Padre Pio was one of the first saints I was introduced to well before he was canonized.  My mother used to read to us  every night from a book about him. The things I heard about him fascinated me especially the fact that he bore the five wounds of Jesus in his body. Since then I’ve learned a lot more about him. I know that he has been interceding for me til this day.

Francesco Forgione was born on May 25, 1887 in a farming town called Pietrelcina in southern Italy. As a child he used to experience visions of Christ, Our Lady and his own guardian angel. These were so frequent that Francesco thought everyone had visions all the time!  When he was 15  he joined the Capuchin Franciscans and took the name Pio…

<to be continued>