MEMORIAL ST PIUS OF PIETRELCINA, WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
Gospel
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.
REFLECTION
Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.
St Padre Pio once wrote, "Hold resolutely to the comforting thought that God is with you all the time and will never abandon you to Satan's attacks."
Today we celebrate the Memorial of Padre Pio. Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione on May 26, 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy. He came from a devout Catholic family and at the age of 15, he entered the Capuchin Franciscans and was ordained a priest in 1910.
In 1918 he developed the stigmata, remaining visible for about 50 years.
He had the divine ability to read hearts, knew a penitent's sins before they were confessed, bilocated, performed miracles and countless healings. There were many physical cures attributed to his prayers and intercession. He still continues to work miracles.
Karol Wojtyła — the future Pope St. John Paul II — met Padre Pio in April 1948, when Wojtyła was a young Polish priest studying theology in Rome. He traveled to San Giovanni Rotondo, attended Padre Pio’s Mass, spoke with him personally, and went to confession to him. John Paul II later described this as his first and most important meeting with Padre Pio.
Wanda Półtawska, a Polish physician, mother of four, survivor of the Ravensbrück concentration camp, was a close friend and collaborator of Bishop Karol Wojtyła.
In November 1962, while Wojtyła was in Rome for the Second Vatican Council, he learned that Wanda was seriously ill with what doctors believed was cancer and was preparing for surgery. On November 17, 1962, he wrote a short letter in Latin to Padre Pio asking him to pray that God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, would show mercy to Wanda and her family.
The letter was personally brought to Padre Pio. After hearing it read, Padre Pio reportedly said words to the effect of, “We cannot say no to this.”
Then something remarkable happened. Before the planned operation, Wanda was examined again. She later recalled that the doctors told her that she was healthy enough to go home and that the suspected growth was no longer found as expected. At that time, she did not even know that Wojtyła had written to Padre Pio asking for his prayers.
On November 28, 1962, Wojtyła wrote Padre Pio again. He reported that the woman from Kraków had recovered before the operation and thanked God and Padre Pio on behalf of Wanda, her husband, and her family.
Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio on May 2, 1999. Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio—formally declaring him Saint Pio of Pietrelcina—on June 16, 2002, at St. Peter’s Square.
On PAPA pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo in 2024, we witnessed the volumes of letters written to Padre Pio.
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