Saturday, September 25, 2004

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

Father Alessio, in San Giovanni, Italy Posted by Hello

Friday, September 24, 2004

Please read....

Name that blogger - a new hint! Or I'll start banging some heads together (sweetly said).

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

This is one of those forgotten memories....

except that I had a picture to remind me of it. Abilene, TX, 1973, Rodeo night on Campus. I wanted a belt buckle, but wanted to win it, not buy it. By the luck of the draw, I got the mean steer and my girlfriend got the nice one that just walked around for 8 seconds. My steer decide to come out bucking and I stayed on for 5 seconds. I got the concussion, the broken ribs and the sympathy of lots of cowboys. My girlfriend got the belt buckle.

After I had healed enough to drive, I went to the Western store and bought a buckle. It was cheaper than the emergency room bill. Plus, my Mom and Dad made me promise not to ride in another Rodeo. I obeyed them, but darn it, those few seconds were sure a lot of fun. And as our friend says, a Redneck's last words will always be,
"Hey Y'all, Watch This!!!

And you all thought I was hardcore now! Yee Haw, Kitty :-)

Sorry, the picture is 31 years old so the quality isn't that great. But if you look real close you can still see the terror on my face!

Just the steer, me and the cowboys! Posted by Hello

Monday, September 20, 2004

Name that Blogger - A new hint...

Name that Blogger, Round 2:

This person invented a new kind of cigarettes, likes BIG parties and thinks "Wow, maybe my luck is changing." But it wasn't.

People seem to be having a hard time figuring out which blogger this is so I've decided to give y'all another hint.


New Hint: This person has been known to chase tiny creatures thru the house and loves all kinds of fruit, but their favorite is the "Apple".

Come on now, I have faith in all of you, you can do it, remember the "Little Engine that Could", I think I can, I think I can, etc.

Good Luck, K ;)

UPDATE: I don't want to be IT anymore. Somebody better start guessing or this game is going to end pretty quick. Aside from handing the answer to you on a silver platter, there isn't much more I can say. But guess and keep guessing! Someone out there knows the answer, I can feel it deep in my soul. Amen, Halelujah! Kitty


Sunday, September 19, 2004

Lookee,lookee....

The 'old lady' figured out all by myself how to put a link to other blogs on my blogsite. There are so many of you out there, so I just added a few and most of them have links to many other blogs. If you don't want yours on here, please tell me and I'll take it off. K ;)

Update: Chim described someone (I like to think it was me) as a "seasoned Mom". I prefer that description much more than "old lady" K;).
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ...HOLY COW... what a ride!"