Our Daily Bread: Padre Pio Pizza

So many people have a great devotion to Padre Pio, a recently canonized saint in 2002. I knew very little about him- other than the fact that he suffered the wounds of Christ in the stigmata.

I was surprised to find that his feast day is my son Simon's birthday, September 23rd- AND that Padre Pio's birthday is the same as my own, May 25th. Needless to say, I feel very confidant that he will be a particular intersessor and guide as I parent my sweet 4 year old!

Just a few quick things about his life
1. The pinnacle of his apostolic activity was the celebration of Holy Mass. The faithful who took part witnessed the summit and fullness of his spirituality. He said of the Eucharist: "Do not be afraid to come to the Lord's altar to be fed with flesh of the Immaculate Lamb, because no one will better reconcile your spirit than your king, nothing will warm it more than his sun, and nothing will soothe it better than his balm"

2. John Paull II spoke at his canonization about Padre Pio's "diligent dedication to the ministry of the confessional." He demonstrated to the full his love of neighbour by welcoming, for more than fifty years, countless people who had recourse to his ministry and his confessional, his counsel and his consolation. He was almost besieged: they sought him in church, in the sacristy, in the friary. And he gave himself to everyone, rekindling faith, dispensing grace, bringing light. But especially in the poor, the suffering and the sick he saw the image of Christ, and he gave himself particularly to them.

3. On the level of social charity, he committed himself to relieving the pain and suffering of many families, chiefly through the foundation of the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering), opened on 5 May 1956.

So how can we celebrate this beautiful saint? Why not follow his holy example. When was the last time we made a good confession? Can we make it to mass on his feast day? Can we make a cheritable donation for the poor/sick?

And as for the food for the feast...Padre Pio gives us a great oppertunity to go Italian! Originally from Benevento in Campania, Italy, where he was also ordained, it seems fitting to celebrate with pizza- as Campania boasts about it.

So whether you make it on your own, or order from your favorite spot- here's to Padre Pio!



Here is Simon (2 years ago!) helping us make pizza!