Download Newsletter Issue 8, July 2001

Even if my life is to be poured out as a libation over the sacrificial service of your faith,
I am glad of it and rejoice with all of you.
– Philippians 2:17

TESTIMONY OF FATHER EUSEBIO, CAPUCHIN

Father Eusebio Notte was Padre Pio’s assistant from 1960 to 1965.When Padre Pio was growing old and as his body became increasingly weaker, Father Eusebio was one of the few friars who had the privilege of caring for him. Like St. John with Our Lord, Father Eusebio was the disciple that Padre Pio loved. Father Eusebio could coax Padre Pio to take better care of himself. He could joke him out of his bouts of weariness and day and night he was always available, always there.

“How can I express my experiences of five years in a few words. I was very, very close to Padre Pio. I took care of his room and his person. Before coming to San Giovanni Rotondo, I didn’t believe in him. My scepticism was not about his stigmata but about his sanctity. At that time he was under restrictions and many people were against him. I didn’t know whom to believe. I had to see for myself who Padre Pio was.

I had been in England. When I returned to Italy, Father Provincial sent me to San Giovanni Rotondo. When I came to San Giovanni Rotundo, I tried to see if it was true or not that he was really a holy man. It was not difficult for me to acquire an experience of what he was, especially in his prayer life and the times he read people’s minds, and in the way he would answer the people’s questions. Now, afterwards, I believe in everything. I am convinced that Padre Pio was an extraordinary man, really a holy man.

I did see the stigmata many, many times. I would be directly in front of him, and I could see his wounds very clearly. Many times I saw his hands bleeding through his gloves. Sometimes I found the sheets of his bed covered with blood, and at those times he was compelled to renew his bandages twice a day, especially the bandage on the wound of his heart.

I must tell you something about the wound of his heart. One day Padre Pio fell down. He had been pushed by the devil. When we found him, he was covered with blood. I was there and I saw him. There was a woman in San Giovanni Rotundo who was possessed by the devil. The devil spoke through her and said that he himself had pushed Padre Pio down. The doctor was called to treat Padre Pio. I was the only priest who helped Padre Pio to change his undershirt on that occasion. It was then that I saw the wound on his side. It was an open wound.

I saw the photographs of his body that were taken immediately after his death. First in one picture, you could see the wound of his side. In another photograph it was smaller. In another, smaller. And in another’”nothing! All of the wounds of the stigmata disappeared after his death.

My favorite reflection about Padre Pio is about how he lived his life. This means more to me than the miracles he performed. Miracles are found in the lives of all the saints. But if you had lived with Padre Pio from early in the morning till late at night, you would see for yourself the kind of life he lived.

He would get up very early in the morning, clean his wounds and start to say the rosary and pray and meditate. Afterwards, Mass. After that, he stayed for many hours and heard Confessions. People would go to him not only for Confession but with every kind of question you could imagine; should I enter the hospital, should I have an operation, should I leave this job and take another? He always had presence of mind to give each person an answer.

After hearing Confessions, he would go upstairs. Along the stairs and along the corridor were people after him with more questions, always after him for something. He never said,”Please let me think about it.” No! Bing, bing, bing. He had the answer. God was with Padre Pio all the time, to help him not to make mistakes. I have seen that.

Another thing,the same question made by different people sometimes got a different answer. This is very important. It means that something that was good for you might not be good for another person.

When he ate, his food was very, very, poor. He would eat a piece of macaroni and a tiny piece of fish. That was all the food he would have for the entire day. Humanly speaking he had no other source of nourishment.

When he finally went to bed, he used to break his sleep to pray the rosary and say ejaculations. He got up very early in the morning at one o’clock a.m. or at two o’clock a.m. How much he prayed! The way he said Mass! The way he stayed with us! He would tell us stories and at the end he would have a good word to convince us to be better in our spiritual life. He was a man who put the theology of the cross in a special way; why you have to suffer to help God, because God wants you to help Him to bring souls to Him. God is a Father who sees value in our suffering. It is difficult for us to express this theology.

Padre Pio made my life quite different. He was a priest in whom God was particularly alive. In his life, in his way of bringing people to God. He was like a lamp to enlighten people and to bring them on the right path to God.”

Condensed from “A Padre Pio Profile” by Fr. John Schug

An Encounter with Padre Pio
as told by Alfredo Lapertina

The year was 1950. I had always heard talk about the friar with the stigmata and I wanted to go and see him. I am a Catholic but as regards my faith, I am not an emotional character nor am I easily roused to enthusiasm. My visit to San Giovanni Rotondo was not so much one of faith but rather one of curiosity.

I knew also that the friary was a continual goal of pilgrims who came from all over the world, so in the hope of being able to see and observe Padre Pio more closely and carefully, I made the trip. It was almost midday when I arrived. In the friary square I noticed a booth where a Capuchin friar was making the bookings of those who wanted to go to confession to Padre Pio. I too booked and was told that the wait would be about one week. I was curious to see for myself this extraordinary friar whom I had seen so many times in newspapers and magazines. I went into the church and waited in the sacristy but the crowds were so great that we were squashed one on top of the other.

When Padre Pio entered the sacristy, I was only just able to see him. He was accompanied by two friars to protect him from the crowd, and they were only just able to get him to the confessional. Around 5:00 p.m., Padre Pio came down for Vespers, and this time I was able to observe him well and from close up. I received such an impression that, still to this day, after having got to know him very well from many visits, am unable to describe. He was a figure, dare I say, indefinable. He was fatherly, austere, sullen, happy, sarcastic, ironic. His eyes scrutinized you as if they wanted to penetrate your very flesh and they forced you to lower your eyes.

That day I saw something which seemed to me rather strange. When Padre Pio entered the sacristy, he politely greeted a man by my side, who as soon as he saw Padre Pio, knelt and kissed his hand. Then Padre Pio washed his fingers that protruded from his brown mittens because he was going to celebrate Vespers. The man he had spoken to handed him a white handkerchief to dry his hands. When Padre Pio was going into the church, I saw this man fold the handkerchief and put it in his wallet. Seeing my curiosity, he said to me, “As soon as Vespers is over I will explain to you why I did that.” I thanked him and we went into the church.

When Vespers ended we went out into the square and the man came up to me and said, “So now I will satisfy your curiosity about Padre Pio and the handkerchief,” and he began his story:

“I have been coming to San Giovanni Rotondo every week for the last six months” the man told me, “and shall continue to do so until Padre Pio’s hospital is finished, and then I will never leave again. I live in Rome where I practice as a doctor. My parents are no longer alive. My father was a doctor like myself and with great humanity. He taught me the importance of unconditionally helping others who are suffering whether materially or morally. Like myself, my father did not have any religious faith but my mother and my sister were fervent Catholics. I always admired my sister’s discretion of never discussing religion with me.

About eight months ago, Massimo, my sister’s son, a student in his third year of medicine, began to complain of strong pains in his head. I prescribed some pain killers for him but the pain would not go away. I had him undergo many tests, including a brain scan, and we discovered to our horror that he had a tumor on his brain.

Shaken by this terrible diagnosis, I took Massimo first to Switzerland where I knew an excellent doctor who unfortunately confirmed the diagnosis. Still not happy, I took him to London to a great luminary of medicine, who after having made a few tests and an x-ray, told me that Massimo had no more than three of four months to live. He added that it was impossible to operate because to remove the tumor would mean cutting into the brain and this would cause total paralysis and then very probably, death.

My nephew was forced to abandon his studies. He became very weak and had to spend most of his time in bed. Little by little, he began to lose his sight as the tumor pressed on his optic nerve. I went to see him every day and tried to raise his morale. As my nephew’s condition grew worse, my sister began to despair.

I had to go away to a medical conference in Milan and during my absence my nephew got suddenly worse with insupportable, stabbing pains. My sister called a colleague of mine, an excellent doctor who was young and very religious. After he had seen the boy, the x-rays and tests, he at once understood the gravity of the case.

He told my sister that no better medicines existed than those already perscribed and added that this was a desperate case before which science was powerless. He said that it was necessary to hope for a miracle. He also said that he always saw my sister and her husband in church on Sunday and that she should pray because her son needed prayers more than medicines.

One evening when I went to visit Massimo, I witnessed a scene that, at the time, I considered to be terrible fanaticism. At my sister’s home there were gathered about ten family friends. All of them were very respectable people whom I admired, however all were fanatical Catholics. The most fanatical one of all was a retired military colonel. Even so, he was a dear person. He was a close friend of the family and also a spiritual son of Padre Pio. They had formed a circle in Massimo’s bedroom and, in the center, kneeling on a cushion, they had placed the poor boy. To hold him up, they had to put a chair next to him. They were all praying the Rosary.

Seeing this, I went into the studio cursing at my sister and her husband who, because of selfishness would not even let their son die in peace. I continued to curse at them but on hearing me they raised their voices and continued their prayers. The Rosary ended and the colonel said, ” Now we will say a special prayer to Padre Pio so that he intercede with our Lord and assist me in what I am about to do. I have a handkerchief with which, that holy friar, a while ago, dried his hands. With this handkerchief, I will cover the head of Massimo and God will do the rest.

Hearing these words, I entered the room like a madman. I said to the colonel, who in that moment was about to place the handkerchief on the boy’s head, that if it wasn’t for the respect I had for him and his age, I would have beaten him up and Padre Pio as well.

I had not even finished the last word when Massimo cried out, “Mother, father, I can see!” and he staggered to his feet. I took him under his arms and placed him on his bed. With all the color drained from my face and my energy drained from my body, I collapsed in a chair. After awhile, Massimo, who had not eaten for several days, asked for something to eat. My sister, crying with joy, rushed to prepare some food for him. The days went by and the boy got better and better before our very eyes. We took him back to the doctor where all the x-rays and tests were repeated. Not a sign of the tumor on his brain could be found.

In my soul there was no longer any trace of atheism. The change to the Christian creed was so rapid and radical that I was not even aware of it. It seemed as if I had always been a Catholic.

About a month after this extraordinary event, one night in a dream, I heard someone call me by my baptismal name. I woke up with a start. I was still troubled by the extraordinary events that had taken place and I was frightened. I thought I had heard the voice of my sister’s husband. Instead after an instant, and I was perfectly awake, the same voice, which however was not of my sister’s husband, said to me, “Do not forget I am waiting for you because you promised to beat me up!” I understood at once then that it was Padre Pio. That same night (it must have been about 2:00 am) I got dressed quickly and took a taxi to the train station.

Around midday I arrived in San Giovanni Rotondo and was in the church that afternoon when Padre Pio came down to hear the confessions of the men. I could see he was going to be passing right by the place where I was standing. Bear in mind that he could not have known me because I had never been to San Giovanni before. But as he came by me he took me firmly by the arm and led me to the confessional. In the confessional I fell on my knees and he said to me, “Here I am, I am all yours!” I cried for a long time in his lap but he comforted me and said, “Don’t torment yourself because you have time before you to make up for it, but be tranquil because you are neither the worst nor the last. I can give you good news. Your father who was also like you, is now well and is with your mother. The mercy of God is so great that he abandons no one.”

Padre Pio added, “Now here we are building a hospital to relieve the suffering of so many poor people, and as you are a doctor, I would be happy if you worked in this hospital.” I answered, “Padre Pio, I will never leave this place for any reason and will stay here until I die and you can do with me whatever you like.”

This was the beautiful story the doctor related to me during my first visit to San Giovanni Rotondo. I do have some experiences of my own to relate as to my meeting with Padre Pio. The crowds were so great at the friary that whoever wanted to go to confession to Padre Pio could do so only by booking. I did this and was told that it would be a wait of one week. When my turn for confession finally came up, I was a little uneasy, especially after hearing the story that the doctor had told me.

The first thing I experienced when I was in Padre Pio’s presence, was a marvelous perfume which seemed to me to be the fragrance of violets. The perfume was so strong that it almost made me faint. However, after my confession, I asked for his blessing for myself and all of my family. He placed his hands on my head and said, “This is also for your family. Young man, always be good.” I kissed his hand and left.

On several other occasions I went to San Giovanni Rotondo with my wife. Often we went to confession to Padre Pio. Both of us experienced a beautiful perfume when we were near him. I can say that I am truly devoted to Padre Pio and to his heroic and exceptional life.

– Alfredo Lapertina

PADRE PIO AND THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
“Remember to Keep Holy the Sabbath Day.” Exodus 20:8

We should often reflect on the third commandment and the significance it held in the life of Padre Pio. Padre Pio not only kept holy the Sabbath day, but every day of his life, by consecrating each day entirely to the Lord.

From early childhood, Padre Pio felt strongly attracted by all aspects of the spiritual life. As soon as he heard the bells ringing, he showed a great desire to go to church. He stopped playing and left whatever he was doing, saying, “I must go to church with Granny.” As a child he heard Mass every morning before going to school and every evening he went to Benediction. He always tried to bring a companion. Every Sunday he diligently attended religious instruction at his parish. He learned the ten commandments and the importance of the third, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day,” had not escaped his attention.

Besides observing this precept, Padre Pio could not tolerate its violation and would always try to inspire respect in everyone for holy days. Once the Padre heard the confession of a young woman who worked for a company that made its employees work on Sundays and feast days. When the young woman finished her confession, Padre Pio asked her, “Don’t you remember anything else?” The woman replied, “Padre, I have confessed everything.” But the exceptional confessor reminded her, “You did not go to Mass and you worked on the feast of St. Peter.” “Yes, Padre,” admitted the woman, “Now I remember. I worked and did not go to Mass that day because otherwise my boss would have fired me. You know, we are poor.” And Padre Pio said, “Did you not think of the serious offense you gave to God? It would have been better to be fired from your job than to offend God seriously.” Then he added, “Be careful not to miss Mass on feast days or to ever offend the Lord again.”

Another time after having heard a man’s confession who had not been to Mass in years, Padre Pio was seen weeping bitterly. Someone asked him, “Padre, why are you crying? What is torturing your heart?” Padre Pio replied, “The ingratitude of people towards the Supreme Benefactor. And what more could Jesus have done, poor Jesus, that He did not do?” A man once told Padre Pio, “I missed Mass on Sunday.” Tears came into the Padre’s eyes and he said, “You say it so lightly.”

One could relate many more anecdotes that show how Padre Pio observed and made others observe the third commandment. In the same way that he celebrated and lived the holy Mass, he wanted his spiritual children to participate at the holy Sacrifice without superficiality or distraction. His knowledge of the inestimable and immense value of the Eucharistic offering made him give detailed counsel on the way of keeping the Lord’s day holy.

In 1915, Padre Pio wrote a letter to Annita Rodote describing the exemplary conduct that a Christian should aspire to. The following are excerpts from that letter:

“In order to avoid irreverance and imperfections in the house of God, in church, which the Divine Master calls the house of prayer, I exhort you in the Lord to practice the following: Enter the church in silence and with great respect. Among other pious considerations, remember that our soul is the temple of God and, as such, we must keep it pure and spotless before God and His angels. Then take holy water and make the sign of the cross carefully and slowly.

As soon as you are before God in the Blessed Sacrament, devoutly genuflect. Once you have found your place, kneel down and render the tribute of your devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Confide all your needs to Him along with those of others. Speak to him with filial abandonment, give free rein to your heart and give Him complete freedom to work in you as He thinks best.

When assisting at Holy Mass be very composed when standing up, kneeling down and sitting, and carry out every religous act with the greatest devotion. Be modest in your glances; don’t turn your head here and there to see who enters and leaves. Don’t laugh, out of reverence for this holy place and also out of respect for those who are near you. Try not to speak to anybody, except when charity or strict necessity requires this.

On leaving the church, you should be recollected and calm. First, take your leave of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Do not leave Him without asking for and having received His paternal blessing.

Once you are outside the church, be as every follower of the Nazarene should be. Above all, be extremely modest in everything, as this is the virtue which, more than any other, reveals the affections of the heart. You must be modest in speech, modest in laughter, modest in your bearing, modest in walking.

Therefore, be humble of heart, circumspect in words, prudent in your resolutions. Always be sparing in your speech, attentive in your work, modest in your conversation.

Always keep before your mind the Divine Master’s meekness which according to the expression of the Apostle to the Corinthians, is on a par with His gentleness. “I, Paul, exhort you, by the gentleness and meekness of Christ…” After so perfect a model, change all your external actions so that they are a faithful mirror revealing your interior sentiments.

Never forget this Divine Model, Annita. Try to see a certain lovable majesty in His presence, a certain pleasant authority in His manner of speaking, a certain sweet serenity in His face. Imagine that extremely composed and sweet expression with which He drew the crowds, making them leave cities and castles, leading them to the mountains, the forests, to the solitude and to deserted beaches, totally forgetting food, drink and their domestic duties.

Thus let us try to imitate, as far as we possibly can, such modest and dignified actions. And let us do our utmost to be, as far as possible, similar to Him on this earth, in order that we may be more perfect and more similar to Him for the whole of eternity in the heavenly Jerusalem.”

In conclusion, consider Padre Pio’s inspiring words about the infinite value of the Mass. He said, “Let us assist at Mass wholeheartedly because it is really Calvary where Jesus accomplished our redemption in the presence of His Father, and let us not leave this mount lightheartedly when Mass is finished as if we had assisted at any ordinary spectacle. Be really sorry for your sins, but at the same time be confident in Divine Justice.”

I turned every way, but there was no one to help me.I looked for one to sustain me, but could find no one.But then I remembered the mercies of the Lord, his kindness through ages past;for he saves those who take refuge in him, and rescues them from every evil.

– Sirach 51:7-8

A FANTASTIC BUT TRUE STORY

A photograph of Donald Fitzgerald with insert of the relic badge he always carries with him.

Donald Fitzgerald was born and reared in Dublin, Ireland. His parents had 16 children, but half were lost as infants. From the age of 15, he became an apprentice stonemason. Soon afterwards he was taken very ill with stomach ulcers which needed not one but three surgeries. While ill, a friend, who had been to San Giovanni Rotondo gave Donald a relic badge of Padre Pio which he wore every day around his neck.

Work was scarce in Dublin so he emigrated to a small fishing village in County Galway, Ireland called Rosáveál, where he found work on a fishing boat named “The Boy Patrick.” The work mainly entailed fishing for prawns. He had been fishing for nearly 12 months and at the end of January in 1975, the Captain, Donald and four men set out for a fishing trip of 10 days. After the fourth day they were about 200 miles off the Irish coast, when the weather looked as if it was going to change. By this time they had about half of their hoped for catch.

The next day the winds built up to a gale force of 8/9. The Captain called the nets aboard and gave orders to head for shore. The nets were filled with prawns. The waves were reaching 15 to 20 feet in height. The large bag containing the fish swung from side to side. Donald’s job was to pull the rope which releases the fish onto the boat. One strong wave after another bashed against the port side of the boat. He had his “sea legs,” so that he was able to balance himself with the movement of the waves. However, a double wave suddenly hit the boat and he lost his balance and the big bag of prawns swung against him and knocked him into the sea.

Donald cannot swim, but the raging sea was too strong even for a good swimmer. He was carried about 500 feet from the boat and realized he was going to drown. He grabbed for the relic of Padre Pio around his neck and invoked his help. At that moment he smelled what he called a “beautiful perfume.”

All of a sudden Padre Pio was standing in front of him. Padre Pio told him not to worry, he would not die. He felt someone lift him out of the water and put him back on the boat. The next day the sea returned to normal and they carried on their trip and eventually returned to port with the catch.

During the ensuing years Donald found work in London as a stonemason. He married an Irish girl named Elizabeth. Their family consists of three children, two boys and a girl. The boys who are now adults working with their father who has become a qualified stonemason. He is planning a monument of Padre Pio with the permission of his parish priest. It will be the first such monument in London.