Visionaries, Stigmatists and Incorruptibles (Last Part)

Introduction

This blog post concludes the Series on Visionaries, Stigmatists and Incorruptibles. The first part of the blog post will recount the story of St. Pio of Pietrelcina's stigmata, while the second part will give a brief summary and list of some of the holy men and women whose flesh remain incorrupt to this present age.

Padre Pio

St. Pio of Pietrelcina (d. 1968 A.D.), a.k.a. Padre Pio, passed away just 32 years before the turn of the new millenium. Although he lived in till the modern age of the 1960s, many of those who have seen, met or have encountered the saint say that his spiritual presence radiates a feeling that transports you to the world of the Middle Ages. Padre Pio is the second most popular Franciscan (Capuchin) stigmatic next to St. Francis of Assisi. Because of modern technology, many were able to photograph and document the miracle and gift of his stigmata.

September 20, 1918 A.D.

Padre Pio received the gift of the stigmata on September 20, 1918 A.D., several months before the end of World War I. Many crowds flocked to him to see the bleeding wounds on his hands and feet. From that 20th day of September up to his death in 1968 A.D., there were exactly 50 years of stigmatization. And at the time of Padre Pio's death, many (especially the doctors and physicians who were examining and studying his wounds) were surprised to see the wounds suddenly disappear as if they have never been present. To learn more about Padre Pio, you can search at any search engine for the details on his life and the miracle of his stigmatization.

Incorrupt bodies of holy men and women

When given the opportunity to see the incorrupt body of a blessed or saint, one will truly be in awe and wonder at the power of God, and how He is able to do the impossible - going against the natural laws of science. The incorrupt bodies of many saints are truly mysteries that cannot be explained by science. Only with the eyes of faith can one know that there is something of God there. As one searches and researches on those holy men and women whose flesh remains incorrupt to this present age, one will be surprised to learn that the Church has been gifted with not only a handful of these miracles, but many. The more known ones are like the body of St. Bernadette Soubirous (the visionary of Lourdes, France). There are many, so much more. The list given in the next paragraph attest to the truth that this gift from God is meant to upbuild the faith of the Church.

A list of God's miracles

Listed below is just a sample of the many holy men and women whose flesh have remained incorrupt to this day. Here are a few names to get you started in your search for their hagiography online:

• St. Catherine of Bologna
• St. Gemma Galgani
• St. Adrian of Canterbury (died in the 8th century)
• Blessed Louis Orione
• St. James Alberione (founder of the Pauline family)
• St. Ubaldo Gubbio
• St. Esmeralda Eutochia Calafatto
• St. Eufemia
• Venerable Maria Crescencia
• St. Dominic Savio
• St. Patricia
• St. Sharbel Makhlouf

Video files

There are many video files in YouTube which you can search, view and learn more of God's miracles through the incorrupt bodies of His faithful and holy servants.

St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch, feast January 11

Born in Cappadocia, Asia Minor

Theodosius was born at Garissus, Cappadocia (from where St. Basil and his family also have their origins) in 423 A.D. In his youth, he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he visited St. Simeon Stylites and was able to learn the ways of holiness in the East. After this pilgrimage and journey, he entered one of the monasteries existing near Jerusalem. Then after a number of years, he was appointed to head a church in an area near Bethlehem. He left this appointment to become a hermit in the desert of Judah. Theodosius' extraordinary piety drew quite a number of followers, whom he organized into a monastic community at Cathismus (near Bethlehem).

Began to promote cenobitic monastic life

The monastery near Bethlehem that Theodosius found began to fill up with monks. It was at this time that he saw the need of cenobitic monastic life - religious life in community. He also realized a need to help people living near the monastery. So he attached three hospices or infirmaries next to it: one for the sick, another for the aged, and a third for the mentally disturbed. In the monastery, Theodosius organized the monks according to four language groups to facilitate prayer and communication in the communities. He also made a daily schedule for the monks which consisted of prayer, manual labor, and rest. This monastic system and organization resembled a small city and became a model of its kind in the East. It was this monastic structure that earned St. Theodosius the title, "Cenobiarch" - meaning, abbot general of all cenobitic communities in Palestine.

A strong advocate against heresies

There was a group of Monophysites at that time who believed that Jesus Christ only had a divine nature and was not human. St. Sabas, who was made head of all those living in hermitages in Palestine, fought alongside St. Theodosius against these Monophysites. Both of them also opposed the heresy of Eutychianism which was promoted by Emperor Anastasius. Because of the success and effectivity of their preaching, Theodosius was banished by an imperial edict. But when Emperor Justin replaced Anastasius, Theodosius was recalled back to his role as Cenobiarch in Palestine.

A long and holy life

Theodosius was already 95 years old when he was recalled to resume his duties as head of all cenobitic monastic life in the East. But he never expected to live for another eleven years. Upon his death at the age of about 106 years, the patriarch of Jerusalem and a majority of the Jerusalem population attended his funeral. Many miracles were attributed to his intercession. Though his feast is not on the General Roman Calendar, the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches acknowledge it. St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch then became known as a leading pioneer of cenobitic or communal monasticism in the East.

Edited from the following sources:

• A Year with the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
• Lives of the Saints, by Richard P. McBrien
• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney

Visionaries, Stigmatists and Incorruptibles (Part Five)

St. Francis the Stigmatic

One story of St. Francis' stigmatization is based on a biography written by Johannes Jorgensen. This author examined many documents and visited many parts of Italy where St. Francis was known to have lived and preached. The story of the stigmatization of Francis of Assisi begins after the Feast of the Assumption, 1224 A.D. When St. Francis withdrew from the Brothers (his companions) to go into greater solitude, Francis made a hut for himself and made arrangements with Brother Leo to visit him once in the day to bring bread and water - once by night for Matins (prayers recited in the early hours of the morning after midnight).

The instruction for Brother Leo

Since Brother Leo had the responsiblity of bringing food and water, and to pray Matins with St. Francis, he was instructed by St. Francis with a procedure to accomplish his tasks. As Leo would step upon the bridge that led to the hut of St. Francis, >he was to say aloud the prayer which begins the recitation of the breviary: "O Lord, thou wilt open my lips." If St. Francis gave the proper response, "And my mouth shall declare Thy praise", then Brother Leo was to proceed to the hut of St. Francis. If Brother Leo did not get an answer from Francis, he was to go home quietly. Francis gave this instruction to Leo because Francis was sometimes in such a state of rapture - so filled with God's love and presence that he could not speak.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Days and nights went by until the feast of the Holy Cross (September 14) would be at hand. The Cross and the Crucified Lord had always been an object of devotion on Francis' part. During the Mass for this Feast, Francis felt deeply the strong words referring to Jesus and His Cross. He lay in prayer outside his cell on the morning of September 14. He prayed that he may feel in his soul and body the passion of Christ. He also prayed that his heart may receive that great charity by which Jesus willingly underwent His passion for the redemption of all sinners. During this time of prayer, Francis saw a seraph coming down from heaven with six bright wings. As Francis saw this vision, his heart was mixed with fear, joy, sorrow, and wonder. Through an inner flame, the vision left a wonderful image and imprint of Christ's passion on the body, heart, soul, and mind of St. Francis. Though St. Francis said nothing of this to his Brothers, they found that his habit and clothes were bloody when they went to the wash.

The Brothers understood what happened

It was Brother Leo who first knew of what happened to Francis. Then Brother Rufino also learned of this miraculous gift. Leo was the one who fixed the bandages on Francis, while Brother Rufino washed the clothes of Francis. As for Francis, he was filled with great joy - a complete liberation from all care and dejection. Together with Brother Leo, the two eventually left Mount Alverna where Francis received his stigmata, and journeyed on foot. Francis rode a donkey because he could not walk on the journey.

The news spread with great joy

As St. Francis returned to the villages where he lived and preached, the people met him with olive branches and the cry, "Ecco il Santo"! As Francis gave his hand to be kissed, miracles were accomplished. A woman whose life was in danger was cured. Another woman was cured from her hysteria. As Francis returned eventually to Portiuncula (where his conversion began), he felt as if all the zeal of his youth was returned. He again went out on missionary trips - particularly to the lepers to whom he preached, counseled, and cared for.

To be continued

In the next blog post, the story of Padre Pio's stigmata will be related. Padre Pio, a spiritual son of St. Francis, also received the gift of the stigmata on his physical body. Padre Pio is one saint closer to the modern generation as he passed away in 1968 A.D.