St. Pio of Pietrelcina
09/27/2026 | Saint Spotlight“Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally.”
Given. This is a word that sums up the heart of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. Totally given. Taking Jesus at His word—“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Jn. 13:34)—Padre Pio loved sinners with the love of Jesus’ own heart. United with Jesus, he labored untiringly for the salvation and sanctification of souls.
Padre Pio is quoted as saying: “You must understand that I do not have a free moment: A crowd of souls thirsting for Jesus fall upon me, so that I don’t know which way to turn. Before such an abundant harvest, on one hand I rejoice in the Lord, because I see the ranks of elect souls always increasing and Jesus loved more; and on the other hand I feel broken by such a weight” (from Patriciat Treece’s The Joyful Spirit of Padre Pio). It is said that the Padre heard confessions regularly between 15 and 19 hours a day. The demands of such heroic givenness are mind-boggling.
Additionally, for 50 years, Padre Pio bore the visible stigmata—the wounds of Jesus. He understood that Jesus was allowing him a share in His own suffering for the salvation of souls. He once told his spiritual director: “I love souls like I love God.” The truth of this statement is seen throughout his entire priestly life.
Within the limits of his earthly life, St. Pio poured himself out for the salvation of souls. How much more, now, from heaven is he interceding! Perhaps we could ask him to pray for us that we might share in his givenness and his zeal for souls.