Today's Gospel in Art - Feast of Saint Padre Pio

Saint Padre Pio, by John McCoy, 2017 © John McCoy Art

Gospel of 23rd September 2020 - Luke 9:1-6

Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, 'Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there. As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.' So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.

Reflection on the Painting

Today we celebrate one of the Church's most popular saints of recent times: Padre Pio. He was canonised by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Padre Pio became one of the most charismatic holy men in the modern history of the Catholic Church, widely hailed as a saint during his lifetime and credited with many miracle cures. But probably the most famous signs of his sanctity were the stigmata, the Christ-like wounds that he bore in the palms of his hands and his side. In many churches in Rome and throughout the world we can still see popular devotions, shrines and images of Padre Pio. In pre-Covid times, San Giovanni Rotondo, where St Pio lived and is now buried, was drawing an astonishing 8 million visitors a year, which is slightly more than Lourdes or Fatima, and is second only to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in terms of annual visitors.

In our Gospel reading today Luke places the twelve Apostles at the centre of the narrative. They are instituted as sharing in the Mission of Christ. Our reading makes it clear that they are not just disciples, but that actually they are given the task of doing what Jesus did: 'having authority over all devils, to cure diseases, and to proclaim the kingdom of God'. No better example than our saint today, Padre Pio, who put this very reading into loving practice.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/553

Christian Art - www.christian.art

Read more about St Padre Pio: www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/279