SEPTEMBER 23 2026 FATHER JOHN BERTAO
Today we celebrate a wonderful priest, and man, and monk. Saint Pius of Pietrelcina. Better known as Padre Pio.
Last year I was able to fulfil the long, longtime dream to visit Assisi, and see the remains of Padre Pio. Now, if you have not been able to go yet, I hope that you have an opportunity to do so one day.
I remember that it was a long line-up in the place, in the church, to go to approach the body. And I could see the body at a distance. And finally my turn came to approach the glass-covered body. When I finally got there, go figure, I didn’t know what to say! I was just so happy, so overwhelmed. Other than kneeling there, and looking at the remains, all I could say was: “Thank you. “I’m glad I’m here. “Thank you.”
Now, the volunteers kept on moving the crowds along, to avoid of course the heat, the place was not air conditioned. So, they said to me, “Okay, Father,” and in Italian, “Go, go, go, go, go.” So I did. I made my way to the back of the church, to spend some time in quiet prayer. It was short, but it was good. The visit, the prayer, they were both very memorable.
Now, here’s a brief of what I’ve learned from various sources about Padre Pio, who made such a good impression on so many people, as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. And continues to have influence on so many people’s lives.
From my sources I learned that Francesco Forgione was born on May 25, 1887, near Naples, Italy. His parents were very poor and hardworking. From childhood, Francesco had the deep love for prayer, and a strong desire to be holy. When Francesco was 10 years old, a Capuchin friar came to Pietrelcina, and Francesco was so impressed by his simplicity and humility, that he decided that he would one day be a Capuchin priest himself.
To help make his son’s dream a reality, Francesco’s father travelled to the United States to find work and earn extra money needed to give Francesco a good religious education. On January the 6th, 1903, Francesco entered the Capuchin community in Morcone. He was given the name Brother Pio. He was ordained a priest in 1910. I know, a lot of dates, I’m sorry, but just to help you relate more or less on the journey of this wonderful man.
Because, you see, of the poor health that he was experiencing his superiors thought that it would be better for him to spend some time in his own home town. So, he was assigned to his own parish, as the assistant to the pastor who was there at that time. It was during this time that Padre Pio received the special grace.
So, in order to be more like the suffering of Jesus, he began to feel the pain of his marks and the nails, on his hands like Jesus suffered in his own crucifixion. Both in his hands, his feet, and the spear in his side. After a while they became permanent but invisible. On September 1918, the stigmata would become visible, and lasted for 50 years until his death.
After seven years in Pietrelcina, Padre Pio was sent to the Capuchin friary in Foggia. He was happy to be among his Franciscan brothers and sisters at long last. And his community was happy to have him with them too, because he was cheerful and witty. He began hearing confessions, and soon crowds of people were coming to him from all over the place. Especially not just for confession, but for advice as well.
In July of 1916, Padre Pio’s superiors sent him to San Giovanni Rotondo. It’s a remote village where they hoped that he would have some peace and quiet. Here his health improved, but he was also experiencing extraordinary gifts from God. He could read souls. He was even able to help people in confession, reminding them of details he could only have learned from God himself. He also had the gift of bilocation. That is, being able to be in more than one place at a time. Also, the stigmata gave off a fragrance of roses and violets.
Padre Pio’s superiors questioned whether or not these special gifts were real. In case that they were a hoax, Padre Pio was forbidden to celebrate Mass in public, and to hear confessions. This was a heavy cross for him, but he accepted it as another opportunity, to be like Jesus.
After a while, he was again permitted to minister the sacraments, and once again, large numbers of people crowded the church for his Mass, and lined up to go to confession to him. Often he heard over 100 confessions a day. That’s a lot of confessions. Padre Pio spent most of his priesthood hearing confessions, giving hope and encouragement to countless people from all around the world.
He did this right up to his death, on September 21, 1968. He was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II, in 2002.
In today’s Gospel, we might ask the question, why does Jesus tell the Apostles to travel light, with little or no provision? You see, poverty of spirit frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions, and gives us more room for God’s provisions. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him, and not on themselves. The Lord wants to work in and through each of us, for his own glory.
All of us are blessed with various gifts. Especially the ones that come from the Lord himself. The gifts of life, the gifts of being witty, the gifts of being kind to other people… The gift of listening to others when they need to somebody to comfort them. Like Padre Pio. You can’t maybe hear confessions, but we can hear, we can comfort others. Like Padre Pio did.
It was the endurance for many sufferings and gift of suffering. All that for the greater glory of God, that Padre Pio accepted and celebrated that. Padre Pio was a great example to all humanity, and is still, as I mentioned, remembered fondly this day.
Dear friends in Christ, the one gift that stands out for me was his hunger to bring people closer to God. Maybe that’s your gift as well. Have you thought of it? To try and bring other people closer to God.
All of us can bring someone closer to Jesus when we take the courage to proclaim to others, especially family members who have wandered away from the Church, how much God loves them very much, and wants the best for them. Even if they don’t believe or love God. God still loves them. Please remind them of that.
So, let me close with a little prayer, that maybe you can share it with others who you know, and who you might think needs to be closer to God.
I pray, Lord Jesus, make us channels of your grace and healing love, that other may find life and freedom in you, may all of us witness to others the joy of the Gospel, both in word and in deed. Saint Padre Pio pray for us. Amen.
