23 September 2026
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
Gospel: Luke 9:1–6

Today is Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Pius. As the recently published Roman Missal recounts: Saint Pius (1887–1968), better known as Padre Pio, was born in Pietrelcina, Campania, Italy, and joined the Capuchin community at Marcone. Ordained to the priesthood in 1910, he moved six years later to San Giovanni Rotondo on the Gargano peninsula. Bearing the marks of Christ’s Passion on his body—known as the stigmata—he became renowned for his ministry in the confessional, spiritual direction, and the miracles wrought through him. In 1956, he founded the “Home to Relieve Suffering” adjacent to his friary. Despite his widespread devotion among the faithful, he faced considerable opposition, even from Church authorities. He was canonized in 2002.

Today, the passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke sets before us the Lord’s instruction to his first disciples. Let us reflect on this reading.

First, Luke tells us: Jesus summoned the Twelve Apostles and gave them authority and power over all demons, and to cure diseases. (cf. Luke 9:1)

We know that Israel was composed of twelve tribes. In the same way, Jesus called twelve disciples and sent them to the twelve tribes of Israel. He gave them authority to overcome all the forces of evil. What are these “demons”? They are the things that hinder us from knowing God and drawing near to him: money, wealth, fame, social status, every form of vanity, and all the ideologies that hold us captive.

Beyond this, Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (cf. Luke 9:2) Clearly, this is the mission every Christian is called to fulfil throughout our lives. We are called to imitate Saint Pius, who bore the five wounds of Christ, by embracing a life of evangelical poverty, and thus proclaim to the world the reign of God that Jesus preached. In this way, the souls of those who live under the power of evil will no longer be like lepers covered in the sores of sin but will be filled instead with every grace God bestows.

Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace,
gave the Priest Saint Pio a share in the Cross of your Son
and, by means of his ministry,
renewed the wonders of your mercy,
grant that through his intercession
we may be united constantly to the sufferings of Christ,
and so brought happily to the glory of the resurrection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica