Theology

Padre Pio along with St. Vincent Ferrer, and Anthony of Padua were blessed with the gift of incorruptibility, the stigmata, bilocation, raising people from the dead, and speaking in tongues. Padre Pio was born in Pietrelcina on May 25, 1887. Growing up in a village well known for its religious dedication and great devotion to the Mary and the Saints, no doubt had a huge impact on Pio’s life. His faith continued to grow and in 1903, he entered the Capuchin Friars receiving the holy habit of St. Francis. On January 1907, Brother Pio professed the solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Pio was united in a unique and special way to the sufferings of Christ, on September 20th 1918 while kneeling in the chapel Padre Pio received the visible wounds of Jesus Christ. There have been about 60 accepted cases of stigmata in the Catholic Church’s history. Pio was the first and only ordainded Roman Catholic priest in the Church’s history who has received the visible signs of the stigmata. Pio had wounds on his hands and feet, also on the left side of the chest and on the right shoulder were Jesus carried the Cross. St. Padre Pio was only 31 one years old when he received the stigmata. While explaining his wounds Padre Pio told Bishop Rossi under oath: "On September 20, 1918 I saw the Lord. I heard this voice: 'I unite you with my Passion.' Once the vision disappeared, I came to, I returned to my senses, and I saw these signs here, which were dripping blood. I didn't have anything before." Padre Pio joined the Lord in Heaven on September 23, 1968. On March 2, 2008, 40 years after his death his body remains incorruptible. His remains were shown to the public in the Shrine of Holy Mary of Grace. The phenomenon of biloaction is one the of the most remarkable gifts attributed to Padre Pio. His appearances on various of the continents are attested by numerous eye witnesses, who either saw him or smelled the odors characteristically associated with his presence. The odor was