Triple celebrations of St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

The year 2018 will go down in the annals of the International Franciscan Capuchin Order as a significant one.  This year the great Franciscan Capuchin Order celebrates three important events in the life of one of its favourite saints in modern times, St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (May 25, 1887 – September 23, 1968).  

This year marks the 100 years of his mysterious stigmata 1918-2018.  This year also marks 50 years of the death 1968 – 2018 of the mystic saint.  Added to this the  Franciscan Capuchin Province of St Anthony Goa celebrates 50 years of the foundation 1968-2018 of the Friary named after the saint, at Navelim, Goa.   It is indeed a rare coincidence where three important events merge together to form a spiritual confluence, a veritable sangam.  Truly, Melas are held at the sangam.  This miraculous coming together of three important events in the life of St Padre Pio calls for a joyful and resounding celebration from the part of the great Franciscan Capuchin family working in the Archdiocese  of Goa and Daman.  

The life of St Padre Pio is well-known to the people all over the world.  Padre Pio is indeed everybody’s saint.  His life continues to inspire millions across the globe.  It is a matter of great joy and delight to share the triple events that is, the Hundred Years of his Stigmata, fifty years of his death and the fifty years of the Franciscan Capuchin presence at   Navelim, Goa. While the inaugural function will be held on February 4, with a Solemn Eucharistic celebration, followed by a short programme, there will also be spiritual and cultural programmes to enhance the jubilee festivities during the following months.  The triple celebrations will conclude with the feast of St Padre Pio on September 23.

His Stigma

Indeed St Padre Pio was a friar, priest, and a mystic chosen by Christ to be stigmatized with His mysterious wounds.  He received the stigmata on 20th September in the year 1918 in a dramatic episode while he was hearing confessions in the church of Our Lady of graces at San Giovanni Rotondo in Foggia.  This phenomenon continued for fifty long years until the end of his life.  The stigmata have generated much interest and controversy.   Most famously he was the only priest ever to have received the stigmata or wounds of Christ.  Before him it was St Francis of Assisi (deacon) the founder of the great Franciscan Order on 17th September, 1224 at Mount Alverno, in Italy.  The blood flowing from the stigmata smelled of perfume or flowers.  His wounds have been examined by many people including physicians.  The observations were inexplicable and the wounds never became infected.  The wounds had unusually smooth edges with no abnormalities in the bone structure.  His bleeding hands and feet were meticulously covered.  It is observed that at the time of the Padre’s death the body appeared unwounded, with no sign of scarring.  The doctors observed that his body seemed drained of blood at the moment of his approaching death.  

His Death

As we celebrate fifty years 1968-2018 of the death of St Padre Pio we recall the agony and ecstasy of his sufferings in his life.  Indeed his life had been a prolonged way of the cross, a sorrowful life never free from pain. The saint speaking to his spiritual gurus revealed his deepest secrets concerning his living agony.  Transverberation or piercing of the heart indicating the union of love with God literally brought him to the gates of death in pain.  He felt even his bowels were not spared by the piercing fiery sword. The crown of thorns on his head and the scourging were experienced by him on and off.  One may even conclude that the man of God lived death in his person while being alive.  

His physical death came at a time when all his blood stream was drained off from his mortal body. On 23rd September the valiant soldier of Christ and the true son of the Poverello of Assisi winged his way to heaven to receive the crown of glory.  

Padre Pio Friary, Navelim

We place on record that this foundation was the first one in India to be named after the saint. Truly it had its humble beginnings.  The changing scenario of the Indian Franciscan Capuchin order required specific changes. Thus in the course of time this humble friary and Chapel had to be renovated to house students aspiring for priestly and religious life. Hence initial stage formation was held at Navelim for couple of years. Side by side it continued to be a centre for Herbal Medical Care.  

For several years this centre was run by well known late brother Peter Ratos, O F M Cap. At present St Padre Pio, friary in Navelim is a full time centre for the devotion of St Padre Pio  with a team of dedicated friars who conduct residential retreats, counselling, mission animation,  popular  preaching, and confessions. 

The jubilee is indeed a moment to sing the praises of the Lord and move onward  forward as the love of Christ urges us on  2Cor 5,14.