Padre Pio

Manfredonia (1947/1968) (link)

Feast Day September 23

Patron of Civil Defense Volunteers, Stress Relief, Adolescents

Situations Illness, Spiritual Warfare, Stress

Professions Civil Defense Workers

Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was an Italian Capuchin friar who bore the stigmata for fifty years. Born Francesco Forgione in 1887, he experienced mystical phenomena including bilocation, healing, and the ability to read souls. His Masses drew enormous crowds and he spent hours each day hearing confessions. He founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital.