St. Padre Pio - Research Paper Example

When Padre Pio reached the age of 15, he was admitted into the Capuchin Order and took the name of Pio, celebrating Saint Pius. While Pio was recognized to be a pious and highly spiritual being, he had frequent trouble continuing his studies because of his suffering health. Doctors were unable to properly diagnose the illness, yet Pio was often suffering from prolonged periods of ill health and a fear of a premature death. He was given the title of priest in the year 1910, but was made to stay at home to either improve upon his health or go to his deathbed.

He then returned to the friary to begin his charitable works and his spiritual mission (Ruffin, pg 16-19). On an occasion when Pio was lost in prayer in front of the crucifix, he was blessed with a vision. Pio claimed that an unknown person had appeared in front of his eyes and the person’s hands, feet, and the sides of his body were all pouring blood. As soon as the image vanished, Pio noticed that his own hands, feet, and the side of his body were pouring blood. This was known as Pio’s visible Stigmata, which was the cause for his initial popularity amongst the Christian community and the reason that people began to come to the Saint for cures to their problems and illnesses.

Pio bore the marks of the Stigmata for 50 years of his life. The Stigmata represents the wounds and bearings of Christ upon crucifixion and are a Holy mark and symbol of suffering, which was also borne by St. Francis before Pio. The blood pouring from the wounds was said to have an odor like perfume and flowers which is also known as the “odor of sanctity”. Pio’s wounds only closed a few hours before his death (Thomas, pg 43-45). During his life, Pio was said to have suffered from multiple illnesses and was constantly suffering from ill health.

Amongst some of the illnesses he suffered was typhoid fever, constant vomiting, loss of sleep, and migraine attacks.