encouragement that was needed. Even before his death, people spoke to Padre Pio about his possible canonization. He died on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. His funeral was attended by about 100,000 people.
On June 16, 2002, over 500,000 Padre Pio devotees gathered in Rome to witness Pope John Paul II proclaim Padre Pio, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. The Padre Pio Foundation and many benefactors traveled to Rome, San Giovanni Rotondo, Pietrelcina, Piana Romana and many other holy places to celebrate Padre Pio's Canonization.On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when he received the visible marks of the crucifixion, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of Church. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds. Upon his death in 1968, the wounds were no longer visible. In fact, there was no scaring and the skin was completely renewed. He had predicted 50 years prior that upon his death the wounds would heal. The wounds of the stigmata were not the only mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio.
The blood from the stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers, and the gift of bilocation was attributed to him. Padre Pio had the ability to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for confession which he heard for ten or twelve hours per day. Padre Pio used the confessional to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God; he would know just the right word of counsel or encouragement that was needed. Even before his death, people spoke to Padre Pio about his possible canonization. He died on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. His funeral was attended by about 100,000 people.
On the day of the surgery, my husband and I arrived at the hospital around 5:30 in the morning. He went through all of the rituals of getting ready for the procedure. As he was wheeled away for the 'procedure,' I was told that if I left the area to go to the nurses station to get a beeper, just in case they needed to contact me in the event of an emergency. I decided to grab a bite to eat at the hospital cafeteria and then find the chapel and make a Visit. God had other plans. I actually got lost trying to find the cafeteria, and found myself outside the door of the chapel. I dropped to my knees, and asked Our Lord to please be with Tim during his procedure.
In order for me to find the cafeteria, I had to ask for directions. I grabbed a cup of coffee and some grits and sat down at a table to read the book I had brought with me. Suddenly, the beeper went off. I panicked! It had only been 30 minutes since Tim went into surgery, and was told that the procedure would take at least 2 hours. Oh dear God, please let Tim be all right. Every possible fear entered my mind and heart. I called my best friend, Kathy, told her what was going on and asked her to pray.
As I walked into the area, there was Tim....sitting up and smiling. I asked him what was going on, and he said that they found nothing when they went in to do the procedure. "Isn't that amazing?!!" he asked. I was not surprised. And immediately said, "Thanks be to God, and the powerful intercession of Padre Pio!"
During an ultrasound the technician became concerned. She was unwilling to share anything with me without a doctor present. When the doctor came in, he stated that there appears to be a hole in the baby's heart and that a pediatric heart specialist would need to perform another ultrasound in about a week.
My next appointment was scheduled, and when I went in the pediatric heart specialist confirmed what was in the past ultrasound. She stated that as my delivery date approached a decision would have to be made as to which hospital I would deliver my child. So, in two weeks I would have another ultrasound and at that time a decision would be made.
I made my appointment for the next ultrasound. The night before the ultrasound we were watching EWTN. One of their little clips before the next show had a picture of Padre Pio. That's when it hit me....Padre Pio....Tim...heart.....Padre Pio.....little boy due to be born in July.....heart. So, I quickly whispered, "Padre Pio, please help my unborn baby!"
On the day of my appointment, the technician was taking the ultrasound pictures and saying that the baby is measuring right where he should be, and then called in the pediatric heart specialist. She was surprised, to say the least, that the hole that was there 2 weeks before was completely gone. I was not, and whispered a thanks be to God and heartfelt thank you to Padre Pio's intercession!
Miracle #3 that I attribute to St. Padre Pio's intercession. On April 11 my husband, after six months of a nagging cough finally agreed to go to the doctor. His doctor prescribed two things to possibly help with allergies and a chest x-ray, just in case. On Tuesday of the following week, the doctor called to say that the 2 x-rays showed a shadow and wanted more taken. So that afternoon, Tim went back for 3 more x-rays of the upper part of his chest and throat. By the following Tuesday, we still hadn't heard anything so I urged Tim to call the doctor. Tim was hoping that, "no news was good news." Personally, I wanted to hear that straight from the doctor's mouth.
The doctor called Tim that afternoon, apologized for taking so long in getting the results to him, but that unfortunately the x-rays did show a shadow. The list of the "possiblities" of what that shadow could be were ran through. Ultimately, his doctor ordered a CT Scan. It would take about 1 1/2 hours for the lab to get the request and then Tim could call to schedule the CT scan. This was on Tuesday, and when Tim called the appointment was set for Thursday morning (of the same week) at 8:45 am.
I kicked into action by posting prayer requests to all of the groups that I belong to (homeschoolers, yahoo homeschooling groups, and ACTS). We sat down and told the children that evening and asked them for their prayers. The older children were concerned, but we tried to reassure them that this is all in God's hands. As the children played outside in the evening spring air, I was in the kitchen washing the supper dishes. As I stood there at the sink, with a soapy sponge in one hand and a large dirty cookie sheet in the other, I whispered to St. Padre Pio, "Padre Pio...I know I ask a lot from you, but you never fail with your powerful intecession. Tim is very worried about the CT Scan tomorrow. Please intercede for him, please....if it be God's Will."
On Thursday morning we arrived at the radiology area at 8:40 am. We sat and waited until 9:30 before Tim was called in. During our waiting time I tried to make small talk to keep his mind off of things. We found out that turkey hunting season ends on the last Saturday of the month. A few years back a good friend of ours, Curt, died from lung cancer. Tim said that he'd been thinking about him alot lately. I told him to ask Curt's intercession. Then I said, "How about St. Jude, St. Raphael," (St. Jude is who he took when he was baptized and St. Raphael when he was confirmed). I continued, "Don't forget St. Rita. She and St. Jude are both saints of impossible cases. And there's St. Anthony, the patron saint of miracles....St. Padre Pio. Your Dad. And don't forget baby Mary," (the little girl that I miscarried in 2007.) That brought a tear to his eye. I tried to reassure Tim that everything is in God's hands and it will all be fine.
When he was finally called in, the CT Scan took less time that our waiting for him to go in. He told me that the doctor will have the results of the CT Scan either that afternoon or the next day. Originally we were told that it would be 2 to 3 days before we found out anything.
Then the phone calls were made, emails and texts were sent. A true miracle!!
During this time with Tim's last incident, my daughter, Laura, and I started a novena to St. Padre Pio. There is a wonderful prayer, to the Sacred Heart, that we ended the novena with. Both of us were only on day 2 of the novena, yet continued it in thanksgiving for the answer to our prayers. Here is the prayer to the Sacred Heart:
O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
May God bless you and your abundantly!
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