St. Pio of Pietrelcina

St. Pio was born May25, 1887,at Pietrelcina, Benevento, Italy,as Francesco Forgione.At age 15 he entered the novitiateof the Capuchinfriars in Morcone, and joined the order at age 19. He was ordainedat age 22 on August 10, 1910.

While praying before a cross, he received the stigmataon September 20, 1918, the first priestever to be so blessed. As word spread, especially after American soldiersbrought home stories of Padre Pio following World War II, the priesthimself became a point of pilgrimage for both the pious and the curious. He would hear confessionsby the hour, reportedly able to read the consciences of those who held back. In 1956 he founded the House for the Relief of Suffering, a hospital that serves 60,000 patients a year. In the 1920's he started a series of prayer groups that continue today with over 400,000 members worldwide.

His canonizationmiracleinvolved the cure of Matteo Pio Colella, age 7, the son of a doctor who worked in the House for Relief of Suffering. On the night ofJune 20, 2000, Matteo was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital with meningitis. By morning doctors had lost hope for him, as nine of the boy's internal organs had ceased to give signs of life. That night, during a prayer vigil attended by Matteo's mother and some Capuchinfriars of Padre Pio's monastery, the child's condition improved suddenly. When he awoke from the coma, Matteo said that he had seen an elderly man with a white beardand a long, brown habit, who said to him: "Don't worry, you will soon be cured." 

Pio died on September 23, 1968, of natural causes. He was canonized June 16, 2002, by Pope John Paul II. His Feast day is September 23.