Friends, today we gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, affectionately known as Padre Pio. His existence was marked by a profound commitment to living out his vocation as a priest and a conduit of God’s grace. Through his life, we can reflect on the readings for this day, which remind us of the importance of kindness, humility, and the light we are called to share with the world.
In the reading from Proverbs, we are called to refuse no one the good that is in our power to do. Saint Pius exemplified this concept throughout his life. He not only served as a devoted priest, but he also received countless individuals who sought his counsel, healing, and prayer. Padre Pio had a genuine awareness of the needs of those around him and acted upon that awareness—he refused no one the good on which they had a claim. Whether it was listening to confessions for hours or providing spiritual guidance, he made himself available.
This call to act with generosity and urgency is challenging in today’s world, where distractions abound and busyness can often take precedence over compassion. When we hear the encouragement from Proverbs to offer our help immediately, we are invited to consider how we might respond to the needs of our neighbors, to be present to them, just as Padre Pio was. In a society that often encourages self-interest, he modeled selflessness.
In 1947, through the insistence and efforts and prayers of Padre Pio, he had a state of the art hospital built in the middle of San Giovanni Rotondo, the village in Italy where he was stationed for most of his religious life. The hospital was known as the "Hospital of the Home for the Relief of Suffering" (Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza). The hospital started being built in 1947 and inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The fact that it is called a “home” is a sign of the tenderness and compassion with which Padre Pio ministered the suffering and pain of the people who would receive care there. It is no wonder that many alleged apparitions of Padre Pio have reported him standing at hospital bedsides, present now from heaven with those who suffer.
In the gospel today, Jesus reminds us that we are like lamps meant to shine brightly for others to see. Saint Pius did not hide his faith or his gifts; the stigmata he bore, coupled with his deep prayer life and mystical experiences, were not meant for his glory but rather served to illuminate the path to Christ for others and to listen to his counsel as a truly pleasing priest in the eyes of God. He often encouraged those who came to him to deepen their relationship with God, inviting them not only to seek miracles but to become light bearers themselves. "Pray, hope, and don’t worry," he would tell them, emphasizing that while trials and darkness may be present, our light—our faith—must shine brightly to guide us and others even amid adversity.
As we contemplate our personal vocations, we must ask ourselves: How am I bringing light to those around me? In what ways can I embrace humility, generosity, and kindness? Saint Pius teaches us that our vocation, no matter how small or grand it may seem, is a call to reflect God’s love and grace by meeting our peers, family members and anyone else who is struggling, in their pain and suffering. Then we too, like Padre Pio will be Christ’s instruments of his healing in the world.
Our Lady, Mother of the Afflicted, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.
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