Today we celebrate The Feast of Saint Padre Pio. He was born in 1887 in a small Italian village. As a priest, he spent 50 years in a monastery, where he was much sought after as a spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor.

Despite such notoriety, he would often say, “I only want to be a poor friar who prays.” His life was devoted to the Eucharist and to prayer. He died the 23rd of September 1968, at the age of 81. Pope John Paul II announced the inclusion of his memorial in the general Roman calendar in June of 2002.

He is considered the Patron Saint of Civil Defense Volunteers and Catholic Adolescents.