Important Dates in the Life of Saint Padre Pio

January
6 [1903] At age 15, he entered the Capuchin Novitiate in Morcone, Italy.
21 [1990] The beatification process was completed.
22 [1903] Investiture into the Capuchin Order taking the Franciscan habit and the name Brother Pio.
27 [1907] Brother Pio took his final vows.

February
9 [1940] Work was started on Padre Pio's "Grand Earthly Undertaking", namely the building of his "House for the Relief of Suffering".
17 [1916] He was appointed to the monastery of Sant'Anna in Foggia.

March
16 [1918] Padre Pio returned to the monastery of SAN Giovanni Rotondo for good.
20 [1983] The official inquiry into Padre Pio's case was opened in San Giovanni Rotondo.

April
22 [1925] Resenting the restrictions placed on Padre Pio's confessional duties, the faithful throughout the country were again in a state of turmoil.

May
2 [1999] Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was officially beatified by John Paul II.
5 [1956] The House for the Relief of Suffering was officially opened.
15 [1919] His superiors call for the first medical examination of his stigmata by Dr. Romanelli. On July 26, 1919, he was examined by Dr. Bignami and on October 9, 1919 by Dr. Festa.
23 [1987] The Holy Father, John Paul II, made a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo and prayed at Padre Pio's tomb.
25 [1887] Padre Pio (Francesco Forgione) was born at 5:00 pm in Pietrelcina (Benevento) to Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppa (Peppa) Di Nunzio.
26 [1887] Little Francesco was baptised in the church of Sant'Anna.

June
16 [2002] Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was officially canonized by John Paul II.
17 [1923] Padre Pio was debarred from saying Mass in public or replying to any of the letters arriving at the monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo.
25 [1923] A popular revolt broke out on the afternoon of the day when Padre Pio first said Mass in a private chapel.
26 [1923] Padre Pio resumed saying Masses in the church.

July
1 [2004] The new Sanctuary of St Pio of Pietrelcina was consecrated in San Giovanni Rotondo.
16 [1933] Padre Pio resumed saying Masses in public following a two-year suspension.
26 [1919] Padre Pio was examined by Professor Amico Bignami, head of the medical pathology department of the University of Rome.
28 [1916] During a period of suffocating heat, he was taken to the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo and stayed there one week.
31 [1968] His Prayer Groups are given official recognition by the Vatican.

August
5 [1918] Through the work of a mysterious celestial being, Padre Pio's heart was pierced by a spear, leaving him with a wound that was to bleed for the rest of his life. This phenomenon is known as “transverberation”.
8 [1923] Padre Pio was ordered to move to Ancona.
10 [1910] At twenty-three years old, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi in the Cathedral in Benevento, Italy.
14 [1910] Said his first Mass at Our Lady of the Angels parish in Pietrelcina.
17 [1923] Worried by the restlessness of the crowds, the ecclesiastical authorities suspended the order for Padre Pio to move to Ancona.

September
4 [1916] Assigned to Our Lady of Grace Monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo.
20 [1918] Received the visible stigmata while praying before a crucifix in the monastery church of Our Lady of Grace; a mysterious person dripping with blood in the chapel appeared to him, then he found that he himself now had wounds on his hands, rib cage and feet. From then on, Padre Pio's body was marked with stigmata, the visible signs of the Passion of Christ. He became the first priest in the history of the Catholic Church to bear the stigmata.
22 [1968] Padre Pio said Mass at 5 a.m. as usual. This was to be his last celebration of the Eucharist.
23 [1968] Padre Pio died at 02.30, his last words being "Jesus, Mary! Jesus, Mary!" The Father Guardian of the Monastery stated that ten minutes after Padre Pio’s death, all traces of the stigmata on his hands, feet and side had disappeared.
26 [1968] Over a hundred thousand people attended his funeral.
27 [1968] The crypt containing Padre Pio's body was opened to the public and was visited by droves of pilgrims over the years.

October
9 [1919] At the request of the General of the Capuchins, Padre Venanzio from Lisle-en-Rigault, Padre Pio underwent in-depth medical examinations conducted by Dr Giorgio Festa.
10 [1915] He told his Superior that he had been suffering the pain inflicted by flagellation and the crowning of thorns for years now.

November
6 [1915] Drafted into the Italian Army. On Dec. 6, he was assigned to the 10th Medical Corps in Naples. Due to poor health, he was continually discharged and recalled until March 16, 1918 when he was declared unfit for military service.
12 [1917] He returned to the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he stayed until 5 March 1918, the year when he resumed national service in Naples.

December
18 [1916] He went to Naples on national service, but his poor physical conditions made the doctors send him home on special leave.
[2000] The scientifically unexplainable healing of 7-year-old Matteo Collela of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, needed miracle for canonization, is approved by Congregation for the Cause of the Saints.
21 [1998] The scientifically unexplainable healing of Mrs. Consiglia De Martino of  Salerno, Italy, needed miracle for beatification, is approved by Congregation for the Cause of Saints.