Asia's first shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Sri Lanka
 

by Commodore Shemal Fernando, RSP, USP, MSc

St. Padre Pio was born to Grazio Mario Forgione (1860 - 1946) and Maria Giuseppa de Nunzio Forgione (1859 - 1929) on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, a town in the Southern Italy was a much loved Priest and a much loved saint. He was popularly known as Padre Pio and was the only priest in the history of the Catholic Church to bear the stigmata ?

Physical wounds like those suffered by Jesus Christ. With resignation and serenity, he bore the painful wounds for a full 50 years.

Although he received more than his share of spiritual gifts, he never sought them, never felt worthy of them. He never put the gifts before the Giver. He always remained humble, constantly at the disposal of Almighty God.

He was truly a man of prayer and suffering. God endowed Padre Pio with many extraordinary spiritual gifts and charisms including the gift of healing, bi-location, prophecy, miracles, discernment of spirits, the ability to abstain beyond man's natural powers from both sleep and nourishment, the ability to read hearts, the gift of tongues, the gift of conversions, levitation, multiplication of food, the grace to see Jesus, Mary, and his Guardian Angel and the fragrance that emanated from his wounds frequently announced his invisible presence.

When a friend once questioned him about these charisms, Padre Pio said, "You know, they are a mystery to me, too." Padre Pio prayed almost continuously and his prayers were usually very simple. He loved the Rosary and recommended it to others.

To someone who asked him what legacy he wished to leave to his spiritual children, his brief reply was, "My child, the Rosary." He had a special mission to the souls in Purgatory and encouraged everyone to pray for them.

He used to say, "We must empty Purgatory with our prayers." Shortly after his ordination, he wrote to his Spiritual Director, Padre Benedetto Nardella, in which he asked permission to offer his life as a victim for sinners. He was often heard to say, "After my death, I will do more. My real mission will begin after my death."

In Sri Lanka, the first ever shrine in honour of the much loved St. Pio will be solemnly blessed and dedicated by His Grace the Archbishop of Colombo, the Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis at Athurugiriya on September 23 the Feast Day of the saint.

Perhaps, this may be the first shrine and reconciliation centre to be constructed in honour of St. Pio in whole Asia.

Like all divine works, the shrine at Athurugiriya began in a small way and progressed steadily in spite of tribulations. But, how did it all happen? The Archdiocese of Colombo launched a project to collect finances on a novel idea styled, ? Give us a million cents and be a partner in our project,? spearheaded by Rev. Fr. Bertram Dabrera in his capacity as the Project Director.

This was consequent to a request made to then Archbishop of Colombo, the Most Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando by an American Mr. Mario Bruski to erect a shrine in honour of the saint in Sri Lanka. Rev. Fr. Kingsley Jayamanne, the Vicar General got the consent of the parish community to build the shrine at Athurugiriya and the foundation stone was laid on September 23, 2004.

The herculean task of obtaining required approvals for erection of the shrine as well as finalizing architectural designs and implementation of the project was left in the safe hands of Rev. Fr. Bertram Dabrera, the renowned church builder.

It was Fr. Bertram Dabrera who built Our Lady Queen of Peace Church at Maligawatte. Rev. Fr. Kingsley Jayamanne was appointed the Director of Finance whilst Mr. Gamini Kannangara functioned as the Director Co-ordinating.

They were ably supported by the Building Committee. Let's hope that this magnificent shrine will be yet another rallying point of Catholics and a great National sanctuary in the years ahead.

Spiritual Inspiration

Padre Pio had five rules for spiritual growth - weekly confession, daily Communion, spiritual reading, meditation and examination of conscience. He compared weekly confession to dusting a room weekly, and recommended the performance of meditation and self-examination twice daily: once in the morning, as preparation to face the day, and once again in the evening, as retrospection.

His advice on the practical application of theology he often summed up in his now famous quote, Pray, Hope and Don't Worry. He directed Christians to recognise God in all things and to desire above all things to do the will of God.

Visible stigmata

On Friday September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was in profound peace and had a vision in which the Wounded Christ, appeared and Padre Pio had an experience of religious ecstasy.

When it ended, Padre Pio had received the Visible Stigmata - bodily marks, pain, and bleeding in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. The stigmata was permanent and would stay on him for the next 50 years of his earthly life.

The blood flowing from the stigmata is said to have smelled of perfume or flowers, a phenomenon mentioned in stories of the lives of several saints and known as the odour of sanctity. The observations reportedly were unexplainable and the wounds never infected.

It was reputed, however, that his condition caused him great embarrassment, and most photographs show him with black coverings on his hands and feet where the bleedings occurred.

In a letter dated October 22, 1918 to Padre Benedetto, his Superior and Spiritual Advisor, Padre Pio described his experience of receiving the Stigmata as follows: After I had celebrated Mass, I yielded to a drowsiness similar to a sweet sleep. I saw before me a mysterious person similar to the one I had seen on the evening of 5th August.

The only difference was that his hands and feet and side were dripping blood. This sight terrified me and what I felt at that moment is indescribable. I thought I should have died if the Lord had not intervened and strengthened my heart which was about to burst out of my chest.

The vision disappeared and I became aware that my hands, feet and side were dripping blood. And I continue to experience it almost every day. The heart wound bleeds continually, especially from Thursday evening until Saturday.

In 1940, Padre Pio began plans to open a hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, to be named the "Home to Relieve Suffering". The hospital opened in 1956, and is today considered one of the most efficient hospitals in Europe. In order that Padre Pio might directly supervise this project, Pope Pius XII, in 1957 granted him dispensation from his vow of poverty.

He saw the image of Christ in the poor, the suffering, and the sick and gave himself particularly to them. He once said, Bring God to all those who are sick. This will help them more than any other remedy.

The deterioration of Padre Pio's health started during the 1960s in spite of which he continued his spiritual works. On September 21, 1968 the day after the 50th anniversary of his receiving the Stigmata, he experienced great tiredness. On September 22, his voice was weak when he said Mass.

With the dawn of September 23, Padre Pio made his confession and renewed his Franciscan vows. As was customary, he had his Rosary in his hands, though he did not have the strength to say the Hail Marys.

Till the end, he repeated the words "Gesu, Maria" (Jesus, Mary). At 2.30 a.m. he said, "I see two mothers" (taken to mean his mother and Mary) and breathed his last with his last breath whispering, "Maria!"

Sainthood

Padre Pio was considered exceptionally holy even during his lifetime. In 1990 Padre Pio was declared a Servant of God - the first step in the progression to canonization. In 1997 Pope John Paul II declared him Venerable and in 1999 on the advice of the Congregation, John Paul II declared Padre Pio Blessed.

In one of the largest liturgies in the Vatican's history, Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio on June 16, 2002.

In his homily Pope John Paul II disclosed that as a student, he had the chance to meet him personally in 1958 in Rome and thanked God for allowing him to enter Padre Pio's name in the Book of the Blessed.

Earlier in 1947, John Paul II as a young Polish priest had visited Padre Pio for confession and it was during that meeting Padre Pio told him that he would one day ascend to "the highest post in the Church."