Submit Your Intentions: Three Holy Masses, 9/21-9/23

Dear Friend, 

As we begin these three days of prayers invoking St. Padre Pio before the Twentieth Anniversary of the celebration of the September 23 Feast Day, 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 Sept. 21-23, 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/