Relaxing Reiki

 St Padre Pio was born as Francis Forgione in the small Italian town of Pietrelcina on May 25th, 1887. 

After a pious childhood, tormented by visions both good and evil, he trained at Morcone to become a Capuchin Franciscan at the age of 14. 

The stigmata, for which he is famous, began in 1910 as red spots accompanied by severe pain in his hands, feet and side.  8 years later, the stigmata (bleeding) came to the world's notice on September 20th 1918.  He bore the stigmata for 50 years, right up til his death.

All his life, Padre Pio suffered many, many physical attacks by the devil, but also Our Lady came to him in visions and protected him always.

Padre Pio was blessed with many phenomena, including bilocation, seeing into hearts and aromas.

It was not uncommon - and proven - that he would sometimes be in a particular location in his physical body while he was also seen elsewhere.  This was particularly when he was healing someone in a location away from where he actually was!

When hearing confession, Padre Pio was well-known for already knowing - 'seeing into one's heart' - what was troubling a person. 

Also, it is known that when a person asks him for help, they often smell roses or cigar tobacco around them, although he never smoked.  His physicians verified also that the blood from his stigmata had a pleasant aroma of lilac and roses.

He also had the gift of prophesy, which he always used for the benefit of others.  Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio.

His entire life was spent praying, hearing confession, saying mass and generally helping others, and he died on September 23rd 1968.