The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
THE HEART OF A SAINT
Thousands flock to Massachusetts town to see the heart of St. Padre Pio
LOWELL, MASS. >> Thousands of people lined up between the pews of the Immaculate Conception Church to see the heart of St. Padre Pio Wednesday.
Some stood in line with their cameras out, others with rosary beads in hand. Some whispered a prayer before coming face to face with the relic. At the front of the church was an image of St. Padre Pio with lit candles and red flowers sprinkled with baby’s breath decorating the front of the church.
When they finally reached the heart of St. Padre Pio, some held the glass case for a few seconds, others kneeled to the floor and many kissed the glass.
Those sitting and kneeling in the pews prayed in unison — some with their heads bowed and eyes closed, others with their cellphones out to capture a photo of the encased relic.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death,” they said.
All ages came through the church doors Wednesday, from infants in strollers to elders in wheelchairs.
Janet Black, from Charlestown, said she did not want to miss her oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to see this relic.
“I’m all full of emotions,” said Black, as her eyes watered. “It’s just beautiful that people could come together for one purpose. If the world was like this, we’d have no problems.”
Ed Waterworth of Dracut said he has seen relics before, but nothing of this magnitude.
“This is our faith. Saints are our intercession to God.” Waterworth said. “We know miracles have been performed through them.”
Marisa Luongo of Wakefield said the whole experience was overwhelming.
“I love St. Padre Pio and I love the Catholic Church,” she said. “It’s a great honor to be here. The world needs this.”
This is the first time the
saint’s heart has left Italy to come to the United States, according to Rev. Paul Soper of the Archdiocese of Boston. He said more than 3,000 people came to see the relic.
St. Padre Pio was a Capuchin friar best known for possessing the stigmata, or wounds of Jesus Christ, and was said to have special gifts from God. He died in Foggia, Italy, in 1968 where his heart is normally kept in San Giovanni Rotondo. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
“A devotion to Padre Pio is very deeply rooted in our ethnic communities and our immigration population,” said Soper. “He was a man of deep prayer. It is estimated he heard over 5 million confessions.
He is known for forgiving sins and taking care of the poor.”
Rev. Nicholas Sannella, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell, said being near the relic is a way to be closer to a saint who is already with God.
“Padre Pio, he embraced the very core of our faith,” Sannella said. “He embraced harmony, forgiveness of sins, he spent his life in the confessional and he was a model for many of us.”
Students in the fourth through eighth grades from the Immaculate Conception School just down the block, attended the Mass, which began at noon. Principal Cathy Fiorino said she was lucky enough to go to
St. Padre Pio was a Capuchin friar best known for possessing the stigmata, or wounds of Jesus Christ, and was said to have special gifts from God.
Italy and see the relic before.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Fiorino said. “He was a gift to the church. He was known for his confessional and he was a very holy man. The city of Lowell is blessed.”
People traveled from around the world to be able to see this relic.
Some, like Florence Curran of Reading, learned about St. Padre Pio growing up, while others like Adrianne Niall of Littleton are learning more about him later in life. But both say they did not want to miss the chance to witness the relic of a special and marvelous saint.
“I just look at their faces and they’re drawn to this,” Soper said.
“They didn’t have to be here today, it’s a beautiful day.”