On this feast of St. Padre Pio, the Church reminds us of one of the most beloved saints of modern times, a humble Capuchin friar marked by extraordinary gifts, suffering, and faith. Fr. Chris Alar reflects on today’s Gospel (Luke 8:19–21), where Jesus tells us that His true family are those who “hear the word of God and act on it.” Few lived this more radically than Padre Pio.

From his childhood in southern Italy, through years of sickness, demonic attacks, and the extraordinary gift of the stigmata, Padre Pio embraced suffering with deep trust in God. He became known for his spiritual gifts—reading souls, healing, bilocation—and most importantly for his ministry in the confessional, where countless souls found God’s mercy. Like St. Faustina, he was misunderstood and restricted at times, yet he endured with obedience, humility, and love.

His motto, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry,” remains timeless. Padre Pio shows us how to “offer it up,” turning even frustrations and small sufferings into powerful intercession for souls. This is the way of the Cross, and the way of Divine Mercy.

The Catechism teaches us that suffering united to Christ’s passion becomes redemptive (CCC 1521). Padre Pio lived this truth so fully that his very wounds reflected Christ’s. His body bore the stigmata, yet at his death the wounds vanished without scars, a mystery testifying to God’s work in him.

Today, let us entrust our anxieties and crosses to Christ through the intercession of St. Padre Pio. May we find in him a model of holiness and in his words a call to deeper trust: Pray, hope, and don’t worry.

For a deeper understanding of the sacraments that sustained Padre Pio, explore Understanding the Sacraments by Fr. Chris Alar, available at ShopMercy.org.