Episode 639: St. Padre Pio

Padre Pio was born in the village of Pietrelcina, Italy, on May 25, 1887, and was named Francesco Forgione (was the son of a shepherd). Religion was the center of life for both Pietrelcina and the Forgione family. The family was described as “the God-is-everything-people" because they attended Daily Mass, prayed the Rosary nightly and fasted three days a week from meat in honor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Sacred Scripture was memorized and the children were told Bible stories. When Padre Pio was five years old, he consecrated himself to Jesus. Furthermore, he liked to sing hymns, play church and preferred to be by himself where he could read and pray. In 1902 (when he was 15 years old) he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars. On the day of his investiture, he took the name of Pio in honor of Saint Pius V, the patron saint of Pietrelcina, and was called Fra, for brother, until his priestly ordination. Even though he suffered from poor health, Pio completed the required studies and was ordained a Franciscan priest in August 1910.