Michael J. Ruszala - Saint Padre Pio: In the Footsteps of Saint Francis

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Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

About the Author

Michael J. Ruszala holds an M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry and a B.A. in Philosophy and Theology summa cum laude from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Certified as a parish catechetical leader by the Diocese of Buffalo, he is Director of Lifelong Faith Formation at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Getzville, NY. Michael has served as an adjunct lecturer in religious studies at Niagara University in Lewiston, NY, and as a member of several catechetical committees for the Diocese of Buffalo. An active member of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists and author of several religious books, he has been published in religious journals including the Social Justice Review, the Catholic Social Science Review, and Lay Witness online edition. With interests in music, art, tennis, and kayaking, Michael also enjoys directing the childrens choir at his parish.

Jesus is with you even when you dont feel His presence. He is never so close to you as He is during your spiritual battles. He is always there, close to you, encouraging you to fight your battle courageously. He is there to ward off the enemys blows so that you may not be hurt.

St. Pio of Pietrelchina, August 15, 1914

Foreword

In an age that smirks at the mention of miracles, sin, angels, and demons, St. Pio of Pietrelchina has emerged as a figure of immense popularity, attracting fascination, veneration, and also emulation. Padre Pio, who once wrote in a letter, I am a mystery to myself, is certainly a mystery to all who know of him. To those who moved beyond mere credulity, he became an inspiration to embrace the fullness of faith. Perhaps that is why his shrine in outlying San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, is second only to the Vatican itself in annual number of pilgrims and why Italian Catholics now report to praying more for St. Pios intercession than for that of any other saint.

This book is a concise introduction to Padre Pios life, especially as compared to the example and journey of his spiritual father, St. Francis of Assisi. If St. Francis is said to be the most popular saint of all time, Franciscan Capuchin Padre Pio is perhaps the most popular saint of our times. It is no wonder: Padre Pio miraculously bore the wounds of Jesus in his living body, prophesied the future, read the secrets of hearts, and traveled across the world in a split second. He was also a man of holy boldness, unafraid to offend in charity for the sake of truth or to call out sin for what it was. And he was a favorite of Pope St. John Paul II, who canonized him in 2002.

Given that he passed only in 1968, it is remarkable to think that such a spiritual superhero could exist in our modern age. How could he even survive in it? In truth, he barely dideven in the Church. We can marvel at the depth of his involvement in the spiritual world and be reminded of it in the face of our culture of skepticism, but if we can find anything truly in common with this saint, perhaps it is the hardship and crushing misfortune that he faced in this world. He was a man of sorrows who knew how to accept Gods will prayerfully even when it hurt and who, despite everything, had the courage to uplift others cheerfully by saying, Pray, hope, and dont worry.

Through not spared from misfortune, he was spared those things that cloud us from perceiving the world in a truly spiritual way. Perhaps that is why Padre Pio offers us just the message we need to hear.

Introduction

St. Padre Pio was truly a man in the world but not of the world. It was as if St. Francis himself, called by some the most Christ-like man who ever lived, had re-emerged in our own times. Like St. Francis, the father of his order and patron saint, Padre Pio bore the stigmatathe miraculous imprint of the five wounds of Christin his body. Both were singularly driven by love of Christ and gave complete abandon to him. On that account, St. Francis and Padre Pio were each sharply countercultural in living a life of extreme austerity and piety. Both embraced redemptive suffering in the midst of devastating illnesses and spite from those around them. Both utterly shunned the world and its glory while being hailed as living saints by the masses during their own lifetimes. Both were surrounded by diverse, inexplicable and miraculous phenomena and had great efficacy in their prayers. Both waged dramatic battles with the spiritual forces of evil. Both had great zeal for the Eucharist and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. And both were canonized as saints by the Church in a remarkably short period of time after their deaths, becoming the subject of much devotion among the faithful.

Padre Pio was guided throughout his life by the spirituality and example of St. Francis. His parents, Grazio Mario Forgione and Maria Giuseppa di Nunzio, were faithful Catholic peasants and had particular devotion to the Saint of Assisi as protector of the poor. The future Padre Pio (or Father Pio), born as Francesco Forgione in 1887, followed his baptismal namesake from a young age, even dedicating himself to St. Francis at the tender age of five. Young Francesco Forgione, who experienced a number of visions of St. Francis throughout his life, was impressed by the admirable, cheerful demeanor of a Capuchin Franciscan by the name of Fra Camillo, who often visited Francescos hometown of Pietrelcina in southern Italy. Francesco later entered the novitiate in 1903 at Fra Camillos monastery at Morcone, about 10 miles away, and pursued Christian perfection under the Rule of St. Francis for the rest of his life.

Though not born a saint, Padre Pio was very much morally and spiritually awake from a young age. Ordained a priest in 1910, the Capuchin friar was known for being stern and forthright in shaking the self-complacent, but when the situation warranted, he could be gentle and even playful. He rarely left his monastery, and his care for souls was primarily spiritualinterceding for his spiritual children, hearing confessions, and providing guidance for long hours each day. While always living in the midst of strong Christian communities, he lived at a time when society in general was more skeptical and when the then-unified national government of Italy was hostile to the Catholic faith. Padre Pio lived until the age of 81, suffering together with the Savior, and was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002. Despite and, indeed, because of his prayer and solitude, he could not help but catch the modern world off guard by reports of his miraculous stigmata, his numerous healings, and his knowledge of events and secret thoughts that it was impossible for him to know humanly.