[PhantomGoddess]

Thousands flock to exhumed body of saint

Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:18pm EDT
By Philip Pullella
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy (Reuters) - The exhumed body of Padre Pio, a saint considered a miracle worker by his devotees, attracted thousands of pilgrims on Thursday when it went on display 40 years after his death.
Padre Pio is one of the Catholic Church's most popular saints and during his lifetime the Italian monk was said to have had the stigmata, the bleeding wounds of Jesus' crucifixion on his hands and feet.
The economy of this southern town revolves around the cult of Padre Pio and heaving crowds waited to see his body, displayed in a crystal, marble and silver sepulcher in the crypt of the monastery where he spent most of his life.
His face was reconstructed with a lifelike silicone mask of the type used in wax museums because it was apparently too decomposed to show when the body was exhumed.
"He seems like he is sleeping. Even if they had to re-do the face, its better remembering him this way than looking at a slab of cold marble," said Domenico Masone, deputy mayor of Pietralcina, the town where Padre Pio was born.



For the rest of the story: Thousands flock to exhumed body of saint | Oddly Enough | Reuters

[love2482]

I think I heard something about when they exhumed him, there was no evidence of the stigmata, but his hands were perfectly manicured. Can anyone back this?

[sooperficial]

I had a co-worker that was REALLY into the Padre Pio. He was totally devoted to this saint and he would always tell me stories about his works, etc.

Thanks for posting, I'm e-mailing them right now and sending them the link to the story!

[PhantomGoddess]

Originally Posted by sooperficial

I had a co-worker that was REALLY into the Padre Pio. He was totally devoted to this saint and he would always tell me stories about his works, etc.

Thanks for posting, I'm e-mailing them right now and sending them the link to the story!

Ohh! Let us know how he reacts!!

[bella1342]

Originally Posted by sooperficial

I had a co-worker that was REALLY into the Padre Pio. He was totally devoted to this saint and he would always tell me stories about his works, etc.

Thanks for posting, I'm e-mailing them right now and sending them the link to the story!

Interesting. Both of my grandparents were devoted to Saint Padre Pio (he just became a saint a few years ago) and I have a lot of stories that happened to family that to me are miraculous. Chills go down my spine when I think about them. I still pray to him all the time. My grandparents both passed away in the last few years, but they'd be amazed about this.

Originally Posted by love2482

I think I heard something about when they exhumed him, there was no evidence of the stigmata, but his hands were perfectly manicured. Can anyone back this?

They said that certain parts of his body were very deteriorated while other parts were perfectly preserved. His hands were pretty preserved, especially his fingers, it looked as if he had a manicure. His stigmata wasn't visible, but I think there are reasons for that... and that goes into religion etc. In other words, I'm not sure everyone would believe what I believe.

[ColdDayInHell]

Thanks for posting this!

[Adrienne]

Thanks for posting!