Little-Known Facts about St. Padre Pio and You

Today, let me please share with you a little about Saint Padre Pio, the famous stigmatist, priest, healer, prophet, lover of God. In addition to the five ever-bleeding wounds of Christ Crucified (the stigmata) which Padre Pio bore in his hands, feet, and side for fifty long years, he also was given, by God, other spiritual gifts such as bilocation (the ability to be in more than one place at one time) and the gift of healing. Through the latter gift, Christ healed those who sought Padre Pio’s help, whether the healing was physical or, most importantly, spiritual. Today I’ll share with you some little-known facts about Padre Pio.
You may already know that Padre Pio was born in a little town in southern Italy called Pietrelcina, but did you know that the name was originally “Pretapucina,” which meant “stone hen”? The name came from the stone found in the foundation of the baronial chapel at Pietrelcina on which was chiseled a hen and her chicks.
Beginning at age five, Padre Pio began to have visions of the Mother of God, and you may already know that fact, but do you know that, at that young age, Padre Pio, little Francesco Forgione, as he was then known, also had visions of Jesus and the Devil? It seems, even at that tender age, God was drawing Francesco to Himself in many special ways.
Yes, Jesus, Our Lady, and even the Devil began to appear to St. Padre Pio at age five, and continued to appear to him throughout his eighty-some years, and perhaps you even knew all of that, but did you know that the Sacred Heart of Jesus appeared to Padre Pio when he was only five? Yes, in the church now called St. Anne in Pietrelcina, the Sacred Heart of Jesus appeared to Padre Pio at the main altar of the church and beckoned to him, begging him to come to the altar. There, Jesus put His Hand on little Francesco Forgione’s head, showing His approval of the fact that Francesco had recently consecrated himself to Jesus.
Now, do not fear, dear friend in Christ! If you consecrate yourself to Jesus, chances are slim-to-none that the Devil will appear to you. But Jesus Himself will “appear” to you in your heart. He will draw you close to His own Heart where you will find love, healing, and rest. Please go to Him now and abandon yourself totally in Him. He will never fail you. That is a promise. In fact, here are St. Padre Pio’s own words to you from his Letters, Volume Two, pages 69–70: “Oh! Trust in Him and do not be afraid, for you have no reason whatever to fear. Our most tender Savior has not forsaken you….”
And our most tender Savior will never forsake you!