Submit Your Intentions: Three Holy Masses, May 23-25
Dear Friend,
As we begin these three days of
prayers invoking St. Padre Pio before the 135th
Anniversary of the birth on May 25, here are some facts about the
exemplary virtuous life he led, in spite of beatings by devils and
much suffering.
He was born Francesco Forgione on
May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy; his parents were peasant farmers.
Entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order at age 15 and was ordained a
priest in 1910. He received the stigmata – the five wounds of Christ
– a wound on his left side as well as bleeding wounds in his hands and
feet, on September 20, 1918, while praying in the Chapel in San
Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. Those wounds bled for fifty years. Besides
being a spiritual father to tens of thousands of people who journeyed
to meet him or send him a letter, he sat in the confessional 15-19
hours a day and heard about three million confessions during his
lifetime. One of his great works was building a hospital – the Home
for the Relief of Suffering, that was dedicated in 1956. He died on
September 23, 1968 and his incorruptible body is on display for
pilgrims to venerate in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
If you haven’t had a chance
to submit your intentions or would like to
update them, for the Three Holy Masses, from May 23-25,
please do so now.
Let us invoke St. Padre Pio, who imitated Jesus Christ throughout
his life.
Yours in the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Thomas McKenna
Founder and President
Catholic Action For Faith And Family http://www.catholicaction.org/
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