September 2009 edition (PDF 3.7MB) - The Church of St John The ...

They were giants in the land… Now
they shine like stars in heaven.
Saint of the Month, 22nd September:
ST. PIO OF PIETRALCINA (PADRE PIO)
Francesco was born on
May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina,
a farming town in
the Southern Italy. He
claimed that by the time
he was five years old he
had already taken the decision
to dedicate his entire
life to God. He
worked on the land up to
the age of 10, looking after
the small flock of
sheep the family owned.
On January 6, 1903, at the age of 15, he entered the novitiate of
the Capuchin Friars at Morcone, where on January 22 he took the Franciscan
habit and the name of Fra (Brother) Pio in honour of Pope Saint
Pius V, the patron saint of Pietrelcina.
In 1910, Brother Pio was ordained a priest and four days later, he
offered his first Mass at the parish church of Our Lady of the Angels.
On September 4, 1916, he was moved to Our Lady of Grace Capuchin
Friary in San Giovanni Rotondo. He stayed at San Giovanni Rotondo
until his death, except for his military service.
Padre Pio became a Spiritual Director for many; his advice was
"Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry”. He directed Christians to recognize God
in all things and to desire above all things to do the will of God. Padre
Pio believed that the love of God was inseparable from suffering and
that suffering all things for the sake of God was the way for the soul to
reach God. This suffering he carried publicly in his own body when he
was granted the marks of the passion (stigmata) but he suffered emo-
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