Padre Pio
My husband and I have been fortunate in our relatively young lives to visit some incredible places. This was one we will never forget.
On a visit to Italy, we decided to rent a car and drive to San Giovanni Rotondo. Our tour guide had arranged for an English speaking Capuchin Friar to give us a tour. We had expected to see the Church and see some of the places Padre Pio lived, but we got much more than we expected.
On arriving, we had time to attend Mass before meeting the Father. The Mass schedule was every hour starting at 6:00am until noon. We went to the 11:00 Mass. There were very few English speaking people and no signs in English so we lined up behind hundreds of people who were pushing their way thru the doors into one of the newer churches. Mass was in Italian, and although we don't speak Italian, the nature of the Church gave us the knowledge to know what was being said. After Mass, we met Father Alphonso, a young, handsome Italian priest. He started our tour in the old Church where Padre Pio had said Mass. As we entered we passed the confessional where Padre Pio had heard confessions. The light remains on constantly and a little shiver went down my spine as I walked past it. The altar was beautiful and the Church is still used by small groups. He then took us up to the choir loft, sat us down on hard, wooden pews and told us a little about Padre Pio. At one point in the story he said that this was where Padre Pio received the Sigmata. Jay said "Up here" and the priest pointed to the pew right next to Jay with a bouquet of flowers setting on it. "Right there". Wow! I asked him if he'd met Padre Pio and he said that he had already died when he became a Priest, but that he'd met him several times since while walking in various parts of the Monestary. I am a Catholic convert, as is Jay and we both were very overwhelmed by the thought that Padre Pio still walked these halls. He then took us downstairs where Padre Pio is entombed. There were hundred of flowers and people stood in line for hours for a chance to pass by his tomb. Father took us right up to the front and we were amazed at the stillness and peace even with all the people. He then took us to the English office which is manned by volunteers for English speaking people to purchase books and other things. Two ladies from Chicago were there that day and we were buying out the store when the door opened. An older Priest entered and said hello. His name was Father Alessio. One of the ladies told me to ask him for a relic. I've never had a relic and wasn't quite sure what it really meant, but I asked anyway. He stared at me for a few minutes, stood up, left the room and returned a few minutes later with a little velvet box. He opened it and there were about 8 medals the size of a nickle. He picked one up and handed it to me. He showed me the back and said in broken English, 'from Padre Pio'. The ladies explained that Father Alessio had taken care of Padre Pio in the last 8 years of his life and that the relic on the back was a piece of gauze that had covered the wound in Padre Pio's side. Thirty medals were made on the occasion of his beatification. I received more than a gift that cannot be bought, I believe I received many graces that day. Also, Father Alessio allowed us to have our picture taken with him, which the English ladies said he had never allowed before. Because of that day I have a great love for Padre Pio. The stories of His life and the graces we can receive because of His love for God are abundant.
His feast day was Sept. 23, but I hadn't had time to sit down and write this until today. God Bless, Kitty
On a visit to Italy, we decided to rent a car and drive to San Giovanni Rotondo. Our tour guide had arranged for an English speaking Capuchin Friar to give us a tour. We had expected to see the Church and see some of the places Padre Pio lived, but we got much more than we expected.
On arriving, we had time to attend Mass before meeting the Father. The Mass schedule was every hour starting at 6:00am until noon. We went to the 11:00 Mass. There were very few English speaking people and no signs in English so we lined up behind hundreds of people who were pushing their way thru the doors into one of the newer churches. Mass was in Italian, and although we don't speak Italian, the nature of the Church gave us the knowledge to know what was being said. After Mass, we met Father Alphonso, a young, handsome Italian priest. He started our tour in the old Church where Padre Pio had said Mass. As we entered we passed the confessional where Padre Pio had heard confessions. The light remains on constantly and a little shiver went down my spine as I walked past it. The altar was beautiful and the Church is still used by small groups. He then took us up to the choir loft, sat us down on hard, wooden pews and told us a little about Padre Pio. At one point in the story he said that this was where Padre Pio received the Sigmata. Jay said "Up here" and the priest pointed to the pew right next to Jay with a bouquet of flowers setting on it. "Right there". Wow! I asked him if he'd met Padre Pio and he said that he had already died when he became a Priest, but that he'd met him several times since while walking in various parts of the Monestary. I am a Catholic convert, as is Jay and we both were very overwhelmed by the thought that Padre Pio still walked these halls. He then took us downstairs where Padre Pio is entombed. There were hundred of flowers and people stood in line for hours for a chance to pass by his tomb. Father took us right up to the front and we were amazed at the stillness and peace even with all the people. He then took us to the English office which is manned by volunteers for English speaking people to purchase books and other things. Two ladies from Chicago were there that day and we were buying out the store when the door opened. An older Priest entered and said hello. His name was Father Alessio. One of the ladies told me to ask him for a relic. I've never had a relic and wasn't quite sure what it really meant, but I asked anyway. He stared at me for a few minutes, stood up, left the room and returned a few minutes later with a little velvet box. He opened it and there were about 8 medals the size of a nickle. He picked one up and handed it to me. He showed me the back and said in broken English, 'from Padre Pio'. The ladies explained that Father Alessio had taken care of Padre Pio in the last 8 years of his life and that the relic on the back was a piece of gauze that had covered the wound in Padre Pio's side. Thirty medals were made on the occasion of his beatification. I received more than a gift that cannot be bought, I believe I received many graces that day. Also, Father Alessio allowed us to have our picture taken with him, which the English ladies said he had never allowed before. Because of that day I have a great love for Padre Pio. The stories of His life and the graces we can receive because of His love for God are abundant.
His feast day was Sept. 23, but I hadn't had time to sit down and write this until today. God Bless, Kitty
posted by Kitty at 1:00 PM
2 Comments:
This sounds like an awesome experience. Italy is the one place I would really love to visit, but haven't had the chance to go (And by chance I mean money). If I get to go, I'd like to have a lot of time, because I always hear people say that no matter how long they went, it just wasn't long enough, because there is so much to see. Of course, you'll have to hook me up with a special line-cutting tour guide :)
We've actually been 3 times and still haven't seen everything we would like to see. The first time we went for our 20th anniversary and then decided to go back because it was so beautiful. We have a friend who is a Monsignour in the Congregation of Bishops and he said Mass for us in The Tomb of St. Peter. The third time we went on sort of the spur of the moment because we got really cheap tickets and the Holy Father was canonizing several Saints and we got to be there for that. It does put a little stress on the pocketbook but after 27 years of Jay working as a Lawyer, we have a little leeway. College tuition is the thing that's hurting us now. But one is on his own now in graduate school, one will graduate from Steubenville this May and next year we'll have two in college. The youngest still has a couple more years. If you do get the chance I will certainly give you the names of our friends, they've been very kind and generous to other people we've sent to them. Cheers, Kitty
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