St. Padre Pio Perfume

Whenever anyone smells the perfume it is a sign that God bestowed some grace through the intercession of Padre Pio. The scents are violets, lilies, roses, incense, or even fresh tobacco.

The perfume has always a positive value. It testifies his presence as an approval for something going on, a warning of approaching danger, appeal against sin and temptation, message of comfort to a soul in distress, an answer to a cry for help, the announcement or the confirmation that he has heard our prayer or request.^{^[1]} ^{^[2]}

Fra Modestino reported: “I was serving Padre Pio's Mass when I started smelling his perfume. It was so intense that I was about to faint, and mentally asked him to stop. The perfume stopped. Later I asked Padre Pio about it. "My son it's not me. It's the Lord. He decides who smells it, and when. Everything happens if and when He wants."^{^[12]}

Padre Romolo testified in 1921: “In 1919 I passed by this convent. Padre Pio was accompanying the bishop of Melfi outside the convent. His handkerchief fell. A friar who picked it up gave it to me. I took it to my convent in Umbria. The handkerchief was for twenty days in my suitcase. When I opened it, after such a long time it still had the scent in all its intensity.”^{^[3]}

Padre Romolo: “In the small drawer of the nightstand in my cell there was a bandage from Padre Pio’s side. This small drawer has been in my cell for a year now, and every time I open it I notice Padre Pio’s scent.”^{^[4]}

Grazia Formichelli, the midwife who delivered the future Padre Pio, reported: “I was on the mountain picking berries and was walking backwards. Suddenly I smelled the perfume of Padre Pio. I lifted my head, turned around, and saw behind me a steep precipice. Another step and I had fallen into it.”^{^[5]}

Domenico Tognola of Zurich, Switzerland wrote to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo: “One morning I awoke and had a strong odor of violets, roses, and lilies. I recognized it as associated with Padre Pio and wondered what it could mean. I understood its meaning when the postman brought me a letter from my brother whom I had not seen in thirty two years, and had presumed dead. I had been praying to Padre Pio for any kind of news concerning my brother, and this was an answer to my prayer.”^{^[6]}

Gian Carlo Pedriali wrote a book on Padre Pio called “I have seen Padre Pio”. He described what happened when he went, out of curiosity, to see Padre Pio: “I was standing in the church with my young son, when I first saw him being greeted by a crown of people. I was some distance away when all at once a sharp and pleasant odor invaded my nostrils. At the same time my son pulled at my sleeve, asking what the perfume was.”^{^[7]}

James Bulmann, an American seminarian, one morning had the privilege of serving Padre Pio’s Mass. Afterwards, he told the friars: “While answering the prayers at the foot of the altar, I noticed a beautiful perfume, the likes of which I have never smelled before. I had come with little knowledge of Padre Pio and did not know of this phenomenon.”^{^[8]}

Dorothy Gaudiose was standing before Padre Pio with two Charity nuns. She told Padre Pio (in Italian): “Padre, this are two American nuns. They say they have a question for you.” He glanced at them and said to Dorothy (in Italian): “I know what they want; they want to know how they stand before God. Tell them to follow the rules of their order and continue as they have been doing.” Dorothy turned to the nuns and said: “Sisters, what question have you for Padre Pio?” The answers almost in unison: “Tell him we want to know how we stand before God.”^{^[9]}

Ginette Estebe from Royan France, reported: “I was paralyzed on my left side, arms and legs; and the face was drawn and deformed. Eighteen doctors had told me that I was incurable. One day I was told about Padre Pio. I decided to write him a letter. It took three days to write the letter with my right hand. After I sent the letter I found that I could my arms, hands, and legs. After a short time I was entirely healed. I went to thank Padre Pio. I was in a hall with a crowd of many other people. He recognized me, and beckoned me to him. He blessed me and put his hand on my head.”^{^[10]}

He lived for 26 years in the convent and was confessor and friend of Padre Pio. He testified that on October 3, 1923, while approaching padre Pio he was "surrounded by an intense perfume of violets, so intense that I was almost overcome. So it was for about ten minutes."

He also reported: "I was bringing the Holy Communion at the home of Dr. Sanguinetti, who was sick. When I rang the bell I found myself surrounded by a strong perfume. Back to the Friary I told the story to Padre Pio and asked him, "Padre, why did you make me smell your perfume?" Padre Pio replied: "Because I’m so fond of you."^{^[11]}

A woman from Switzerland convinced her son to visit Padre Pio with her. He agreed, with the condition that he would not have to kiss his hand: “These are things of Middle Ages.” After the confession he kissed Padre Pio’s hand without thinking about what he had said to his mom. When he went to his mom few moments later she noted that his lip were markedly swollen and blue. When he tried to explain, his breath had a strong perfume of violets. The swelling lasted for five days. So did the perfume.

At 4:45 in the morning Carlo Pedriali was in the sacristy with his three years old son, waiting for Padre Pio’s morning Mass. As soon as he entered, the child pulled his dad’s sleeve: “Daddy, where is this smell of perfume coming from?”

A woman involved in an accident broke arm and shoulder, and after 3 years of surgeries the doctors said that she would never be able to use her arm. She wants to Padre Pio. He said: "Don't despair. The arm will recover." She went back home. No improvement. 3 months later, on September 17, 1930, feast day of the wounds of St. Francis, she and all in the family, and the neighbors smelled a strong perfume of daffodils and roses. It lasted about 15 minutes. The arm returned normal. The radiographs showed no abnormality in the bones and cartilages.

Alberto del Fante, a writer, has promised Padre Pio to make the sign of the Cross and say a prayer before starting to work. On February 28, 1931 he started writing an essay without first signing himself. He suddenly smelled incense. He called wife, children and maid, asking them if they smelled anything. They were smelling incense. He got the message.

A woman testified: "My husband was taken to the hospital in Taranto with life threatening injuries after a car accident. After several days of no improvement I prayed Padre Pio. I smelled a marvelous perfume of lily. From then on my husband made a fast recovery.”

On October 1949 Maria Galiano was about to die from uterine adenocarcinoma. The daughter sent a telegram and 2 letters to Padre Pio. On April 29 1950 Maria smelled an intense perfume. It lasted for 2 days. The third day she felt healed. The doctors run tests and found that 'the tumor has completely disappeared.”

The Bishop Carlo Rossi was sent to investigate Padre Pio in 1921. He was particularly impressed by the perfume, and examined the cell and found only plain soap. “This very intense and pleasant fragrance, similar to the scent of violet, I have smelled it. It is sensed in waves, when he walks by, in his spot in the choir, even from a distance. The scent remained with hair of Padre Pio’s that had been cut two years before, as it also attached itself to the stigmatic blood and bandages.”^{^[13]}

On July 1930, 24 years old Giuseppina Marchetti had her right arm and shoulder badly crashed in an accident. Several doctors couldn't help. She went to Padre Pio with her father. Padre Pio told her: "You will recover." Back home, on September 17, 1932 father and daughter smelled an intense perfume of daffodils and roses lasting 15 minutes. She felt healed. An x-ray was perfectly normal. ^{^[14]} ^{^[15]} ^{^[16]} ^{^[17]} ^{^[18]}

Robert Hopcke, a Lutheran seminarian, was attending a Catholic Mass with his friend Vincenzo Mandato. “I remember smelling very distinctly a strong odor of roses just before the homily, It went away, and then it came back during the Creed. It faded and came back during the Consecration of the Host.” Robert looked around but there was no woman nearby, and no flowers, and the candles were far away. After Mass Vincenzo asked Robert: “Did you smell anything during Mass?” They had had the same experience. Later Robert wanted to report the episode to Vincenzo’s father, Mr. Mandato, who had known Padre Pio well. Mr. Mandato explained in detail about the perfume of Padre Pio that Robert had smelled. Robert concluded: “I cannot deny that before I even spoke of what I smelled, Mr. Mandato had described it perfectly.”^{^[19]}

“On my first visit I took from Padre Pio a small cloth stained with blood, do a microscopic examination back in Rome. I am entirely deprived of the sense of smell, but the persons that were with me in the car smelled a fragrance very distinctly, and said that it corresponded to the perfume emanating from Padre Pio. They didn’t know that I had the cloth, enclosed in a case.”

“In Rome, I conserved the cloth in a cabinet in my study. The room was frequently filled with perfume, and many patients spontaneously asked me what the origin of the perfume was.”^{^[20]} ^{^[21]}

Dr. Festa, one of the doctors who examined Padre Pio decided to take with him a cloth that had been covering the side wound, for laboratory analysis in Rome. Nobody knew about it. During the trip several people told him they smelled the perfume of Padre Pio. And the patients smelled the same perfume during the doctor's visits.^{^[22]}

On the 19th of September 1968, four days before Padre Pio’ death, Padre Alberto D’Apolito was present when a spiritual son brought Pio a bouquet of roses for the 50th anniversary of his stigmata. Padre Pio asked the spiritual son to bring one of the roses to the shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. He did so. One of the Sisters at the shrine placed the rose in a vase with other flowers. On the 23rd, when Padre Pio died, the Sister saw that the vase of flowers had withered and was about to throw them out when she noticed that the Padre Pio rose "had closed and become a fresh and perfumed bud again." The rose was placed in a glass container. ^{^[23]}

A year later, when Padre Alberto went on a pilgrimage to Pompeii, he and his group saw the rose "preserved in its container, still fresh, with the stem slightly yellowed."^{^[24]}

Dr. Zuhair Yusuf Miscony, his wife dr. Myriam, and daughter Zena, all Catholics of the Syrian Rite in Iraq, moved to London. In July 1989 they were given a prayer card with the relic of Padre Pio. They said the prayer every day. One evening Dr. Miscony, on his way home from the University College Hospital, was hit by a motorcycle, “thrown about fifteen feet in the air and landed on the road again with a mighty thud”. The motorcyclist tried to help, but Dr. Miscony stood up and said he was fine, and went home. His wife and daughter, told of the accident, rushed him to the hospital to be examined for possible internal injuries. Many doctors and tests later, “there was no sign of any injury whatsoever”. Back home, one evening Dr. Miscony was watching a video on Padre Pio when he smelled “like a sphere of perfume in the middle of the room. Like lilies nut more beautiful.” Half hour later, Myriam and Zena returned home and were “immediately struck by the perfume, entering the TV room. Miriam said: “He’s here.” All three ”checked every bottle but none was producing the perfume they smelled.” The perfume “lasted from 6 PM to around midnight.”[25]

One special episode occurred while brother Pio was in Montefusco in 1908. One day he gathered chestnuts growing in a nearby forest into a bag and sent the bag to Pietrelcina to his aunt Daria. She always had a great affection for him. The woman received and ate the chestnuts. She saved the bag as a souvenir. A few days later she was looking for something in a drawer where her husband usually kept the gun powder. It was in the evening so she used a candle to light up the room when suddenly the drawer caught on fire, and aunt Daria’s face and hair got burned. After a moment, she took the bag father Pio sent and put it on her face. Immediately, her pain disappeared and no wound or hair loss or burn mark remained on her face.^{^[26]}

Reported by Il Mattino 6-11-1919. Pasquale Di Chiara had been forced to use a cane to walk for several months after a fall. Padre Pio seeing him commanded him to walk. Pasquale reported: “I felt a burning sensation from my foot through my body. I began walking perfectly without assistance.”^{^[27]} ^{^[28]} ^{^[29]}

Pasquale's daughter Italia Di Chiara was using braces on her legs for infantile paralysis contracted during her infancy. Padre Pio asked her to take them off. She was able to walk and move around, and never use them again.^{^[30]}

Francesco Visco lived near the convent, and had walked on crutches all his life because of a deformity from infantile paralysis (polio) contracted right after birth. He dragged himself about on his knees, supported by a pair of miniature crutches. The children used to make fun of him all the time. He was usually positioned near the door of the cloister, soliciting alms.

When he was 43 he took the courage to ask: “Padre Pio bless me." Many people, including Padre Paolino da Casacalenda witnessed the happening.

Padre Pio promptly answered: "Throw away your crutches." Francesco, stunned didn’t move. This time Padre Pio shouted: “I said, throw away your crutches.” In front of all those people Francesco threw his crutches away, and walker for the first time, and for several years after, until his death.^{^[31]} ^{^[32]}

Pasquale Urbano of Foggia had been walking with two canes after falling from a carriage.

After the confession in 1919 Padre Pio said: "Get up and go. Throw away those canes". He walked away to everyone's amazement.^{^[33]} ^{^[34]}

Giuseppe Canaponi of Firenze, on May 21, 1945 was hit by a truck while driving his motorcycle. Multiple fractures from skull to feet, including 5 fractures of left femur. Multiple surgeries. Walking on crutches since. In 1948 confessed with Padre Pio. He walked away normally, without realizing it. He went back to thank Padre Pio. "I didn't do the miracle. I only prayed for you. The Lord healed you."^{^[35]} ^{^[36]} ^{^[37]}

Gemma di Giorgi, from Ribera in Sicily, born on Christmas day in 1939, was blind, born without pupils. Specialty drs. Bonifacio, Cucco, and Contini had said she was inoperable, and nothing could be done about her blindness. In 1947 she was brought to padre Pio by her grandmother. In the hallway, after confession Padre Pio touched her eyes making the sign of the cross over each eyes. The same day she received the first communion from Padre Pio. He told her: “Be good and saint.” and she started seeing normally, still without pupils in her eyes. ^{^[38]} ^{^[39]} ^{^[40]} ^{^[41]}

She was taken to eye doctors for evaluations and all said that she couldn’t see, repeating over and over “Without pupils you cannot see. “Over the years many doctors have examined Gemma and were amazed.

Gemma and her grandma spent some days in San Giovanni Rotondo in 1967, and detailed her story To Clarice Bruno. Gemma was 28.”^{^[42]}

"I had no pupils in my eyes," said Gemma in an interview with Father John Schug in 1971, several years after Padre Pio's death. “I had no sight at all. Today I still see normally. As you can see I have no pupils."^{^[43]}

Erminio Ziaco of Civitavecchia was afflicted with muscular dystrophy. The pediatrician and a specialist in Rome said there was no cure. The child was taken to Padre Pio, after which he began to walk, run, and ride a bicycle. When he went back to the pediatrician, his sight of Emerio was an “immense surprise.”^{^[44]}

Bill McLaughlin at 23, in 1995, had a severe car crash. He was airlifted to Dublin. The doctors said that if he survived he would be a vegetable. E chaplain at the hospital was a Capuchin friar. He had a glove of Padre Pio and passed it over Bill’s body. After 15 minutes Bill started to move arms and legs. The nurse called the doctor and he said that he didn’t understand. After few says he came back to 100% normal. He was sent to physiotherapy. When his name was called he entered in, and looking at her notes the physiotherapist said: “It’s not you that I am looking for. Bill McLaughlin should be in a wheelchair. When he went to his family doctor he said: :”You should be dead.” A brain scan shoved all the injuries and the part of the brain that is gone. But there are no symptoms. Bill went to Rome in 1999 to Padre Pio’s beatification. Bill and his family went also to San Giovanni Rotondo after Padre Pio’s canonization. The story is recorded in the convent.^{^[45]}

Cancer in Poland

Dr. Wanda Poltawska, from Cracow in Poland, from 1941 to 1945 was in the Ravensbruk concentration camp. After liberation she married and had four daughters. She was friends with the archbishop Karol Wojtyla. In 1962 she was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. The doctors said that if they operated she could maybe live few more months. She told what was happening to the archbishop Wojtyla, who was leaving for the opening of the Ecumenical Council in Rome. On November 18, 1962, Woityla wrote to Padre Pio, asking for prayers for Dr. Poltawska. On Friday November 21, at the final pre-operative check the surgeon could find no trace of the tumor. It was no longer there. On Saturday morning the archbishop Wojtyla called from Rome, to ask about the surgery. Dr. Poltawska told him “the good news”. Mons. Wojtyla wrote another letter to Padre Pio on November 28, thanking him for his prayers, stating: “She recovered before the surgery was started.” In 1967 Dr. Poltawska met Padre Pio: “He was passing by me on his way to the sacristy. He suddenly stopped and searched the crowd with his eye. Then he turned and walked towards me. With his hand on my head he said: “Are you all right now, my dear child? Is it ok now?” At that instant I just knew in my heart that he had indeed obtained my cure.”[46]

Angelo Battisti, administrator of Casa Sollievo, reported that when Padre Pio received the letter from Monsignor Karol Woityla he told him: "Angelino, conserva questa lettera, perche' un giorno diventera' importante". "Angelino, keep this letter, because one day it will become important."^{^[126]} ^{^[127]}

Letter sent to Padre Pio in 1962 by Carol Wojtyla future Pope John Paol II: "40 years old woman from Krakow, mother of four girls. She was in a concentration camp in WWII. Now she in grave state of health because of cancer. Pray the Beate Virgin that she can recover."

Letter sent to Padre Pio by Karol Wojtyla, Capitular Bishop of Krakow. December 16, 1963: "Thank for the help in some cases in the past. Thank for a female catholic doctor with cancer, and for a child gravely ill since birth. Both are doing well. Now I am recommending a paralyzed lady. Karol."

Alberto Del Fante was a journalist who despised Padre Pio. A few years later, Del Fante's grandson, Enrico, was struck with kidney disease and tuberculosis. The doctors gave little hope that Enrico would recover. Relatives of Enrico traveled to see Padre Pio and ask him to pray for him. Padre Pio assured them the boy would recover. Del Fante himself said: "If Enrico gets well, I will make a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo myself." He was convinced that nothing would happen, but the boy was healed. Del Fante was deeply moved by this miracle, and went to see Padre Pio who helped him turn to God. After Del Fante's conversion, he became a dedicated promoter of Padre Pio.^{^[47]}

Rosetta Polo Riva

Rosetta Polo Riva from Bolzaneto, twelve years old, had a congenital painful heat defect. Her friend wrote a letter to Padre Pio, asking prayers for Rosetta. Two weeks later Rosetta saw Padre Pio at her bedside. “Rosetta, I am Padre Pio. Instead of writing you a letter I came in person. You will receive grace from Madonna on August 28, at eight in the evening.” On that date she felt better, and few days later she was completely cured.^{^[48]}

In 1935 Padre Costantino Capobianco told Padre Pio that he had a relapse of tuberculosis, and had been ordered to report to a sanitarium. Padre Pio: “Don’t worry. This is just an excursion.” Padre Costantino was soon discharged, and outlived Padre Pio. ^{^[49]}

Vincenzo Matera

Vincenzo Matera had been inpatient at Casa Sollievo in 1976 for a kidney stone, and after six days of observation the doctors decided to operate. Vincenzo saw Padre Pio at his bedside. He told him: “Get up. You are healed.” He got up. The fragmented stone was expelled. At the same time he was called to his wife’s room. She, also inpatient at Casa Sollievo, had just delivered a healthy baby boy.^{^[50]}

Don Orione

A young man with the right hand paralyzed and deformed went to Don Orione (now saint) asking for his hand to be healed because he had wife and children to provide for. Don Orione suggested him to go to Padre Pio mentioning that don Orione was sending him. The man went to Padre Pio and returned to don Orione after a week smiling and waving his arm completely healed. He said that he had mentioned don Orione, and Padre Pio had blessed his arm.^{^[51]}

Grazia Siena from San Giovanni Rotondo was born blind. She went frequently to the convent to pray. When she was 29 Padre Pio told her to have an operation on the eye. With the help of family and friends she saw many eye doctors, but no one wanted to operate. In Bari they convinced prof. Francesco Durante to operate. However he told Graziella that only a miracle could give her sight back. When the bandages were removed after surgery she was able to see for the first time.^{^[52]} ^{^[53]}

On February 1950 the 15 years old son of Leonello Marinelli from Montignana near Perugia was diagnosed with an incapacitating disorder of the heart. The specialists said that it was beyond medical help. The child asked the father to go tell Padre Pio. When Lionello approached Padre Pio, he, before Lionello could open his mouth, said: “I know why you came. The boy is better and gradually will be cured.” When Lionello went back home, the son told him that he had a dream of Padre Pio, and was feeling better. The doctors, after examining the boy, affirmed that the heart disorder had disappeared, and declared that there was no way this could have happened naturally. In March the young Marinelli was completely well, and able to visit Padre Pio with his father.^{^[54]}

Frances Pasqualini from San Francisco, California, testified that in December 1951 her 29 years old brother in law was stricken with “a rare illness on the nervous system” which left him paralyzed from the neck down, and the doctors “gave no hope for his life.” The family wrote to padre Pio, asking for his prayers. Two months later she reported that “the same young man is now back home with his wife and children, eating by himself, learning to walk without a cane, and showing signs of a thorough and complete recovery.”^{^[55]}

On November 1911 Mother Teresa Salvadores was dying from cancer of the stomach and a lesion of the aorta, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Monsignor Damiani, when in San Giovanni Rotondo, had obtained a glove of Padre Pio. Damiani applied the glove to her stomach and to her throat. She fell asleep, and when she awoke she was cured. She reported that while asleep Padre Pio touched her side, than breathed on her saying heavenly words.^{^[56]} ^{^[57]} ^{^[58]} ^{^[59]}

Dr. Giuseppe Sala sent a telegram to Padre Pio requesting his prayers for his son Paolo who was in critical condition with spinal meningitis. Padre Pio wired back: “On the third day he will have no more fever and he will turn out to be the most intelligent of all your children.” The prophecy proved true.^{^[60]}

Anna Clara Lacitrignola, a three years old child from Bari was diagnosed with polio on January 8, 1947. She was paralyzed and couldn’t move. The family spent the estate in consultations, injections, transfusions, and anything else was suggested by the doctors. No improvement whatsoever. After Easter that year the child’s grandmother went to Padre Pio. He said: ‘Go home, go home, you will find your baby better. Take courage and pray the Lord.” Back home Anna Clara improved rapidly and after few days she was completely healed “robust, healthy, very bright and very pious.”^{^[61]}

Nicoletta Mazzone, a child from San Felice a Cancello, in 1919 was in a coma for several months from meningitis. The doctors had given no hope. The father went to Padre Pio. Padre Pio said: “Go home and be happy, the Madonna of Graces will heal her.” Pietro, the father, thought that Padre Pio had not understood the gravity of the illness, and kept explaining what the doctors had told him. Padre Pio: “Man of little faith! I repeat, go home and be glad because the Madonna of Graces has healed her.” Back home he found the daughter out of coma, eating regularly, speaking, and feeling normal. Pietro concluded that “the doctors were astonished, and said that the child had returned from the grave.”^{^[62]}

In 1919, a priest named Padre Carlo Naldi came with his Jewish friend, Lello Pegna. The priest explained that Pegna had recently become totally blind. They had come to Padre Pio to see if he could be healed. Padre Pio told Pegna: "The Lord will not grant you the grace of physical sight unless you first receive sight for your soul. After you are baptized, then the Lord will give you your sight." Months later, Pegna came back without the dark glasses that he normally wore. Pegna explained to Padre Pio that, despite opposition from his family, he had become a Christian and was baptized. At the beginning, he was discouraged when his blindness continued, but after a number of months his sight returned. The physician who had earlier told Pegna that he was hopelessly blind now had to admit that his eyesight was in perfect condition. Padre Paolino kept in contact with Lello Pegna for nearly thirty years, and reported that his vision was still perfect.^{^[63]} ^{^[64]}

A blind man from Lecco begged Padre Pio to restore his sight "even if only in one eye," so that he might again see the faces of his dear ones. Padre Pio questioned him repeatedly, "Only in one eye?" Padre Pio told the man to be of good heart and that he would pray for him. Some weeks later the man returned in tears to thank Padre Pio because his sight was restored! Padre Pio said: "So, you are seeing normally again?" The man replied, "Yes, from this eye here, not from the other." Padre Pio said: "Ah! Only from one eye? Let that be a lesson to you. Never put limitations on God. Always ask for the big grace!" ^{^[65]}

Paolo Perrone from Sicily testified in 1993 that, after confession in 1948, he told Padre Pio that he had a constant pain in the shoulder and he thought it was pleurisy. Padre Pio: “And do you want to live with this worrying thought my son? I have rotten lungs and yet I’m still living.” After a pause he put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Does it hurt now?” “No”. “There have you seen?” The penitent returned home cured.^{^[66]}

Tumor

A man bellowed in the hallway: “Padre, my wife has a tumor. I have a lot of children. You must cure her for us.” “Yes, all right, I will pray.” “No, Padre, you must cure her at once.” Padre Pio said: “Don’t you know it is easier to cure a tumor than to change the heart of a man? Very well, it will mean a little tightening of the belt for the spiritual children. Here a headache, there a sore keg, a sacrifice for another, and we will offer it all up to the Lord for your wife’s recovery.” The woman was cured by the time her husband got home.^{^[67]}

Danilo Gorin testified in 1996 that he had returned to Italy from Canada because he had a terminal throat cancer. The doctors had told him: “Go to your homeland to die.” With his wife he went to see Padre Pio for the first time. As soon as Padre Pio saw him he said: “Eh, Canadian.” The poor man was so surprised that he started crying. After the confession, Padre Pio asked: “So what do the doctors say about your illness?” After Danilo’s explanation that he had three months to live, Padre Pio touched his throat and said: “Have faith, Jesus is doctor and medicine.” On his way to his hometown of Vicenza he realized that he felt normal. A doctor’s examination found him completely healthy.^{^[68]}

Umberto Di Girolamo, a young fellow from Palermo testified in1996 that he had been suffering of intestinal infection with poly sierosytis, exudative peritonitis and pleurisy. He went to see Padre Pio in 1955. Padre Pio said: “Have you got any faith?” Umberto couldn’t utter a word. Padre Pio: ‘Well, if it’s like that, away with you.” Later he went to confession. Padre Pio: “How long is it since last confession?” No words. Padre Pio: “Away with you”. After several tormented days he went to confession again. Padre Pio gave him the absolution, and then asked: “What have you had?” Umberto did not understand the subtlety of the question and said: “Do I must offer my sufferings to our Lady?” And Padre Pio: “But my son what have you had?” And then added: “Well, all have the duty to take care of ourselves.” Back to the guesthouse he felt normal and stopped taking the medicines. In Palermo the doctors found him healed. He started to practice sports again.^{^[69]}

Maria Cozzi Giuliano had epithelioma of the tongue. She has terrible pain for several months and unable to masticate. She was suggested to pray Padre Pio, and she did. On August 18, 1919 she went to the dentist to draw out a number of teeth before the operation. The dentist found the tongue completely healed, and called in dr. Marchetti. She was completely cured.^{^[70]} ^{^[71]}

Paolina Preziosi, mother of five, from San Giovanni Rotondo, known to Padre Pio as a special soul, fell gravely ill before Easter.

The doctors said there was nothing that they could do to save her. The husband and children went to Padre Pio to implore his help.

He said: "She will resurrect on Easter Sunday". On Good Friday she lost consciousness. On the morning of Holy Saturday she went into a coma.

The relatives went again to Padre Pio. He said: "She will resurrect." She died late Saturday evening. The family made the preparations for her body to be dressed in her wedding gown as it was customary in the area. Padre Pio started the Easter Vigil Mass and at the moment of the Glory,

When the bells ring and the organ resound he started crying. At the same time Paolina got up un-helped, kneeled beside the bed and started reciting aloud the "Credo". Everybody was astonished. They asked her what had happened. She said: "I was climbing and climbing happily. When I was about to enter in a great light I started coming back, and went back." Padre Pio had not said "She will recover" but "She will resurrect."^{^[72]} ^{^[73]} ^{^[74]} ^{^[75]} ^{^[76]} ^{^[77]} ^{^[78]} [79]

Amelia and Federico Abresh married in 1925. In 1926 Amelia had an abortion caused by a small tumor of the uterus. The tumor grew markedly and the specialists advised not to postpone surgery. She went to Padre Pio: “Follow the advice of the doctors.” “So, I will never have children.” ”Well, then, my daughter, no instruments; you would be ruined for the rest of your life.” She returned home and decided to see no more doctors. Two year later she had a boy. They named him Pio. Pio Abresh became a priest.^{^[80]} ^{^[81]} ^{^[82]}

Graziano Borelli went often to San Giovanni Rotondo. He testified in 1999, reporting a conversation with Padre Pio: “Padre, I have brought a 14 year old boy who is ill with a lymph granuloma.” “And what can I do about it?” Padre, if you pray, god can make a miracle.” “Do you believe what you say?” “Yes Padre, I do believe it.” “He remained silent for a while, then added: ”So let it be.” “Back home, the doctors run several tests for two days. The boy was completely cured, and still living today.”^{^[83]}

Antonio Badolino, age fifty three, after an accident, for thirty three years was unable to sit or walk. He had multiple fractures of pelvis, chronic generalized polyarthritis, and cardio respiratory deficiency. He had been hospitalized fifty four times all over Italy. He was brought to Casa Sollievo, few years after Padre Pio’s death, for urgent need of oxygen. During the night he was visited by a monk who commanded him to get up and walk. Struggling and perspiring he obeyed, accompanying his strange director in silently visiting the bedside of each patient in the rooms of his hospital wing. Back to his room, the monk said: “Don’t forget to go down to the church, to visit my tomb.” Only then he realized that it was Padre Pio. He had never seen Padre Pio and he had never believed in him. He was an atheist. The following day he was dancing and jumping about. The real miracle came afterwards, with his conversion.^{^[84]}

Danilo Golin testified in1999 that in the fifties he returned from Canada to die in his homeland. He had a throat tumor. His wife suggested a trip to San Giovanni Rotondo, were they had never been. When he knelt for confession, Padre Pio said: “Eh! Canadian!” Danilo was shocked and burst into tears. After confession Padre Pio said: “So what the doctors say about your illness?” “Three months to live” Danilo replied. Padre Pio: “Have faith. Jesus is doctor and medicine.” Back home Danilo underwent medical testing end he was found completely healthy.”^{^[85]}

Rosa Di Cosimo and Giovanni Savino met Padre Pio six weeks after their wedding, and became his spiritual children. He became a construction worker at the friary. They had eight children.

Daughter Lina one day was struck by a moped. At the first aid station the doctor diagnosed head trauma, and severe internal hemorrhage. She was in a coma and there was no close hospital to take her to. The mom run to Padre Pio. “looked into heaven like he saw another reality” and said “Let’s pray and we’ll leave everything in Our Lord’s hands.” Three days later she opened her eyes, and recovered quickly and completely.

Few years later son Giuseppe was hit by a motorcycle. He had head injury and was in a deep coma. Padre Pio prayed for him. He recovered consciousness and recovered quickly.

Giovanni went to Padre Pio’s Mass every morning and got his blessing before going to work.

On February 12, 1949 Padre Pio told him: “Giovanni, I’m praying the Lord that you might not be killed.” Padre Pio said the same thing for the next three days.” Giovanni was scared, and asked for an explanation, but Padre Pio was silent.

On February 15 he told his crew “Let’s not work today.” But they refused. They had to blast away some rocks in preparation for the friary annex. Giovanni placed a charge of dynamite under a boulder and lit the fuse. It failed to detonate. After few minutes Giovanni went over to check the charge. As he bent over the dynamite exploded in his face. The face was severely damaged. The right eye was an empty socket. The left eye had numerous foreign bodies in it. Padre Pio exposed the Blessed Sacrament and was heard to pray: “Lord, I offer You one of my eyes for Giovanni, because he is the father of a family.”

On February 25 he smelled the “aroma of paradise” and felt like Padre Pio was near him and slapped three times on his forehead. Giovanni said: “Padre Pio give me my sight or let me die. I cannot live like this. Later that morning the ophthalmologist, who was an atheist, came to examine Giovanni.

Giovanni exclaimed: “doctor I see you with my right eye. The doctor: “You might see me with the left eye. The right is completely destroyed.” Upon further exam the doctor had to admit the Giovanni was right, and said: “Now I too believe because this has happened right in front of me.”

Giovanni was released from the hospital in June and visited Padre Pio. He told him: “If you only knew what this cost me!” Giovanni continued to see perfectly from his empty right eye until his death in 1979.^{^[86]} ^{^[87]} ^{^[88]} ^{^[89]}

Scarlet fever

Iole Cassano from San Giovanni Rotondo testified that in 1934, during an epidemic of scarlet fever, she became ill and had high temperature. Her father, fearing the worst, went to Padre Pio. He said: “Don’t worry, go home and you will see that the girl has no longer a high temperature.” “It was true” Iole reported.^{^[90]}

Tuberculosis

Brother Elia De Martino da Serracapriola, in 1937 was a theology student in Campobasso. He contracted tuberculosis. After three years the Padre Superiore thought he would be in the grave in a short time, and sent him to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo. Elia told Padre Pio: “Everybody says that I am done, that I have to die soon.” Padre Pio: ”Who has to die?” “Me. I have tuberculosis.” “And you have to die? You have got a long way to go my son!” Elia De Martino was ordained Capuchin priest in 1941, and die in San Giovanni Rotondo in 2003, at the age of 87.^{^[91]}

Shoulder pain

Padre Emanuele Grassi da Riccia had pain in a shoulder. It had been bothering him for a while. He told Padre Pio about it. Padre Pio tapped him on the shoulder and said: “Don’t worry.” The pain disappeared and never returned.^{^[92]}

Ear drum

Renata from Parma had since childhood chronic ear infection with pierced eardrum, frequent discharge, and a constant buzzing sound. Over the year she adamantly refused the doctor’s advice to operate. She went to see Padre Pio. Padre Pio, after confession: “You must have an operation.” Renata moved to the front of the confessional and said: “I don’t want an operation. I just want that you touch my ear. Padre Pio did, and she felt a sharp unbearable pain that made her run screaming outside the church, all the way to the elm tree. Then she stopped and began feeling better. Weeks later she went to the doctor for a check-up of the ear. The doctor: “Where have you been, to St. Rita’s? You ear is perfectly healthy. There is no damage anymore.”^{^[93]}

Seizures

Anna Maria had convulsions for several years and was under treatment by a neurologist. No medicines could help and the doctors were considering brain surgery. She was taken to San Giovanni Rotondo at age nine. After confessing with Padre Pio she told him what she had been instructed to say: “My mother would like to know what I can do to recover.” “And you ask me? Just pray. Prayer is enough.” From that day the family started reciting daily the rosary. Anna Maria never had another attack. She also stopped to take the morning medication, while still taking the evening dose. A year later, Anna Maria went back to Padre Pio with her family. The mother asked Padre Pio: “Should Anna Maria have an EEG?” Padre Pio: “Do not awaken a sleeping dog.” After still another year: “Should we discontinue the night med?” Padre Pio: “If she continues taking those sedatives, what will she take years from now if she should have need of them?” Anna Maria stopped taking the medication. She became a teacher. She never had a seizure again.^{^[94]}

Bleeding colitis

Angelo Salvitti from forest Park, Ill., had been suffering since 1945 of bleeding colitis. He has been hospitalized at the Hines Veteran’s Hospital many times, and the hemorrhages varied from seven to thirty five daily. He heard about Padre Pio and decided to see him. In 1967, with his wife and sister, and a recommendation for Nicolino Cocomozzi, they went to San Giovanni Rotondo. Nicolino was a longtime resident, employed at the post office. Most every day he went to the convent to get Padre Pio’s signature on certified mail addressed to him. Nicolino took Angelo to Padre Pio’s room: “Padre, this man has come from America to see you”. Padre Pio: “Bravo, bravo, God bless you my son.” Angelo reported: “From that moment the burning pain I had for so many years disappeared completely and I have never had it again. And I did not ask anything regarding my illness.” The next morning Padre Pio told Nicolino: “Tell him he is well now, and to eat and drink anything he desires, I have already been praying for him for a long time.”^{^[95]}

Chest pains

Giovanna Russo from San Giovanni Rotondo testified that her mom had severe chest pains and thought that her end was near. Giovanna run to the friary and told it to Padre Pio. Padre Pio: “You always see the dark side. She is alright, and perhaps she is chatting with her neighbors.” Giovanna run back home: “When I went home I saw mom chatting with her friends.”^{^[96]}

Malaria

In 1917 Nina Campanile’s mother was gravely ill. The doctor ha diagnosed double pneumonia. Nina went to Padre Pio to recommend her mom, sick in bed with pneumonia. Padre Pio said: “What pneumonia you are you talking about; your mom has malaria!” Nina went back to the doctor. He reassessed the diagnosis, and with proper treatment Nina’s mom recovered.^{^[97]}

Blind

A young woman came from Benevento to ask a grace for her husband who had become totally blind. Padre Pio said that her husband’s only hope for salvation was to stay blind, as a punishment for beating his father. The poor woman reported it to her husband. He was resistant at first, and then revealed that when he was sixteen years of age he had severely beaten his father with an iron rod.^{^[98]}

On April 24, 1959, the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima visited Italy, starting from Naples. The same day Padre Pio became very ill. He had bronco pneumonia and couldn’t celebrate Mass.^{^[99]}

On August 1st Padre Pio was recovered inpatient at Casa Sollievo. The illness continued. On August 5 the Statue of Fatima came to the Convent. On August 6 the Statue was just leaving in helicopter. Padre Pio from the hospital: "Madonna, my Mother, I have been sick since you came to Italy; and now you are leaving, and leaving me sick." Padre Pio reported: "I felt a chill in the bones." Then: "I’m feeling well." "I am healed! Our Lady has healed me!" Later he said: "The Madonna came here, to heal Padre Pio." On August 10 Padre Pio resumed celebrating Mass, and the 21th he resumed the confessions.^{^[100]} ^{^[101]}

Agnese Stump testified in 1971 that in October 1968 a biopsy on her left knee revealed an osteosarcoma which had already spread to her bone marrow and bloodstream. On December 1968 she went to pray at Padre Pio’s tomb. She dreamed of Padre Pio who told her to discard the crutches. After a while she was completely well. Her doctor called his colleagues and showed the x-rays before and after, where the tibia destroyed by the tumor had been replaced by healthy bone. Pointing at Agnes he told his colleagues: “Look at the miracle woman.”^{^[102]} ^{^[103]}

Padre Pio told John McCaffery of a case happened in Pietrelcina, when he had to use a desperate remedy. “I was attending a sick man who, the doctor told me, would not last the night. When I asked him to hear his confession he refused, telling me he would confess when he felt better. I tried everything, and there was no way he could be persuaded. Well, I thought, desperate cases need desperate remedies. I went to the door telling him “Goodbye, we shall meet again at the cemetery.” “What do you mean?” “I told him what the doctor had said. The man changed his mind. He did confess and received Holy Communion. He died with composure and resignation.”^{^[104]}

Father my daughter is sick. "And you are much sicker than your daughter." "No, no, I'm feeling very well." "How can you be well if you have so many sins on your conscience? I see at least 32 of them."^{^[105]} ^{^[106]}

A man told Padre Pio: "My wife every night kneels in front of your picture and asks for your blessing." "Yes, I know. And you laugh at her when she does that." That was true.^{^[107]}

A woman from Pesaro, the wife of a workman, testified that she brought her deaf-and-dumb daughter to Padre Pio. He cured her instantly. In an outburst of gratitude the woman took a gold chain from the child's neck, the only object of value that she owned, and gave it to Padre Pio for the Virgin.

When she returned home she told everything to her husband. He flew into a rage at the offering she had made to Padre Pio. He said that she should have chosen some other article rather than the gift that he himself had made to his daughter.

Silvio Scocca was on a train with a bag of candies that he intended to give to Padre Pio. He became hungry and opened the bag, and ate some of the candies. When he gave the bag to Padre Pio, he said: “How did the ones taste that you ate on the train?”

On a bus, in an organized trip to see Padre Pio, in 1961, a man tells his wife: "I'm going to just accompany you, because I don't believe in this imposter." When Padre Pio passed: "Well, here is the imposter." And puts his hand on his head, while the man asks for forgiveness.

Luigi Pulcinelli in September 1943 was a student officer at the XII regiment near Foggia. The Germans attacked and took over the headquarters. He barely escaped towards the mountains with five other soldiers. They were suggested to ask help at the convent.

"We reached the convent, and a friar was celebrating Mass, and we stayed in the darkest part of the rear of the church as not to attract attention. At the end of the Mass the friar turned for the blessing, and before he did it, he invited those present to procure civilian clothes for the disbanded soldiers who had just arrived. How did he know? We went out of the church ad asked who that friar was. They said he was Padre Pio. We were petrified. We were asked to go in the sacristy. There was Padre Pio. He embraced us and talked to us. Than we were served a meal fit for a king by Mary Pile. Padre Pio told us not to leave until he said so. We went to ask him every day. The fifth day he said: "Go now. It is now safe for you to leave. Trust our Lady." We left, and marched for five days and finally reached Campobasso without meeting any Germans."

Paris De Nunzio from Pietrelcina went to visit Padre Pio by car with a friend who fell asleep at the wheel. While the car was swerving uncontrolled, Paris cried: “Padre Pio help us.” The friend woke up and regained control of the car. At the convent, Padre Pio: "Well you all arrived safe. I was driving the car."

Professor Enrico Medi reports that he was driving the narrow road to San Giovanni, thinking that it was his daughter's birthday and she was blowing the candles at that time.

He missed a narrow bend of the road, and was about to crash in an incoming car. But the cars stopped few inches from each other.

That afternoon Padre Pio seeing him said: "You blow the candles, and I drive the car."

Joe Greco had a dream in which he met Padre Pio on a road and asked him to save his sick father. Joe's father suddenly recovered after the dream. Months later he went to thank Padre Pio. As soon as he kneeled at the confessional, Padre Pio said: "Well, your father is all right, than."