Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

September 23, 2026

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Presbyter [Padre Pio]

Padre Pio was a religious servant of the Lord who truly took the words of Proverbs seriously and invited others to take shelter with him through spiritual guidance and confession. He provided a healing balm and, in his ministry, he was an exemplary model of gospel living.

Repeatedly, our sacred scriptures remind us of healing stories and of the power the apostles received to pass them on to others.

I’m often touched in my parish life by the band of pray-ers who accompany the sick and by how we let everyone know to pray for the sickness to end. When it’s one of the daily Mass participants, everyone seems to want to assist in one way or another. When one is missing from the Eucharistic community, everyone rallies to pray, to heal, to provide comfort. Isn’t this central to who we are as Christians?

May we continue to encourage folks to come to the daily Eucharistic banquet, especially if newly retired. May we each see that our help comes from God and from these opportunities flowing from the Eucharist that forms a community of healing, that great balm of Gilead.

We’ve been given the authority to encourage and strengthen. Many around us may not always wear a stole, but we do witness support, and that support leads to healing strength, courage, and patience. Pope Francis would regularly preach about the importance of the community of faith having a role in healing. This role of the Holy Spirit brings so much into our lives. We:

• confer a share in the Trinitarian life;
• open up and bring participation in the paschal mystery;
• commission the sick to be in a special way to go ahead and witness the mystery of suffering to us and connect that suffering in the Paschal mystery. “That’s why the sick evangelize us.”

Padre Pio, pray for us!

Prayer

O healing God of joy: may we serve those in need of being made whole and healing the “sin-sick” soul. Let us never be discouraged and think that the work you give us is in vain.^[1] Through Christ our Lord.

1. Based on the anonymously written spiritual “There is a Balm in Gilead” ↑