St Pio

St. Padre Pio, the Spiritual Father of Fatima

                                                     by: Rev. Matthew R. Mauriello

The Centennial of the apparitions of Our Blessed Mother Mary at Fatima, Portugal will be joyfully commemorated from May 13 to October 13, 2017. It was in the year 1917 that the three visionaries, the young children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto were visited by Mary in the Cova da Iria and the Age of Fatima began. As we consider the promulgation of the message of Fatima these past hundred years, it is good to review the various aspects that have developed in the last century. Among the many blessings that came out of the apparitions is the beautiful connection to St. Pio of Pietrelcina. He became the Spiritual Father of the World Apostolate of Fatima at the request of Msgr. Harold V. Colgan (1894-1972) who was the founder of the Blue Army.

St. Pio was born as Francesco Forgione in the Provence of Benevento in southern Italy on May 25, 1887, the son of humble farmers, Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppina DiNunzio. He entered the Capuchin Order of the Franciscans in 1903 at the age of sixteen and professed solemn vows on January 27, 1907. In the tradition of “putting on the new man” (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10), his name was changed to Pius, or Pio in the Italian language. Upon the completion of his studies, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on August 10, 1910 and in September 1916 was assigned to the Capuchin Monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo.

St. Pio was uniquely conformed to Our Savior, Jesus Christ when he received on September 20, 1918, the visible stigmata, the painful marks in the same location that Christ received in the crucifixion. In the providential timing of the Lord, the timetable of St. Pio’s life and sufferings coincided with the events of the Fatima apparitions. From his childhood, he was devoted to Mary and had a tender love for her, calling her “my little Lady” or Madonnina in Italian. He prayed the Rosary many times daily and encouraged others to do the same. He said, “Is there a prayer more beautiful or more pleasing than the one she taught us herself? More beautiful than the Rosary? Always say the Rosary” In fact, some of the Capuchin brothers where he lived recount that St. Pio would tell them, “I need my weapon.” When they inquired what this weapon was, he responded, “Of course, my Rosary!”

The message of Our Lady at Fatima of prayer, penance and sacrifice made a great impact upon St. Pio early in his life. With his conformity to Christ through the stigmata, he was like St. Paul who had the Holy Cross as his wisdom, strength and “only boast and glory” (Galatians 6:14). Also like St. Paul, he could say, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:10).

He taught that sacrificial suffering gives glory to Almighty God and helps in the salvation of one’s neighbor. This corresponds with the Fatima message, since when the Guardian Angel of Portugal appeared to the three children in 1916, he asked that “prayers and sacrifices be offered to God.” On July 13, 1917, our Blessed Mother Mary asked the children to “Pray and make sacrifices for sinners. Many souls go to hell because they have no one to make sacrifices and to pray for them.” Shortly thereafter, the children found old rough ropes in the family barn and put them on as belts close to their skin as a way to sacrifice. The following month, Mary tenderly smiled at the children and told them that she was pleased with their sacrifices, but that they were not to wear the ropes at night.

St. Pio also received a miraculous healing through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima. In April 1959, he was seriously ill with pleurisy, bronchial pneumonia and as well had a cancerous tumor that required chemotherapy. He was bedridden for nine months and there were rumors that he was “deathly ill.” The Fatima Pilgrim Virgin statue arrived by helicopter at San Giovanni Rotondo, on August 5 and, although he was very weak and needed to be helped there and back, he had the opportunity to venerate the statue in the sacristy the next afternoon. When the helicopter departed, it circled the monastery three times and St. Pio cried out, “Madonnina, since you have come to Italy, I have been laid low with sickness! Now that you are leaving, are you going to leave me this way?” The helicopter headed back to the monastery and the pilot later recounted that he “felt compelled” to do so. St. Pio cried out to Mary for help and felt a mysterious force surge throughout his body and declared, “I am healed!” This cure was so real and complete that he resumed his full schedule of duties shortly thereafter. It is said that he spent sixteen hours in the confessional each day. There, he helped people to receive the Lord’s mercy and resolve to make permanent changes to their lives.

After his healing, St. Pio sent a message and crucifix to the then bishop of Fatima, Bishop John Venancio. The bishop, in return, had a statue of Our Lady of Fatima made and sent to him and it was kept in the sacristy over the vesting table. It was greeted by St. Pio prior to every Mass and it was there that he would devoutly offer his prayers in thanksgiving every day after offering Holy Mass. He remained serving at the Capuchin Monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo until his death on September 23, 1968. When he died the words, “Jesus” and “Mary” were on his lips and over 100,000 people attended his funeral. He was beatified by St. John Paul II on May 2, 1999 and the same pope canonized him on June 19, 2002. During the Regina Coeli message after the Beatification Mass, Pope St. John Paul II quoted him using these words, “Love Our Lady and help others to love her. Always recite the Rosary.” May St. Pio, the spiritual father of the World Apostolate of Fatima, intercede for the members who aspire to follow his example of prayer, penance and sacrifice, united to Jesus and Mary.