Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
PADRE PIO: HIS STIGMATA AND SAINTHOOD
Examined in the light of the Roman Catholic Bible by Colin Maxwell
For what saith the scripture? (Romans 4:3)
(Online edition of booklet)
"THE
VATICAN: Pope John Paul II plans to canonise nine new saints in the
months to come, including the Italian monk Padre Pio and the
Spanish-born founder of Opus Dei, Josémaria Escriva. Padre Pio,
famous for bearing the stigmata, the wounds of Christ's crucifixion,
will be canonised in Italy on June 16th…"
So read the Irish Times on Wednesday 27th February, 2002
It is doubtless a popular decision on the part of Pope John Paul II who has canonised more saints than any of his predecessors.
This small publication intends to
examine the whole matter of Padre Pio's stigmata and his canonisation
in the light of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Bible. The author is
using the Douay Version, published by the Catholic Truth Society,
although any translation of the Bible may be used. What constitutes the
best translation of the Bible is not an issue here. Many readers will
be of the Roman Catholic persuasion and so will be happier with a Roman
Catholic translation. When Paul wrote to the Church at Rome, he asked
the Christians there "What saith the scripture?" We are only following
in his footsteps.
We have decided to follow the popular
Questions and Answers method. Take time to consider carefully each
answer. When Paul wrote to young Timothy, he said: Understand what I
say: for the Lord will give thee in all things understanding. (2
Timothy 2:7) The author does not write to offend…but simply to
examine all things by the light of God's word.
BRIEFLY WHO IS PADRE PIO?
Padre Pio da Pietrelcina was born on
25 May 1887 at Pietrelcina in the Archdiocese of Benevento, the son of
Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppa De Nunzio. He was baptised the next
day and given the name Francesco. In 1903, at the age of sixteen, he
entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at Morcone, where he took
the Franciscan habit and the name Brother Pio. Ordained a priest in
1910 at Benevento, he stayed at home until 1916 for health reasons. He
was sent to the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo and remained there until
his death. Although he committed himself to relieving the pain and
suffering of many families, chiefly through the foundation of the Casa
Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering) which was
opened in 1956, he is perhaps best noted for his stigmata. He died on
23 September 1968.
WHAT IS THE "STIGMATA"?
The authoritative Catholic Encyclopaedia defines it as following:
"Mystical Stigmata. To decide merely
the facts without deciding whether or not they may be explained by
supernatural causes, history tells us that many ecstatics bear on
hands, feet, side, or brow the marks of the Passion of Christ with
corresponding and intense sufferings. These are called visible
stigmata. Others only have the sufferings, without any outward marks,
and these phenomena are called invisible stigmata."
In October 1918, Padre Pio records the following about his stigmata:
"On
the morning of the 20th of last month, in the choir, after I had
celebrated Mass, I yielded to a drowsiness similar to a sweet sleep.
All the internal and external senses and even the very faculties of my
soul were immersed in indescribable stillness. Absolute silence
surrounded and invaded me. I was suddenly filled with great peace and
abandonment which effaced everything else and caused a lull in the
turmoil. All this happened in a flash. While this was taking place, I
saw before me a mysterious person similar to the one I had seen on the
evening of 5 August. The only difference was that his hands and feet
and side were dripping blood. The sight terrified me and what I felt at
that moment is indescribable. I thought I should die and really should
have died if the Lord had not intervened and strengthened my heart
which was about to burst out of my chest. The vision disappeared and I
became aware that my hands, feet and side were dripping blood. Imagine
the agony I experienced and continue to experience almost every day.
The heart wound bleeds continually, especially from Thursday evening
until Saturday."
He bore these wounds for 50 years, although they disappeared completely a week before his death.
BEFORE YOU GIVE YOUR ASSESSMENT OF PADRE PIO'S STIGMATA AND HIS CANONISATION..WHAT AUTHORITY DOES THE BIBLE CARRY?
A more important question can hardly be found. It is all very well
quoting the Bible etc., but if we do not give the Bible its proper
place, then the case becomes less than useless. Is the Bible just
another book - just another object in an array of religious articles -
or is the very inspired word of God? If it is indeed God's word - and
it is - then its authority must be final. You cannot have a higher
authority than God.
This
being the case, we must bring every doctrine or practice to the
judgement of God's word. Paul's question to the Church at Rome, "What
saith the scripture?" (Romans 4:3) was not asked out of mere curiosity,
but with a view of getting a definitive answer. We are not at liberty
to receive what God rejects. The prophet Isaiah made the observation:
"To the law rather, and to the testimony. And if they speak not
according to this word, they shall not have the morning light." (Isaiah
8:20) The last thing we want is darkness in these matters. We are to
have "no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" but "rather
reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11) The Bible alone will bring us light on
any spiritual matter.
Historically, Christians have always made the Bible their final court of appeal.
St. Chrysostom sums up the situation well: "You
have an exact standard and rule of all things. I beseech you, do not
regard what this or that man thinks, but enquire all things of the
scriptures." (Homily 13)
St Irenaeus went a little further a little further when he wrote: "We
must necessarily appeal to the testimony of the scriptures, without
which our discourses are entitled to no credit." (Homily I on Jeremiah)
In other words, if St Irenaeus was reading this booklet instead of you,
he would be lifting down his copy of the Bible, and like those Bereans
commended of old, "daily searching the scriptures, whether these things
were so." (Acts 17:11) If he failed to find scriptural reasoning for
the conclusions of this booklet, he would probably bin it, judging it
to be "entitled to no credit."
It was St Chrysostom who wrote: "That might not be considered Catholic which appears contrary to the statements of scripture." (Homily on Adam and Eve)
Note again the emphasis on the Bible. Just as God will not share His
glory with another, His Holy Word - the Bible - will not share its
ultimate authority with any other body of teaching. This is exactly our
position. We are committed to accepting the verdict of scripture - no
matter what our own thoughts might be.
IS THE STIGNATA MENTIONED AT ALL IN THE BIBLE?
Apart from the physical wounds of the Lord Jesus Himself, there are no other references to the stigmata.
Some verses are taken to support the phenomena, but a careful study of
them will show that they are wrongly appealed to as support.
[1]
"From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me. For I bear the marks
of the Lord Jesus in my body." (Galatians 6:17) Paul is not referring
to anything that looks like nail prints in his hands or feet, thorn
marks upon his head or a spear wound in his side. He simply refers to
those sufferings he received over a life time of service for God. He
catalogues his intense sufferings in the cause of his Bible based
ministry in 2 Corinthians 12:23-28 These included being in stripes
above measure and five separate whipping sessions from the Jews. Once
he was stoned and left for dead. He was shipwrecked and in the sea for
a night and a day. Along with hunger and thirst and in cold and
nakedness etc., it is little wonder that he bore the physical scars.
Had he not been a gospel preacher, this would not have happened. He can
rightly designate his wounds and bruises etc., as the marks of the Lord
Jesus in His body.
[2]
"…With Christ I am nailed to the cross. And I live, now not I,
but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh; I live in
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself for
me." (Galatians 2:19-20) Paul here speaks of his spiritual position in
Christ. He further expounds this doctrine in Romans Chapter Six where
he applies it to all the people of God. Which obviously rules out the
rather rare case of the stigmata.
[3]
"That I might know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death."
(Philippians 3:10) This ought to be the desire of every Christian. It
is best obtained by studying and meditating upon those passages of
scripture which major on the Saviour's death at Calvary. It is one
thing to have fellowship with Christ's sufferings - quite another to
experience something similar to them yourself.
[4]
"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things
that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his
body, which is the church." (Colossians 1:24) A mixture of the physical
and the spiritual makes this a difficult verse to explain. Simply
put… Christ's suffering made complete atonement for sin, but in
itself it does not apply salvation to the soul. Paul, by preaching the
word despite the many afflictions, makes up that which is missing.
Last note. The Catholic Encyclopaedia records of the stigmata: None are
known prior to the thirteenth century. This obviously rules out any
during Biblical times.
CAN ANYONE SUFFER AS CHRIST HAS SUFFERED?
"The
sufferings may be considered the essential part of visible stigmata;
the substance of this grace consists of pity for Christ, participation
in His sufferings, sorrows, and for the same end--the expiation of the
sins unceasingly committed in the world. If the sufferings were absent,
the wounds would be but an empty symbol, theatrical representation,
conducing to pride. If the stigmata really come from God, it would be
unworthy of His wisdom to participate in such futility, and to do so by
a miracle." (Catholic Encyclopaedia)
The Catholic Encyclopaedia appears to suggest that they can. As seen
before, we must subject this claim to the teaching of the Bible. Can we
nod our assent to this claim or must we disagree with it? The subject -
Christ's sufferings - hardly render the question unimportant.
A verse which comes readily to mind is that which is applied to Christ in Lamentations 1:12 "O
all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow
like to my sorrow: for he hath made a vintage of me, as the Lord spoke
in the day of his fierce anger." The implication is obvious.
There is no sorrow like unto His sorrow. Although we may enter into the
fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10) and learn about them,
yet no one can ever come near what Christ suffered when He made
"propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those
of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) Just as Christ was a Unique Person,
enjoying a unique birth and a unique life…so too He died a
unique death with unique sufferings. This is captured in the words of
the hymn writer:
None of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed
Or how dark was the night that the Lord passed through,
'Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Therefore
to claim that the suffering of stigmatists participate in His
sufferings, sorrows, and for the same end --the expiation of the sins
unceasingly committed in the world goes far beyond scripture. Even
worse, they run contrary to scripture. However well meaning - although
God does not accept sincerity at the expense of truth - they actually
detract from the work of Christ upon the Cross. Doubtless the apostles
etc., suffered sorrow as they viewed their Master go through the
agonies of crucifixion and atonement. It was distinctly said of His
mother Mary that a sword would pierce her own soul (Luke 2:35) but
nowhere - repeat nowhere - in the Bible are these sufferings ever said
to expiate sin. This is the unique work of God's Son. It cannot be
shared with another. He must tread the winepress alone and of the
people He must be able to say there is none with me (Isaiah 63:3)
Claims like those above must throw a sinister shadow over the whole
stigmata business.
ON WHAT BASIS DOES THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH DECLARE SOMEONE TO BE A SAIN?
A
person is declared to be a saint by a formal declaration by the Pope.
They will have been someone famous for their holiness and understood to
be in Heaven. A number of authenticated miracles - at least two - are
required to have been traced to people praying to the saint in Heaven
i.e. after his death. In the case of Padre Pio, obviously Pope John
Paul II feels that he qualifies for the title. One noted aspect of the
present Pope's reign [Note: Written when Pope John Paul II was Pope] is the speed with which he declares relatively recently departed people to be saints.
HOW DOES THE BIBLE DECLARE SOMEONE TO BE SAINT?
The
Bible declaration is arrived at in a very different way! The Bible
teaches that a saint is just another name for a Christian. Paul wrote
to the saints in Rome, Ephesus, Corinth etc., These folk were not
exceptionally holy at all - indeed the Corinthians had big spiritual
problems as Paul's first epistle to them sadly relates. In 1:11 the
Corinthians were confronted with the divisions in their church. In
3:1-3 they are described as being carnal instead of spiritual. Some of
them were puffed up with pride (3:18) and so on. Obviously we do not
highlight these things to lull or encourage people into a lax, careless
kind of Christianity, but the point is that Paul still recognised them
as saints. The idea that to qualify a saint is to be a super holy kind
of person is obviously false. Furthermore - to state the obvious again
- they were still alive and had performed no miracles in answer to
prayer. None of the apostles ever took years to make a formal
declaration of any one's sainthood.
There
is a simplicity with the New Testament that is sadly missing in much of
church life. Read the Book of Acts and the contrast sits out like a
sore thumb. Even there - and that near the very beginning of the
Christian era i.e. after Pentecost - is the term saint employed.
Ananias could complain of the great evil which Saul of Tarsus had
inflicted upon the "saints in Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13)
The
present practice of canonisation is really a man made invention. We
should adhere to what the Bible actually teaches. We cannot be holier
or wiser than God. It can never be wrong to return to the language, the
teachings or the definitions of the New Testament. Far from being
wrong, it is exceedingly safe and indeed it is expected of us. Claims
to be apostolic only apply to those who actually believe, and do and
say what the Apostles believed, did and said. Any other claims to the
title must be regarded as undeserving. It is the aim of this article to
bring us back to New Testament Christianity.
SURELY THE MIRACLES WHICH HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO PADRE PIO MUST COUNT FOR SOMETHING?
It
is not my purpose to doubt the historical validity of these miracles. I
have no access to the facts and even if I had, my concern is for their
Biblical value. A miracle in itself does not amount to much. It needs
to be attested by the word of God. It is worth pointing out that
Pharaoh's magicians were capable of performing great miracles (Exodus
7:22 etc.,) That dark figure of the Man of Sin who will arise in the
last days will also be able to perform "signs and lying wonders" (2
Thessalonians 2:9) If we fall into the trap of testing scripture by the
miracles, then we will be as likely to run after the wicked as well as
the good. Instead we test the miracles and particularly their claim by
the Bible. In his first epistle, John exhorts us to "…believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God…" (4:1)
This benchmark by which we either receive or reject the spirit is the
word of God. As we have seen, this has always been the standard of true
Bible Christianity.
The
Lord Jesus said that even the performance of the greatest miracles
would not entreat men to believe. "If they hear not Moses and the
prophets, [i.e. the Bible] neither will they believe if one rise again
from the dead." (Luke 16:31) Of course people would rather witness a
miracle than hear the word of God read and preached. This is human
nature. But human nature never brought us to God. The Bible does, and
to the authority of the Bible we must bring every single spiritual
claim. It is hearing and believing the plain, simple statements of the
word of God that brings the soul into a saving relationship with Jesus
Christ. He said so Himself "Amen, Amen, I say unto you, that he that
heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath life everlasting;
and cometh not into judgement, but is passed from death unto life."
(John 5:24)
Although
miracles had their place in the Bible, they are evidently not the be
all and end all of spiritual activity. Herod hoped to see some miracle
performed by Christ (Luke 23:8) but he met with the silence of the Lord
Jesus. Herod's great crime was that he had murdered John the Baptist.
He had cut off the voice of God to his own soul through the Biblical
ministry of the man of God. Even if he had been afforded the delight of
seeing a miracle done, his heart would still have remained in a
reprobate state. The ministry of the Lord Jesus is summed up with these
words: "And whereas he had done so many miracles before them, they
believed not in him." (John 12:37) We cannot sacrifice the truth of
God's word on the altar of the miraculous. This would run contrary to
the wisdom of letting God's word have the final say.
ARE WE TO PRAY FOR DEPARTED SAINTS?
One
website includes a prayer commencing with these words: " Beloved Padre
Pio, today I come to add my prayer to the thousands of prayers offered
to you every day by those who love and venerate you. They ask for cures
and healing, earthly and spiritual blessings, and peace for body and
mind. And because of your friendship with the Lord, he heals those you
ask to be healed, and forgives those you forgive." Evidently whoever
composed this prayer is of the opinion that praying to departed saints
is quite in order.
However
when we apply our little test of judging all doctrine and practices by
the Bible, we observe that there is no warrant in the word of God to
offer prayer to any one other than God through Jesus Christ. Read
carefully the New Testament where we have the completed revelation of
God's will for us. Look specifically for an example when any one prayed
to or through a departed person. The silence of scripture as to any
example is almost eerie!
Every New Testament prayer is offered
to God through Christ who alone is the mediator between God and men (1
Timothy 2:5) One day, Jesus declared Himself to be the way to God. "No
man cometh to the Father, but by me." There is no evidence that we need
any one to bring us to Jesus. He has never said so and we should be
careful that we do not put words into His mouth or sanction procedures
that He has not sanctioned. We may come to Him directly. There is every
encouragement to do so. He said that He will never cast out those who
come direct (John 6:37)
What
is to be gained by praying indirectly to Jesus through someone else as
opposed to praying to Him directly? If you can think of a few
reasons…then you are a lot smarter than any of the inspired
writers who make no mention of them.
CAN I BE DEVOTED TO PADRE PIO AND NOT ACTUALLY WORSHIP HIM?
Such
distinctions only exist on paper. They are a human invention. The
Bible, would have us honour our father and mother (Exodus 20:12) but we
are not encouraged to pray to them or give them any religious
veneration. There is no danger in this command. But to bring in the
religious aspect with some finely tuned conditions attached - which are
generally not understood or even known by the man in the street - leads
to spiritual disaster. If these man made distinctions are not strictly
observed, then you move from mere veneration to gross idolatry. It's as
easy as that. No exaggeration. We can worship God, God's way. He is not
bound to accept anything else, no matter how sincere.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GRACE?
Grace
must be about the most misunderstood word in the whole Bible! And yet
it a most important word because the scripture clearly teaches that it
alone is the basis on which we will get to Heaven. Listen to Paul: "
For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,
for it is the gift of God; not of works that no man may glory."
(Ephesians 2:8-9) Grace has been defined various ways. To some it is
the undeserved mercy of God. Others define it in acrostic form as God's
Riches At Christ's Expense. Again, another has said that it is God
being gracious to us when we were not only non deserving but ill
deserving and indeed hell deserving. All these definitions are true.
The
main point is that we can never obtain or retain grace by good works.
No religious sacrament can ever impart it to us. It is not in the gift
of any church to impart it. It is the prerogative of God alone through
Jesus Christ to impart it. Certainly we had our deserts. But those
deserts were eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord. The
only thing we merited was damnation because of our sins. The wages of
sin is death. Ours by right. Ours deservedly. But the grace of God - or
the gift of God (in contrast to the wages of sin) - is life everlasting
through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
The
Cross work of the Lord Jesus is proof that we can do nothing to save
ourselves or even contribute anything to our salvation. Although
ultimately for our deliverance from the guilt and power of sin, yet it
first sounds the death knell for us. It strips us of any thought that
we can do something to get to Heaven. It insists that we recognise that
we are utterly "weak" (Romans 5:6) or even more graphically, "dead in
our offences and sins" (Ephesians 2:1) before it will lift us up and
bring us savingly to God. If we may quote the hymn writer again, he
sums it all up with these words:
Not the labours of my hands
Could fulfil thy laws demands,
Could my tears forever flow,
Could my zeal no respite know,
All for sin could not atone,
Christ must save and Christ alone.
The idea that departed saints have an abundance of spiritual graces to
share with others does not fit in with the word of God. This is
illustrated by a parable which Jesus told. The Saviour said that even
when we had done all the things commanded us to do - how many can
really say that? - even then we had still to confess "We are
unprofitable servants." (Luke 17:10)
A STORY FROM THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Long
ago, there lived in the Highlands a great Duke with a great estate and
great riches. He was a widower, with had only child, a beautiful young
lady, who was beloved by all around. Her father told her that he
intended to ask to the castle all the young nobles for a week's
festivities. He expected that many of them would ask her hand in
marriage, and begged of her to make a good choice.
The
time soon came for the festivities. While her Ladyship was dressing, in
preparation for the reception of the guests, a loud knocking was heard
at the back door of the court. It was a beggar man on crutches. The
man-servant ordered him to go away. "Don't trouble her Ladyship
to-day," he said, "she is very busy, and a great many guests are coming
shortly to the castle." But the beggar answered that he would not go
away until he saw her Ladyship. Thereupon the door was slammed in the
beggar's face; but he took up one of his crutches and laid on to the
door, making such a noise that it brought back the servant, who
threatened to put the dogs on to him if he did not go away. To this the
beggar only replied that the dogs would not frighten him, and he would
not go away until he had seen her Ladyship. To try and frighten him the
servant went to the kennels, and at once the dogs set up such a
terrible howling that the noise disturbed her Ladyship's ears; and she
sent her maid to find out why.
The
maid returned with the information that it was a poor, lame beggar man
who wanted to see her Ladyship, and he would not go away until he saw
her. Her Ladyship went down. Seeing the beggar, she asked him kindly,
"Well, my good man, what do you want?" He bowed, and then said "I have
come to ask your hand in marriage to-day." Her Ladyship looked at him
steadfastly for a moment, then stepping forward, said "Very well. Here
it is." The beggar approached, bowed low, and taking her hand in his,
kissed it, adding "And on what day will you marry me?" To which her
Ladyship replied, "This day twelve months." On hearing her reply, the
beggar gathered up his crutches and hobbled away, greatly to the relief
of all standing around. During the week of the festivities many of the
young nobles asked her hand in marriage, but all of them got the same
reply-"I am betrothed already."
Many
began asking who the "lucky fellow" was, but no one could tell. Then
the servants, overhearing the conversations amongst the guests, began
to wonder among themselves if it were really true that she had given
away her hand in marriage to the beggar. At last it came to her
father's ears that she had been asked by many, and all had been given
the same reply that she had promised a beggar that she would marry him
in a years time. Her father was heart-broken. "Is it true, my daughter,
that you have given your hand in marriage to a poor beggar?" "Yes,
father, it is quite true, and it will be alright." The week of
festivities ended abruptly, all being disappointed at the news of her
betrothal to the beggar. During the year her father often called her to
his side, saying-"Oh, my daughter! Comfort me! Tell me it is all a
mistake." But she always replied, "It is quite true, father, and it
will be alright."
At
length the year passed by. No preparation was made for the marriage,
and on the day appointed her father sent for her, and said, "You see,
my daughter, there is no one coming." "Oh, but he will come!" she
replied. About two o'clock in the afternoon, a great noise was heard
coming over the hill towards the castle. Everyone in the house rushed
to the windows, and they saw a wonderful procession of pipers, drummers
and horsemen, in large numbers. Up to the front door of the castle came
a guard of prancing horsemen, who lined both sides of the avenue.
Wheeling around, they drew up, each horse facing the other and forming
a guard of honour. Then, last of all, came a beautiful prancing steed,
with a noble rider on its back. On reaching the steps leading to the
doorway of the castle, this rider threw himself from the saddle, ran up
the steps, and embraced his beloved. Who was he? The King's son! Twelve
months before he had disguised himself as a poor beggar, and came in
that way lest he should he too late. Recognising his eyes, she knew who
he was, and kept his secret.
Behold, I stand at the gate, and
knock: if any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
Who
is standing at your heart's door as you read this booklet? A beggar!
One of whom it was said, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air
nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lie his head." (Matthew
8:20) A man whose face was more marred than any man (Isaiah 52:14) A
beggar asking admission to your heart's door tonight, seeking
admission. If your soul gives Him, as it were, its hand in marriage, He
will make you a Queen…for Christ is King of Kings and Lord of
Lords! The Bible says: "Believe in [lean fully upon] the Lord Jesus:
and thou shalt be saved…" (Acts 16:31) Why not you? Why not now?
THE END