"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry"

September 23rd Readings Reflection: Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Padre Pio, one of the most popular saints of modern times. Born in a small town in Italy, Padre Pio possessed an extraordinary love for God, Our Lady, and the saints from a very young age. He felt called to join the Capuchins at the age of ten, but his family could not afford the necessary education their son needed in order to join the friary. Padre Pio’s father moved to America, while his family remained in Italy, in order to earn money for his son’s education. At the age of fifteen, Padre Pio entered the Capuchin order, where he would remain until his death sixty-five years later.¹

Padre Pio’s great devotion increased in the friary, and he often levitated while praying and experienced spiritual ecstasies while offering Mass. For this reason, his Masses became famous for lasting a great length of time. When he was about thirty years old, Padre Pio received the stigmata, the wounds of Our Cruficified Lord in his hands, feet, side, and shoulder. It is largely thanks to Padre Pio that we now know about Our Lord’s painful shoulder wound, caused by the weight of the Cross as He carried it to Calvary. The stigmata was incredibly painful, and Padre Pio would lose up to a cup of blood each day through his wounds. He experienced the stigmata for fifty years; they disappeared the day before he died.²

Many miracles occurred in connection with Padre Pio even while he was still on earth. Many people were healed of physical and spiritual infirmities, and the humble friar possessed the gift of reading hearts in the confessional. He also bilocated and experienced numerous visions, especially from angels and the souls in Purgatory.

Padre Pio is famous for having said, “Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” As Jesus told us in today’s Gospel, the “anxieties and riches and pleasures of life” choked the seed in the thorns. St. Padre Pio’s life was one of extraordinary faith, humility, peace, and joy, despite the many sufferings he endured. May his example inspire us to always “pray, hope, and don’t worry,” trusting in God’s infinite love and mercy.

St. Padre Pio, ora pro nobis!

Photograph of Padre Pio blessing the congregation at Mass. The stigmata is visible on his hand. Photo credit: SSPX

1. “Saint Padre Pio,” at My Catholic Life, www.mycatholic.life.

2. Ibid.