St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 First an apology for yesterday's, "50 Years After" slice of bread.  When one of the brothers told me that it was only September, not November, I laughed at my BIG mistake.  I was focusing on the 22nd and, in truth, was wondering why there were no headlines or stories to mark the anniversary.  Well, we got a head-start.  I hope this is not a sign of early-onset Alzheimer's! As one reader put it simply, "we all make mistakes"...and so we do; I beg your indulgence and forgiveness.

 Everyone knows of, or has at least heard or Padrio Pio, whose simple, almost cloistered life could not be hidden from the world.  He died in 1968, but even while he was alive, people regarded him as a saint.  He spent hours in the confessional like St. John Vianney (the Cure of Ars), and had that same gift of being able to read souls.  Nothing could be kept from him.  He had the gift of healing, and people clamored to see him and receive his blessing, as the crowds did with Jesus. He prayed for the world daily and urged everyone to do the same.  This website provides his favorite prayers and some composed by him: padrepiodevotions.org.   It is worth looking at, especially today. When his body was exhumed in 2008, it was found to be perfectly in-corrupt, and sign of God's favor, a  conformation for believers and a challenge to disbelievers.  His simple life of prayer and willingness to suffer with Jesus for others, via his obedience to his superiors who forbade him to say Mass publicly, and the painful stigmata, the bearing in his body of the wounds of Jesus, along with his other gifts had made him one of our most popular saints.  St. Pio, please remember us in your love and prayers, have mercy on us, and help us to find the mercy of God and show it to others. Amen.