Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, the 20th-century Capuchin friar revered for his deep spirituality, stigmata, and miracles, had profound connections—both personal and spiritual—with other saints and mystics. While he lived a largely cloistered life, his mystical experiences transcended space and time, uniting him with the communion of saints in extraordinary ways.
A Living Connection to the Communion of Saints
Padre Pio strongly believed in the mystical unity of all believers, living and dead, as part of the Body of Christ. He frequently spoke of the saints not as distant historical figures but as companions and intercessors, friends with whom he could converse. For Pio, heaven was never far away; it was as close as a whispered prayer.
His spiritual experiences often included visions and dialogues with saints, especially those who had suffered greatly or had mystical gifts like his own. These interactions served to comfort him, guide his mission, and affirm his own suffering in union with Christ.
St. Francis of Assisi: His Founding Father and Spiritual Twin
Padre Pio was a Capuchin friar, a branch of the Franciscan family, and he saw St. Francis of Assisi as his spiritual model. Both men bore the stigmata—the wounds of Christ—making their connection deeply personal and mystical.
Pio once said, “I am just a poor friar who prays,” echoing St. Francis’s famous humility. Like Francis, Pio lived in poverty, bore physical suffering joyfully, and cultivated a burning love for Christ crucified. It was no coincidence that Pio received the stigmata on September 20, 1918, just days after the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The Little Flower’s Big Presence
Padre Pio had a tender devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” He admired her “little way” of simplicity, love, and sacrifice. According to testimonies from those close to him, Pio often spoke of seeing St. Thérèse in visions, especially when praying for the sick or in moments of distress.
There is a beautiful anecdote that St. Thérèse once appeared to Padre Pio and reassured him during a period of intense suffering, saying, “I will help you.” Many who came to Pio for healing were told to pray to St. Thérèse, and he kept her image in his cell.
St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Ávila: Guides Through the Dark Night
Pio endured spiritual dryness, demonic attacks, and inner torment for years. In these dark times, the mystical theology of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Ávila were sources of light and understanding. He referred to their writings often and saw in their lives a roadmap for navigating the spiritual desert.
Much like them, he described experiences of spiritual ecstasy, bilocation, and soul-darkness. Though separated by centuries, they were united in the trials of contemplative mysticism.
A Contemporary Mystic: Blessed Alexandrina da Costa
Padre Pio reportedly had spiritual contact with Blessed Alexandrina da Costa, a Portuguese mystic who, like him, lived in near-continuous suffering offered for the salvation of souls. While there’s no documented meeting between the two, some sources claim they exchanged letters or spiritual messages through intermediaries.
Both were seen as living victims of love, participating mystically in the Passion of Christ for the world’s conversion.
The Souls of the Mystical Network
In addition to these saints, Padre Pio had frequent contact with the souls in purgatory and claimed they would appear to him asking for prayers. He spoke of the spiritual “traffic” between heaven, earth, and purgatory as a natural reality. Once, when asked if he saw saints during Mass, he replied, “How could I not? They are all around the altar.”
Legacy of Mystical Fellowship
Padre Pio’s relationship with the saints was more than devotion—it was mystical companionship. He lived in constant dialogue with heaven, drawing strength from the examples of holy men and women who had walked the path of suffering, humility, and radical love before him.
To this day, those who seek Padre Pio’s intercession often feel drawn into this wider circle of saints—a sacred family bound together in Christ. His life reminds us that holiness is not solitary, but a shared journey toward God.
