Who does not know Padre Pio? His experience was so extraordinary that it aroused admiration and, at the same time, suspicion throughout his life. What is certain is that among admirers and detractors, no one who crossed paths with him could remain indifferent. And yet simple people never had any doubts about his holiness, so much so that popular devotion already venerated him as a saint from the time when he was still alive. Let us discover something more about this extraordinary Saint!
An extraordinary Saint in the ordinary
The secret of the holiness of the mystical Friar in love with God was his most complete ordinariness, which earned him mystical charisms – those truly were extraordinary – from the Lord.
Padre Pio heard Confessions, celebrated Mass, prayed… in other words, he did what any religious does… and yet the Lord chose to establish his dwelling in his “ordinary” life in a unique way.
The deep spirituality of Padre Pio, steeped in a humanity full of emotion – he was moved to tears by the slightest thing, being an extraordinarily sensitive soul – is woven from daily, ordinary actions, nourished by incessant prayer.
Great in humility
Padre Pio rejected the world’s acclaim, hiding himself in the virtue of humility. We can say, without fear of being contradicted, that Padre Pio’s greatness was like Mary’s: great in humility and service.
A man of sorrows – let us not forget that he bore the marks of the Passion in his flesh for 50 years – but also consumed by love for the Lord and for souls, Padre Pio, more than performing miracles in the Lord’s name, was the most beautiful miracle God could have worked in the 20th century.
“Lord, I desire nothing other than to lead everyone to you”
We could dwell on a thousand and more aspects of his character, his ministry, and his spirituality, but we wish to let ourselves be enlightened by his being an authentic spiritual master: his “school” was attended in the confessional. Indeed, he was animated by the highest possible regard for Confession and would say: “If confessors confessed as they should confess, the faithful would be as they should be.” He devoted an enormous amount of time to hearing Confessions: “I do not have a free minute – he wrote on June 3, 1919 – all my time is spent freeing my brothers from Satan’s snares.”
A father who read hearts
He had the charism of being able to read hearts and was moved by the love of a father who wants to lead his children to the fullness of life. John Paul II, who went to confession with the Capuchin, said: «During Confession, Padre Pio showed himself to be a confessor with simple and clear discernment who treated the penitent with great love».
In guiding souls, Padre Pio used a “method” of disarming simplicity: a profound psychological insight and an innate ability to identify with the other person, to put himself in their feelings and states of mind, enabled him to understand the inner condition of those who turned to him. He demanded sincerity, transparency, and docility; he often reminded souls and, perhaps, even himself, that he spoke «on behalf of Jesus». He did not force anyone and drove no one away, but from those who entrusted themselves to him, he tolerated no evasions or half measures.
Was Padre Pio strict?
It is necessary to interpret Padre Pio’s strictness correctly. According to several testimonies, it had the sole purpose of saving souls and bringing about a change of life; the saint wanted everyone to be able to give meaning to their existence. And the crowds sought him out; Paul VI commented on this rush of people toward him as follows: «Look at the fame he enjoyed, the worldwide following he gathered around himself! But why? Perhaps because he was a philosopher? Because he was a scholar? Because he had resources at his disposal? Because he said Mass humbly, heard confessions from morning to night, and was, difficult as it is to say, a living representation of the stigmata of Our Lord. He was a man of prayer and suffering». Padre Pio knew how to accompany people, sensing the dangers of spiritual life and the paths God followed in his work of salvation; from the moment of repentance and liberation from the evil one, he became a faithful companion on their journey. He wanted the whole world to walk with him toward the kingdom of God. Let us therefore continue to be enlightened by his spiritual wisdom and repeat together with him: «Let’s get to work and roll up our sleeves!».
