On 23 September, the Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, popularly known amongst the faithful as Padre Pio, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop Emeritus of Dublin, celebrated Mass for members of the Padre Pio Apostolate in Ireland, whose national director is Father Bryan Shortall OFMCap. The Mass took place in the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, Church Street in Dublin City which, since 1690, has served as the parish of the Capuchin Friars. Members of the Friar community observe the Gospel, live in obedience, without property and in chastity. The mission of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor is inspired by the examples and writings of Saint Francis of Assisi.
During his homily Archbishop Martin preached, “We gather on this Feast Day of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, to celebrate this extraordinary Saint. We give thanks to God for the many ways in which God showed the power of his mercy through the ministry of Padre Pio.
“We give thanks to God for the graces and favours that so many others and we ourselves have received through his intercession.
“We reflect and pray on how we are called to live humbly in our own lives the model of holiness that Padre Pio showed.
“The disciple of Jesus is called without compromise to follow Jesus on the way of his Cross. This was perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of Saint Pio. Pope John Paul expressed this beautifully in his homily for the Beatification of Padre Pio:
‘In his body, marked by the ‘stigmata’… Padre Pio shared in the Passion with a special intensity: the unique gifts which were given to him, and the interior and mystical sufferings that accompanied them, allowed him constantly to participate in the Lord’s agonies.’
“Padre Pio never put aside his calling to share in the suffering of Jesus Crucified. Pope Paul VI, some years earlier had described Padre Pio as ‘a man of prayer and suffering'”.
“Padre Pio’s caring was not simple do-goodism. His deepest concern always was that people might return to God and so might be able to experience his mercy and rediscover the beauty and joy of being Christians and of putting the Gospel into practice,” Archbishop Martin said.
For information on the Irish Centre for Padre Pio, and the National Shrine of Saint Pio, please email [email protected], call +353 1 873 0599 and see padrepio.ie.
The full text of Archbishop Martin’s homily is available here.
ENDS