The last Mass of Padre Pio

This video shows Padre Pio celebrating an High Mass. The title is "L'ultima Messa di Padre Pio". The comment in Italian is not intrusive.

The Mass was celebrated on September 22, 1968. A "Messa Cantata Solenne", a solemn Tridentine Mass, was said in Latin, and several parts were sung.

The celebrant had two assistants, a deacon and a sub deacon. It lasted more than one hour.  It started around 11:00 AM and terminated after Noon.

This home video shows little more that eight minutes of the event. Padre Pio died 14 hours later., at 2:30 AM on September 23, 1968.

The Mass was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the visible wounds /stigmata.

Many thousands of people were in town for the First International Convention of the Prayer Groups.

This video is an authentic gem, even if it is at low resolution, given the age.

The sound of the bells, the organ, the singing choir, the assembly that filled the church, the frail voice of Padre Pio all is authentic as it happened.

Some observations about what you see in the video:

 

That day Padre Pio was not feeling well and was very weak. He drags himself and is held by both arms.

For the past six months he had used a wheel chair to go around, but now wanted to stand on his own for the occasion.

In the same timeframe he had been permitted to celebrate Mass sitting, instead of standing. He celebrated at a mobile altar, facing the assembly.

He sings the words "Gloria in excelsis Deo". Glory to God in the highest. He also sings the "Oremus", the long Oration of the day.

Than the deacon reads the gospel of the Annunciation. Padre Pio than intones "Credo in unum Deum." I believe in one God.

He is helped to go to the altar, were he sits to continue the celebration.

When he raises the paten for the offertory, and when he raises the chalice, one can see that the wounds have disappeared.

Than the video jumps to the end of the Mass, were Padre Pio sings:

"Dominus vobiscum. Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus"

The Lord be with you. May the almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Than the deacon sings "Ite Missa est" .Go, the Mass is ended. And the assembly responds "Deo Gratias". Thanks be to God.

Than while the organ plays a joyous finale, Padre Pio tries to leave the altar, but he has no more energy, and is about to fall to the ground, and the crowd gets loudly agitated, and the organ stops playing, and the gigantic American friar Bill Martin runs to the rescue, and holds Padre Pio in a solid bear hug, until he is deposited on a wheel chair, and taken to the sacristy. The organ resumes playing.

The last Mass of Padre Pio 08:36

 

 

return to previous page