St Pio Prayer Group | St Helen's

Saint Pio was born of simple, hardworking farming people on the 25th May, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Southern Italy.  He was tutored privately until his entry into the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15.  Of feeble health but strong will, with the help of grace he completed the required studies and was ordained a Priest in 1910.

On the 20th September, 1918, the five wounds of Our Lord’s Passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized Priest in the history of the Church.  Countless numbers were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly and spiritual guidance through correspondence.  His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity.  His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the ineffable sufferings, physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life.  They also reveal his very deep union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and our Blessed Lady.  Worn out by over a half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, he was called to his heavenly reward on 23rd September, 1968.

The steps taken in the Process of Padre Pio’s Canonisation are the following: 20th March, 1983, the Diocesan Process was begun; 21st January 1990, the aforesaid Process was closed:  Sunday 2nd May 1999, John Paul II declared Padre Pio Blessed:  16th June 2002, the same Pope declared Padre Pio Saint.

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