Padre Pio and his concern for the sick

IPOH (Herald Malaysia): The feastday of Padre Pio, the saint with the stigmata of Christ, was celebrated on Sept 21 at St Michael’s Church, with a novena and Mass.

It was a special day of prayer for the active and devotional members of the SMC Padre Pio (PPG) who asked for St Pio’s intercession for the healing of the sick and the suffering.

Fr Paul Kee CSsR in his homily said that Padre Pio, like Jesus Christ, helped and healed thousands of people.

His missionary style of not sparing himself from difficulties and sacrifice, to “help all, serve all, be compassionate and kind to all” was simple but effective.

“For nearly fifty years since his death, many have been going to San Giovanni Rotondo for healing,” Fr Kee said.

Besides hearing confessions and celebrating Mass, Padre Pio wanted to build a hospital for the suffering, called the House for the Relief of Suffering, on a mountain in San Giovanni Rotondo, which is remote and located close to the friary where Padre Pio lived.

He provided the first donation to build a place that would be open to every kind of illness and give assistance to all who came.

He told only his closest friends and people who would help him. There were many who opposed the building of such a hospital in such a remote place.

But approval was given, and as news of the proposed hospital spread, many came forward to donate and help.

Padre Pio’s dream became a reality nine years later and on May 5, 1956, when it was opened, Padre Pio offered Mass on the steps with 15,000 people present. Pope Pius XII blessed the building.

“Padre Pio was a man who practised charity, love and the compassion of God to benefit others. We can learn from him to become more like Jesus Christ who helped all, whether they were good or bad,” Fr Kee said.

After communion, there was a blessing, followed by anointing. Each person was also given a special prayer card and a bookmark with the image of Padre Pio.

Through the efforts of Fr Liew, who is PPG’s spiritual director, it also received a firstclass relic of St Pio at the end of Dec 2014.

The relic, from Rome, is a small piece of the blood-soaked mitten worn by the Capuchin Saint over the wounds of the stigmata on his hands.

It is now enshrined in a framed picture of St Pio at the side of the church altar.

The PPG holds its novena devotion to St Pio every Thursday, followed by Mass.

Those interested to join the PPG as volunteers or to register the sick, should contact the SMC parish office.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online