Saint Pio of Pietrelcina and a Spiritual Son “After my death I will make more noise. My real mission will begin after my death.” Saint Pio of Pietrelcina From April 25 through May 5, I had the joy and honor of accompanying to the United State and interpreting for one of the last living spiritual sons of Padre Pio of Pietrellcina. Adolfo Affatato, now 82 years old, met Padre Pio when he was just sixteen years old and spent the last fifteen years of the saint’s life by his side. Padre Pio was born in 1887 to a poor family on the small town of Pietrelcina (in the region of Campania near Benevento). His baptismal name was Francesco, after St. Francis of Assisi. As a child he wanted to become a priest and friar, however, his parents lacked the money to teach him to read and write. Therefore, his father emigrated to the United States in order to earn money to send his son to seminary. There Padre Pio began to experience extraordinary graces and supernatural phenomena. However, he was frequently sick which forced him to return home. Back in Pietrelcina, he received the invisible stigmata when he was 21 years old. When his state improved, he returned to the community near Benevento. Yet, his health – in particular his lungs – remained ill. When a fellow friar suggested he go to the hill-town of San Giovanni Rotondo, where the air might do good for his health, Padre Pio knew he would remain there for the rest of his life. The year was 1916 and Padre Pio was 29 years old. Two years later, on September 20, 1918, before a crucifix above the ancient church in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio received the five wounds of Christ. Shortly before that, he had experienced “Transverberation” or the piercing of his heart. Soon, word of these miracles and his reputation as a mystic and healer spread. Countless souls who confessed to him described how Padre Pio could “read their souls” and how he knew their sins before confessing them. There are stories of bi-location where Padre Pio would appear simultaneously in two places at the same time. Friars who lived with him recount hearing strange noises at night from within his cell in which the holy friar was struck by demons who left bruises and scrapes on his body. When asked about these phenomena, Padre Pio answered that he did not understand them and that they were a mystery even to him. Given Padre Pio’s extraordinary popularity, Church authorities exercised prudence, and for a period of time he was forbidden from hearing confessions, celebrating Mass in public, and from corresponding with his spiritual sons and daughters. This caused him immense suffering. Later, the order was lifted by the pope himself. Despite the many miracles attributed to his intercession, perhaps Padre Pio’s greatest work was the construction of the hospital called, “Sollievo della Sofferenza” (Relief of Suffering) which Padre Pio had built entirely through donations. Having borne the stigmata, which caused him great physical suffering, Padre Pio always had great empathy and compassion for the sick. Padre Pio retained the stigmata for fifty years until his death on September 23, 1968, when the wounds mysteriously healed. Countless people continue to testify to this day being visited by Padre Pio in dreams or through the fragrance of roses and violets. Saint Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002. Adolfo met Padre Pio for the first time in 1952 when he was sixteen years old. He naively hoped this “soul reader” would tell him if he had passed his high school final exams. Yet, unbeknownst to this young man, this short encounter would radically transform his life.
The evening prayer service had just finished, and Padre Pio was making his way through the crowded sacristy to his cell to retire for the night. Adolfo was there, too, despite the sweltering July heat, watching curiously at a distance. Then, as the pained, stooped, stigmatized saint passed among the packed crowds -- as when Jesus called his disciples according to a divine logic not understood by man -- Padre Pio chose this young boy. To his amazement (and that of everyone else) Padre Pio stopped, turned toward him and said, “Adolfo, vieni qui” (“Adolfo, come here.”) Adolfo went to Padre Pio who placed his hand on his forehead and said, “I have been waiting for you for many years.” As Padre Pio left for his cell, Adolfo stood there amazed as all the people stared at him wondering who he was. That was the first of Adolfo’s countless experiences, and visits to San Giovanni Rotondo. Soon after, Padre Pio accepted Adolfo as his “spiritual son”: a special relationship limited to a few carefully selected people. From then on, Adolfo began keeping a diary in which he journaled about his experiences with the saint and what he witnessed. Many years later, Adolfo realized the good he could do with his stories. Thus, he self-published the first edition of his book (paying for all expenses out of his own pocket) with the Italian title, “Io e Il Padre” (“Padre Pio and I”). In it, he sought to make the saint known “more and better.” The book is a fascinating firsthand account of the supernatural side of Padre Pio as witnessed by a close companion. Yet, it is also touching and moving as the author reveals the tender and endearing side of Padre Pio. In the end, what emerges, however, is the heartfelt story of a man who loved Padre Pio intimately as his own father, and in turn, discovered Christ within. His book is the fruit of what Padre Pio once told Adolfo, “Give the love that I have put into your heart to those to whom you draw near, because in this is the meaning of life.” This book, indeed Adolfo’s entire life, is a response to that personal mandate he received directly from Padre Pio. Adolfo’s book, “Padre Pio and I: Memoirs of a Spiritual Son” is available on Amazon in Kindle format:
1 Comment
Mandy Phillips
6/5/2020 09:15:02 am
I live in South Africa and have been to Italy Benevento and stayed with Maria Pepe in 2000. Unfortunately my trip to pay homage to St Padré Pio was cancelled. The book by Adolfo which I found on my Kindle has made up for that disappointment. Thank you for bringing Padré Pio to life for me. God bless. Mandy
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Bret ThomanCatholic. Franciscan. Married. Father. Pilgrim guide. Writer. Translator. Pilot. Aspiring sailor. Archives
April 2024
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