in the final moments of his life St Padre Pio surprised everyone around him with the words he used all his strength to utter could these last words be a countdown to the final day Padre Pio was a revered Saint who was bestowed with the sacred Stigmata and he bore these wounds with dignity and humility he lived a life full of pain and suffering and endured everything in Silence the light that enabled him to overcome all hardships was thanks to his steadfast Devotion to Jesus Christ in the moments before Padre Pio died Jesus Christ himself appeared and spoke to him the very last moment in 1968 Padre pio's Health deteriorated condition a few days before his death although weak and extremely ill he insisted on hearing confessions he desired to die on his feet at his place of work after a day spent with others in prayer and in his ministry for good he seemed always at the extreme limits of his strength and he was in constant expectation of death when saying good night Padre Pio often asked his Capuchin Brothers to recommend him to the Lord because he was not sure if he would be alive in the morning Padre Pio was not frightened of death but he felt it looking over his shoulder ready to snatch him away several months before his death death Padre Pio asked that a picture of St Joseph be hung near his cell his confes noticed that he would stop every day before the picture and gaze at it in silence it was only later that they learned that padrio had been praying each day to St Joseph for a happy death some of the Capuchin also stated that for a number of weeks before Padre pio's death the monastery of Our Lady of Grace seemed to have an altogether different feeling about it the corridors the rooms and Gathering areas and the monastery itself seemed to be pervaded by what was described as a mystical silence at that time no one knew that Padre Pio would soon be passing away when Padre Pio knew that his end was approaching he immersed himself in prayer Poo's life was dedicated to prayer from the solitary prayers he learned as a child in petalina to the Our Father which he prayed in his cell during the last hours of his life when he was perfectly conscious of his imminent departure in his Temptations he prayed in his Joys he prayed in the many vicissitudes of life he prayed in his illness he prayed God imbued his whole existence and his every action with prayer in a sense Padre Pio had always looked forward to the end of his Earthly pilgrimage he longed to return to his true home heaven where he could be United to God God for eternity he wrote a letter to Padre austino and said living here below is wearisome to me my dear father it is such a bitter torment to me to live in Exile that I can hardly go on any longer the thought that at any moment I could lose Jesus terrifies me in a way I cannot explain not long before padrio passed away he spoke to his superiors and asked them to pray for him poo confessed when my time comes to leave this life if my heavenly mother is not there to hold my hand how will I have courage soon after midnight on the 23rd he made his final confession and renewed his Franciscan vows he was so weak he could barely speak but was able to repeat the words Jesus Mary while clutching a rosary then suddenly around 2:30 a. m. he perked up a bit the saint who had had so many Supernatural experiences throughout his life appeared as though he was seeing something though no one around him saw anything special he managed to say I see two mothers whispered Maria then died regarding the two mothers there are only a few possibilities he could have meant he was seeing his spiritual mother Mary Mother of God and his biological mother the church is also a mother though it's not clear how that could be manifested and while it might seem obvious that his last word Maria referred to the Blessed Virgin his biological mother was also named Maria so he may have been referring to her either way it seems fitting that a man whose life was full of Supernatural happenings would finish his Earthly life with a mystical vision during the months that preceded his death Padre pio's Stigmata had been slowly disappearing beginning with the wounds on his feet the Capuchin who attended him noticed that his wounds were bleeding less and less the bandages that had to be changed regularly were significantly less Blood Stained on September 22nd 1968 the day before Padre pio's death his left palm still had a raised scab during the mass that morning two scales fell from his hand when doctors examined Padre pio's body after his death they discovered that the Stigmata on his hands feet and side had disappeared completely his skin was now smooth and regenerated in the places where the wounds had once been there was no scarring whatsoever the skin looked as fresh as that of a newborn baby the doctor noticed the beautiful fragrance of orange blossoms in the room he had perceived the fragrance on many occasions when in the presence of Padre Pio as they stood together and looked at Padre pio's lifeless body a scab detached and fell from his left hand it was the very last sign of the wounds of Christ which he had carried on his body for 50 years Padre Pio looked beautiful and Serene in death a rosary was placed in his hands as well as a crucifix and the rule of St Francis around his shoulders was draped his Priestly purple stole Air Force and police helicopters flew overhead dropping flowers and prayer cards on the huge crowd below it is estimated that 100,000 people attended Padre pio's funeral mass his body was placed in a granite Crypt and buried directly below the main altar of the church I will be able to help you more from Heaven than I can on Earth Padre Pio often said to those who sought his counsel and it is from Heaven that he has been helping so many of his spiritual children from every part of the world Padre Pio was extremely weak on September 22nd on that day the church was full to overflowing the members of Padre pio's worldwide prayer groups were present at the mass that morning they had come to San Giovani Rotondo to attend the international prayer group Congress Padre Pio said Mass on that day in Thanksgiving for the prayer groups and in special Thanksgiving for the official approval and recognition they had recently received from the holy office in Rome it was a great joy for Padre Pio to know that his prayer groups were established on a firm foundation and were flourishing worldwide as he left the altar he almost collapsed several of the Capuchin who assisted at the mass aided him and kept him from falling padrepio looked out at the Sea of people and in a broken and shaky voice called out my children my children later he went to a window of the monastery to greet and bless the prayer group members who were gathered in the Piaza below he was so weak that he had to be supported by two of his brothers Capuchin that evening about 9 tatz p.
m. Padre Pio used the intercom to call Padre pelino to come to his room Padre pelino who took turns with Padre honorat and Padre Mariano in assisting Padre Pio was assigned to the evening Duty that night when Padre peligrino answered Padre's call and entered his room he found him in bed and noticed that his eyes were red with tears Padre Pio had called him because he wanted to know what time it was Padre pelo dried Padre pio's tears with a handkerchief and told him the time after he checked to make sure that Padre Pio was all right he went back to his room in his dying moments Padre Pio said if the Lord calls me today ask the brothers to forgive me for all the trouble I have been to them and ask them and all my spiritual children to pray for my soul padrio then said that he wanted to renew his religious vows padrio renewed his vows of poverty Chastity and obedience he said I Padre Pio of Petrel China vow and promise to almighty God to the Blessed Virgin Mary to our Holy Father St Francis to all the saints and to you father to observe all the days of my life the rule of the Friar's minor confirmed by Pope honorius and to live in obedience without property and in Chastity Padre Pio had severe arthritis and at 81 years of age his posture was stooped and bent because it was very painful for him to walk he used a wheelchair most of the time but on this night for some reason he was able to stand up straight and he walked briskly and with great ease to The Veranda needing no assistance when Padre Pio got to The Veranda he reached over and turned on the light that was something he had not done in so long Padre Pio then began to stare intently at a particular area on the Vera he was staring at the exact place where the Capuchin would carry his lifeless body in just a few short hours suddenly Padre Pio began to feel very ill he wanted to go back to his room but he was too weak to stand up all of the color had drained out of Padre pio's face and he was growing weaker by the minute he began to repeat the words Jesus Mary over and over all the while his voice was growing fainter then Padre Pio began to stare intently at a picture that was hanging on the wall he wanted to know who it was a father there answered those are photographs of your mother and father but I see two mothers Padre Pio said right after Padre Pio spoke of seeing two mothers he seemed to grow weaker he broke out into a cold sweat and his lips began to turn blue the doctor arrived in less than 10 minutes and realized that Padre Pio was having a severe bronchial asthma attack he gave him an injection as well as oxygen in an attempt to ease his breathing which had become difficult and labored while the doctors were doing their very best to help Padre Pio the Capuchin knelt down beside him and prayed the Our Father the Hail Mary together the Capuchin repeated Jesus Mary and Joseph I give you my heart and my soul Jesus Mary and Joseph assist me in my last Agony Jesus Mary and Joseph may my soul peacefully expire in you the holy oils were prepared and father Pao gave padrio the last Rights padrio was fully conscious and was very much aware of all that was happening his feet and hands were becoming very cold and he was perspiring heavily when the doctors realized that he was having a heart attack he was given an injection directly into his heart with his eyes closed he continued to repeat the words Jesus Mary toward the end his lips formed the words but he could make no sound not even a whisper the Capuchin called out to him Padre Padre he opened his eyes one last time and looked at his dear brothers at 2:30 a. m.
