St. Padre Pio Radiance ecstasy

“As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant the skin of his face had become radiant.” Exodus, 34:29

Transfiguration: “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” Mt. 17:2

Padre Raffaele da Sant’Elia a Pianisi wrote that on August 19, 1919, he was staying in the convent in a cell not far from the one of Padre Pio. It was very hot and he couldn’t sleep. Around midnight he got up and was getting out of the cell in the dark when he saw Padre Pio radiant in light, holding Baby Jesus. He walked the hallway going towards his cell, passing by the cell of Padre Raffaele. Padre Pio didn’t realize that Padre Raffaele was watching.^{^[1]} ^{^[2]} ^{^[3]}

The night of Christmas Eve December 24, 1992, Lucia Iadanza and 3 other women had been preparing the altar for the Midnight Mass. When they finished they sat around a brazier, waiting for the time of the celebration. While the other three women were dozing, Lucia saw Padre Pio coming downstairs in the sacristy. He was radiant in a brazing light, holding Baby Jesus in his arms. When Padre Pio went close to the women around the brazier the vision had disappeared. Padre Pio then saw Lucia looking at him in amazement. He said: “Lucia, what did you see?” Lucia: “Padre, I saw everything.” Padre Pio: “Don’t tell anybody.”^{^[4]} ^{^[5]}

Padre Agostino Daniele reported in his diary on April 8, 1946 that: ”The farmer Nicola Pazienza living not far from the convent, told me that one summer night he saw from his yard Padre Pio’s room resplendent in a light brighter that the sun, and Padre Pio was in this light. I checked that yard, and from there Padre Pio’s window is clearly visible.”^{^[6]} ^{^[7]}

Dr. Giorgio Festa reported that during the surgery performed on Padre Pio in 1925, he had the opportunity to see one of his wounds, and “from the edges emanated brief but evident luminous radiations.”^{^[8]}

Cleonice Morcaldi reported that a young university student accompanied his fiancée to the convent, and she invited him to see the Mass of Padre Pio. He did, and they come back for several days sitting always in the same spot. One day the fiancée told Cleonice in secret that since the first day he was seeing, at every Mass, Padre Pio in a dazzling light, with a mass of thorns on his head, and blood flowing on his face. After Mass he told Padre Pio about it. Padre Pio: “Thank the Lord, don’t be shocked because I don’t suffer as much as it seems. Don’t tell anybody. The Lord loves you. Be always faithful to him.” Cleonice asked Padre Pio if that was true. He replied: “And you doubt about it?” ^{^[9]} ^{^[10]} A few years later Padre Pio blessed their wedding.^{^[11]}

Since infancy Padre Pio had visual contact with the guardian Angel, which helped him, and by the devils, which tormented him.

In a letter on December 13, 1912: “The companion of my infancy tries to alleviate the pain inflicted on me by those impure apostates.”[12]

By age five Padre Pio saw frequently Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Francis.[13] [14]

In the letter to padre Agostino on January 18, 1913: “I am the amusement of Baby Jesus. I’m sorry that He has chosen a toy of no value.”[15]

In 1916 Antonietta Pompilo asked Padre Pio how to meditate. She reported that during the conversation “He started talking about the agony in the Gethsemane, and then he went in ecstasy. For about an hour he stayed with the eyes closed, without moving. Then he returned normal and said: "God be blessed. Let's continue."

Padre Costantino, the architect Antonio Gentile and his son were conversing in Padre Pio’s room. The young man asked Padre Pio: “What do you see when you distribute the Holy Communion to the people? You stare at the host in that manner!” Padre Pio:”I see what you don’t see.”^{^[16]}

Mons. Rossi asked formally Padre Pio: “Does anything mystical happen to you during you prayers?” Padre Pio: “Yes. I have visions of heavenly persons: of Our Lord, of Our Lady, of Saint Francis.” ^{^[17]}

Padre Tarcisio Zullo da Cervinara and Padre Mariano da Magliano Santa Croce were in Padre Pio’s room. They took the courage and asked him: 'Father, is the Madonna at this moment in this room?'

Padre Pio's answer: "Wrong formulation. You should have asked 'Did the Madonna ever leave this room?' "^{^[18]}

Paradise upside down

Maria Cassano confessed weekly with Padre Pio and went daily to his mass. During confession: “Padre, last time I was here I didn’t understand what you meant to say. I made you suffer terribly.” Padre Pio: “And you went off and told everybody about it right away,” he said accusingly. “No, Padre, this was something we discussed in confession. It was secret. I didn’t tell anyone. I only invoked the Madonna and the saints.” Padre Pio: “So you think it’s a small thing to turn Paradise upside-down?"^{^[19]} ^{^[20]}

Christmas

Cleonice Morcaldi: “At Christmas the face of Padre Pio was transformed. He was in continual ecstasy. Like Saint Francis, he was seeing a live Baby Jesus, as he was in the grotto of Bethlehem. He celebrated the three Christmas Masses one after the other in the same night. He cried a lot. He said: “In the grotto Baby Jesus cried, suffered, and with him suffered Mary and Joseph. Outside, the angels and the shepherd were singing and were joyful. But it is betted to make company to Jesus.”[21]

During WWII many Allied Aviation Pilots of different nationalities and religions were based in Puglia. General Bernardo Rosini of the United Air Command reported that "Each time that the pilots returned from their missions, they spoke of this Friar that appeared in the sky and in stretching out his wounded hands, prevented them from dropping their bombs, and diverted their airplanes, making them turn back.

Everyone was talking about these incredible stories. But since the episodes kept recurring, the Commanding General of USAF general Nathan F. Twining who happened to be in Bari, and decided to pilot himself a squadron of bombers to destroy a target near San Giovanni Rotondo.

When he and his pilots were in the vicinity of the target they saw the figure of a monk with upraised hands appear in the sky. The bombs got loose from the plains falling in open areas, and the planes made a sharp turn to return to base without the pilots intervening.

Back on the ground everybody asked everybody else about the happening and wanted to know who that friar was. The General was told about Padre Pio and decided to visit him with the pilots in that squadron. The pilots immediately recognized Padre Pio.

Padre Andrea D'Ascanio testified: "The sacristy was full of people and they were looking at the door from were Padre Pio had to go to the confessional. There was no way that Padre Pio could reach the confessional walking through such a large crowd. The door didn't open, and I saw Padre Pio walking over the heads of those people and go to the confessional. Later I asked him about it. "I assure you, my son; it was like walking over bricks." (sopra un mattonato).

Answering a specific formal question by Mons. Raffaello Rossi, Padre Pio confirmed that one day he left the confessional of men walking over their heads: “The sacristy was overcrowded with men, it was hot; we were suffocating. I saw that the best thing was to leave, so that they would leave too. I remember that there was no room to walk: I had to step over those men; then I found myself outside. From there I turned, and sent them away.”^{^[31]}

Brother Bill Martin, later Father Joseph Pius, from Brooklyn, New York, helped Padre Pio last three years (1965-1968). He caught Padre Pio falling in his last Mass.

He reported: "It was near the end of Padre Pio's life. Another brother and I were helping him to the altar. He was going to say Mass. I remember thinking 'Why his weight on my arm feels like nothing at all." That's when I looked at the floor. Padre Pio's feet were six inches off the ground. He was just gliding. He was levitating on his way to say Mass. I exchanged a glance with the other monk. We had come to the same realization at about the same time. We never spoke about it. We just knew."^{^[32]}

Padre Placido Bux, former classmate of Padre Pio, was dying in the hospital of San Severo. One night he saw Padre Pio at his bedside encouraging him to have patience. He then saw Padre Pio place his hand on the glass window and disappear outside the window. In the morning he saw the imprint of a hand on the windowpane. He told the story to all around him. The news spread and a lot of staff and other people came to see the imprint. Padre Piergiuliano, superior of the convent of San Severo, was called, and he reprimanded Padre Placido. Every attempt was made with detergents to clean the window. Padre Alberto, superior of San Giovanni Rotondo was called. He didn’t believe the story. Padre Placido told him to ask directly Padre Pio, since he was his superior. Back in the convent Padre Alberto approached Padre Pio, but before he could say a word Padre Pio asked: “How is Padre Placido?” Padre Alberto told him the story of Padre Placido. Padre Pio replied: “And you, do you doubt it?” Padre Placido recovered completely from his illness.^{^[33]} ^{^[34]} ^{^[35]}

Dr. Sala, Padre Pio’s physician, one evening was traversing the church square when he saw Padre Pio making his way to the convent entrance. He said “Good evening” but had no answer, and Padre Pio passed calmly through the unopened door and disappeared. The day after: “Padre, I greeted you last night when you walked in the square, but you didn’t answer.” “Oh! Evidently I didn’t hear you.”^{^[36]}

Bilocation is the simultaneous presence of same person in two different places.

Padre Pio describes the bilocating person, under obedience: "He knows what he wants, knows where he goes, but he doesn't know if it's the body or the soul that goes."^{^[37]} ^{^[38]} ^{^[39]} ^{^[40]} ^{^[41]} ^{^[42]}

"There is urgency, a grave danger, a soul or a body to save".^{^[43]} ^{^[44]}

Padre Pio after he received the wounds in 1918 never left San Giovanni Rotondo, yet many people have seen him and spoken to him in places scattered all over the globe; even today.

Padre Romolo da San Marco in Lamis testified on June 20, 1921: Padre Pio repeats very often the words of the sacramental absolution, Especially the words absolvo and peccatis. We have heard him at an open window, in sacristy, even during Mass. This might be related to bilocation.^{^[45]}

Padre Pio questioned by Bishop Rossi, under oath, in 1921, about bilocation: “It did happen to me to be in the presence of this or that person, in this or that place. I do not know if my mind was transported there, or what I saw was some sort of representation of the place or person. I do not know if I was there with my body, or without it.”^{^[46]}

For example “One night I found myself at the bedside of a sick woman, Maria Massa, in San Giovanni Rotondo. I was in the convent. I think I was praying. I didn’t know her personally. She had been recommended to me. It must have been over a year ago.”^{^[47]}

Giovanna Rizzani

Padre Pio was 18, and studying philosophy in Sant'Elia a Pianisi, when he experienced bilocation for the first time.

He had the presence of mind to write down his experience within three weeks and consign it to his superiors.^{^[48]}

He wrote on February 1905: "Few days ago an unusual thing happened to me. I was in the choir with Fra’ Atanasio at about 11 PM on January 18, 1905, when I found myself far away in Udine, were a father was dying and a child was being born." The Virgin Mary told me: 'I'm entrusting this child to you. One day she will come to you, but you will meet her first in Saint Peter’s.’ After that I found myself back in the choir.”^{^[49]} ^{^[50]}

The girl to be born was Marchioness Giovanna Rizzani Boschi. Vanina for her friends.^{^[51]} She is one of 6 witnesses who testified at the Process of beatification. Her life was full of coincidences that don't have a rational explanation. She was born January 18, 1905.

Padre Pio handwritten note was kept for years by Padre Agostino. Later he gave it to Giovanna. Giovanna asked Padre Pio about it and he confirmed the authenticity.^{^[52]} ^{^[53]} ^{^[54]}

The dying person was Giovanni Battista Rizzani. His wife Leonilde had been praying at his bedside, hoping for a last-minute conversion. Leonilde saw a young Capuchin standing over the husband’s bed. As soon she looked at him he left the room and disappeared down the corridor.

She was then caught by violent contraction and gave birth to a five weeks premature girl.

After the death of her husband, Leonilde moved with her daughter to Rome, to live with her parents.

In the summer of 1922 Giovanna went with a friend for confession in St. Peter’s basilica. When they arrived it was almost closing time and they were told to come back next day. On the way out Giovanna saw a Capuchin hurriedly enter a confessional. She immediately went to him and confessed. After confession she and her friend waited for the Capuchin to get out, to greet him. The custodian saw them and asked them to live. They told him about the Capuchin in the confessional. The man looked in the confessional. It was empty.

He told her: “I know you. You were born the day your father died. I have been waiting for you all these years.” She replied: “You are mistaking me for someone else.” Padre Pio: “No. You already know me. Last year in St. Peter's I was the capuchin priest who confessed you. Don’t you remember?"

Padre Pio continued: "Giovanna, the Virgin Mary took me to Udine just before you were born to be, and I witnessed your father's death. Our Lady informed me that his wife was about to give birth to a girl and that she was placing this child under my care. My daughter, you are my responsibility. One day you will be present at my death."

Giovanna was perplexed and filled with emotion. She said: “Should I become a nun?” Padre Pio: “No. Come frequently to San Giovanni Rotondo and I will guide your soul.”

Many years later she heard the voice of Padre Pio: “Come soon to San Giovanni Rotondo because I’m going away. Giovanna was now an elderly lady. She went accompanied by her friend Margherita Hamilton four days before Padre Pio’s death. She confessed to him, and he concluded: “I absolve you now of all the sins you have ever committed. I am going away.”

The night of Padre Pio’s death she woke up suddenly and said to her friend “Padre Pio is dead.” The both left the hotel room and went toward the convent in the middle of the night. Already a small crowd had gathered in the square in front of the church were a friar was announcing the death of Padre Pio.

Later she described the vision she had of Padre Pio's cell the night he died. She reported every detail of what had happened, and described every person that was in the room.^{^[55]} ^{^[56]} ^{^[57]} ^{^[58]} ^{^[59]} ^{^[60]} ^{^[61]}

On September 23, 1978 Padre Paolo Covino, who had administered the last rites to Padre Pio, was on the square of the church of St. Mary of the Graces. A woman asked him: “Are you Padre Paolo? I saw you in a vision, administering the last rites to Padre Pio on September 23, 1968.” The lady was Giovanna Rizzani.^{^[62]}

Padre Vittore da Canosa was dying in his cell in the Foggia convent. He told Padre Rosario: “What a grace I received this evening! If I live I will write it down; if not, I will tell you about it.” Those were his last words. He died without being able to write or tell of the grace received. Padre Rosario later told other friars about the episode. One of them, Padre Francesco, reported that at the time of the death of Padre Vittore he was in San Giovanni Rotondo taking care of Padre Pio. Padre Pio was ill, alone in his room. Padre Francesco heard that Padre Pio was talking to somebody but he couldn’t understand anything. A bit later he went to Padre Pio and told him that he had heard him talking while nobody else was in his room. Padre Pio: “Yes. I was hearing someone’s confession.”^{^[63]}

In 1918 Nina Campanile, one of the first spiritual daughters of Padre Pio, did not know what bilocation is. Her sister had multiple severe internal injuries in a fall, and fell in a coma. The doctors said that nothing could be done but wait for her to die. Nina run to the friary and Padre Pio told her that her sister would recover. Nina went back to her sister but she was still unresponsive. She called, pinched, and tapped her to no avail. A friend of Nina’s was there in the room and all of a sudden turned pale. Nina asked her if she was getting sick. She replied: “Padre Pio is here.” Nina: “What do you mean?” The friend: “Padre Pio has come near your sister, and he said: “Poor child!” After ten minutes she said: “Now he has gone away.” Nina was very puzzled. She was now looking at her sister, and saw her suddenly regain consciousness and say: “I feel much better.” Nina looked at her watch. It was 8:00 PM. The morning after she went straight to the convent, and asked Padre Pio point blank: “What time did you come to my house last night?” Without batting an eye he said in a matter of fact way: “Around eight o clock.”^{^[64]} ^{^[65]}

Margherita

Margherita was sharing a small flat with two other girls. She got up every morning to go to Padre Pio’s Mass. She was waken up “by the alarm clock in the hallway”. On day she told Padre Pio: “I saved some money and would like to by my own alarm clock. What do you think?” Padre Pio: “Well, it’s about time!” She bought the alarm clock and brought it home. She told the other girls: “Listen, don’t worry anymore to set up the alarm for me in the morning. The girls: “What are you talking about? There is no alarm clock in the house!”^{^[66]}

On December 13,1941 Padre Agostino asked Padre Pio: “Are you going to Pietrelcina for the opening of the convent?” “I will be there in Pietrelcina, and at the same time I will be in the confessional in San Giovanni Rotondo.”^{^[67]} ^{^[68]}

Padre Alessio entered Padre Pio’s room one night and found him shivering even though it was a warm evening. He piled blankets upon him without result. Later he learned that at that very hour, a man dying high in the Alps insisted that Padre Pio was present with him.^{^[69]}

Desiderio Magnani of Padua in August 1962 was repairing the car in his garage, lying in a cavity beneath it, when the car suddenly caught fire and caused very severe burns, including his face. In the hospital the doctors gave little hope of survival because of 60% of the body burned, high fever, kidney block and heart failure. His sister sent a telegram to Padre Pio. The next day Desiderio wakened as if from a deep sleep and told his sister that he had seen a friar besides his bed, who blessed him. In a short while he was completely healed.^{^[70]}

In 1951 was consecrated the new church of the Holy Family in Pietrelcina. Padre Alberto D’Apolito went to the ceremony from San Giovanni Rotondo. Upon his return he told Padre Pio: “Someday you should go and see how beautiful the church is!” Padre Pio: “I was there. I can describe to you the minutest details, such as the number of steps to the entrance; and this is something that you don’t know!”^{^[71]} Padre Alberto later wrote: “In fact, I had never counted the steps.”^{^[72]}

On July 18, 1942, Padre Benedetto, former spiritual director of Padre Pio, was dying in the convent of San Severo. Padre Aurelio, the guardian, asked him if he would like them to send for Padre Pio. Padre Benedetto replied: “No, there is no need to send for him. He is here beside me.”^{^[73]} ^{^[74]}

In the early days, Padre Nazareno went in town with Padre Pio to visit a Franciscan tertiary gravely ill. The day after he reported to Padre Pio that she had died during the night. Padre Pio said: “I know. I assisted her. She went straight to Paradise.”

In 1970 Madre Speranza di Collevalenza (now Venerable) told journalist Renzo Allegri: “At the Holy Office I saw Padre Pio every day for a whole year. He used some half gloves on his hands to hide the wounds. I would greet him, kiss his hand, and sometimes we exchanged some words. This took place between 1937 and 1939 when I was working at Sant'Uffizio (Holy Office).”^{^[75]} Madre Speranza confirmed the story to Padre Alberto.^{^[76]} ^{^[77]}

The pope asked: "Who let that friar in?" The prelates run outside to upbraid the guards for letting the friar in. All the guards strongly denied having seen any friar. The Pope grew silent. Than he ordered Cardinal Silj to ascertain were Padre Pio was that day and hour. Silj went to San Giovanni Rotondo with his sister in law Countess Virginia Silj-Salviucci. Cardinal Silj asked the superior of the convent, giving him details, were was Padre Pio at that certain date and time. The superior gave him the details requested. Cardinal Silj reported to the Pope that Padre Pio was in the choir of his friary, saying the Office. Pope Pius XI never mentioned again of suspending Padre Pio from his priestly faculties. This episode was reported by Countess Virginia Silj-Salviucci to Padre Pio Dellepiane, and revealed only after the Pope Pius XI’s death. ^{^[78]} ^{^[79]}

General Luigi Cadorna, Supreme Commander of Italian Army, after the defeat of Caporetto, on November 12, 1917 was about to pull the trigger to shoot himself. A friar appeared in front of him. "General, you will not do this stupidity!" He didn’t.

After the war he recognized Padre Pio in a picture, and went to visit unannounced.

Padre Pio from afar: "Yeah, general, we had a narrow escape that night!"^{^[80]} ^{^[81]}

Francesco Cavicchi and his wife visited Padre Pio in June 1967. He had confessed three days before, but wanted to confess to Padre Pio anyway. The rule was at least seven days. He stood in line and when his turn was approaching he got agitated. But Padre Pio calling him from the line said: "Come forward, my son, I have been waiting for you for a long time." He started the confession asking: "How many days has it been since last confession?" Francesco said that he couldn't remember. Padre Pio: "You have a short memory, don't you. But let me ask you this. Do you remember the bombardment In Rimini many years back? Do you remember the air raid shelter? Do you remember the trolley bus? But why I'm asking you to go back in time? You cannot even remember what you did less than a week ago!"

At that point Francesco started recollecting that in November 1943, when he was 28 years old, he was riding the trolley bus with about ten other people, including a middle aged monk. Than the bombs started falling, Francesco had difficulty getting off the bombed bus to reach the air-raid shelter and thought he was about to die. The monk helped him. The capuchin monk once in the shelter began to recite the rosary and inspired calm and confidence in everyone. After the sirens gave the 'all clear" signal, the capuchin monk was the first to leave. Suddenly Francesco: "Were you the monk?" "Well, who do you think it was?"

Padre Francesco Napolitano had just returned from New York and was describing to the friars in the refectory what he had seen in America. Padre Pio was intent on listening to him, and then said: “You have been there only once. I have been hundreds of times.^{^[82]}

America

Padre Rosario da Aliminusa, superior of the convent for three years, wrote down a diary of what was going on about Padre Pio. He wrote of a woman in America. She had an incurable tumor, and she saw Padre Pio, who assured her that she would be cured. She was cured and lived a normal life. Days after, Padre Eusebio da Castelpetroso read the description and told Padre Pio: “So you took a trip to America. I found out that you went to see a lady who had a tumor.” Padre Pio: “How did you find out?” Padre Eusebio did not answer the question, but asked Padre Pio how did he manage the language. Padre Pio: “How many miracles do you expect the Lord to perform!”^{^[83]}

Father would you take me for spiritual child? Yes. But next week I will be living for America. "And you think that I can't reach you there and slap you if you don't behave?”^{^[84]}

Father Joseph Pius reported that in 1967 an American Lady turned up at the convent. She had been lying in St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York, dying of cancer. On day while she was praying she saw padre Pio appear at her bedside. He smiled at her, blessed her, and then was gone. The woman recovered completely.^{^[85]}

On June 25, 1950 Padre Pio was seen attending to the death of a fellow monk in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, without leaving the convent. When asked about it he said:

Wisconsin

Padre Dominic Meyer’s father was dying in Wisconsin, while he was in San Giovanni Rotondo helping Padre Pio. The last time he has seen his father, he had made a request: “Son, you are Padre Pio’s friend, you know him well, will you ask him to help me here when my time comes?” The first time Padre Dominic was alone with Padre Pio, he explained, apologized, and made the request. Padre Pio slowly nodded. The father was staying in the house of a married daughter. On a beautiful afternoon, since he couldn’t walk, the daughter and her husband helped him to sit on the porch. When they went to bring him back to his room he was not on the porch. Not a step had been heard, nor a door opening or closing. They hurried to his bedroom, and there he was, lying in bed, eyes closed, and mouth slightly open. “And Dominic,” said his sister, “we saw a Host on his tongue.”[86]

Texas

In 1973 Tony John Colette of Houston, Texas, after multiple surgeries, was dying of a rare case of lipidosis. His case had been featured in the Medical Journal. He and his relative had been praying Padre Pio. He was about to be discharge the following day from St. Joseph Hospital. The doctors said there was nothing else they could do for him. At 3:00 AM he saw Padre Pio. He told him: “I want to help you. I will try to help you.” At the moment he felt a shivering from head to toe. Padre Pio had disappeared and he got up perfectly healed. Doctors, students, relatives, were amazed. Tony said: “I feel profoundly privileged.”^{^[87]}

Andrea Bacile form San Martino in Pensilis was frequently rude with his wife and children. One day that he was particularly misbehaved, he saw Padre Pio in front of him. He had seen in him in pictures, but never in person. He was shocked. He asked to confess. Padre Pio said “No”; and then disappeared. Andrea apologized to his wife and children and started a pilgrimage on foot to San Giovanni Rotondo. For three days he walked without resting or eating. When he reached the convent he confessed to Padre Pio. After the absolution Padre Pio said: “Now go eat something.”^{^[88]}

The evening of January 20th, 1936, Dr. Guglielmo Sanguinetti, was talking to Padre Pio in his cell.

Suddenly Padre Pio took to his knees and urged them to pray “for a soul that is soon to appear before the tribunal of God.” Afterwards Padre Pio said: “Do you know for whom you prayed? It was for the King of England.” Around midnight padre Pio went to the room of Padre Aurelio: "Let's pray for a soul which at this moment is about to appear at the tribunal of God.”

In 1982, Alice Jones, a teacher, Episcopalian, had been bedridden for ten years after multiple surgeries for a neurofibroma paralyzing of the left side. One day re. Eric Fisher, a catholic priest wen to pray with her. “The priest was kneeling at my bedside. Suddenly was like another person came out of rev. Fisher. I was terrorized at the sight. It had the face of an old man with a beard. He showed me his hands with a hole. He put his hands on me. He said: ‘Get up and go.’ I did. I was crippled no more.” Few days later I recognized the old man in a picture of Padre Pio.”^{^[95]}

Christy Gallagher from Donegal, Ireland, was very ill in a hospital bed. He told his wife: “Padre Pio came to see me; he asked me whether I would like to have Communion. I did.” It was September 23, 1968. He was brimming with joy. Few hours later he heard over the radio the announcement that Padre Pio had died.^{^[96]}

A man living alone in his apartment in Rome had planned to visit Padre Pio. Lately there had been several burglaries in his neighborhood. There were no alarm systems at the time. He was undecided if to go, and prayed Padre Pio: “I will come, but you watch my house.” He went to padre Pio, confessed, then decided to stay a little longer. The day after Padre Pio passing in the hallway told him: “You are still here? I am working protecting your door.”^{^[97]}

Padre Eusebio Notte plucked up courage to ask Padre Pio: “You know this man’s house. Don’t you?” “How could I? I have not left the convent for so many years!” “But he saw you!” “Ah! That’s a different story. When this things occur the Lord only permits the person concerned to be seen, not the surroundings.”^{^[98]}

In 1926 Concetta Bellarmini, while in critical condition, was suggested to pray Padre Pio. She did not know Padre Pio but prayed for his intercession. Later, a capuchin friar standing and smiling at her bedside said: “Sunday morning you will be healed."

She did recover. Weeks later she went to thank Padre Pio. From afar she exclaimed: 'That's him. That's exactly him."^{^[99]} ^{^[100]}

Maria Pompilio, a spiritual daughter living near the convent, testified that one evening she was praying when she began to doze off. Someone slapped her on the right cheek and the hand seemed the one of Padre Pio. The day after, she asked Padre Pio if he had slapped her. Padre Pio: "That's what happens when you doze off while you are praying."^{^[101]}

Maria Pompilio testified that a man seeing Padre Pio remove his vestments in the sacristy after Mass, said: 'Yes, he is the one. I'm not mistaken.' Then, kneeling and in tears said over and over: 'Padre, thank you for saving my life.' Outside the church he told his story to Pompilio and other onlookers who had been in the sacristy: 'I was captain in the infantry in the battlefield under heavy fire. I saw a monk a short distance away who called me.' "Captain come here by immediately." 'I did, and even before I reached him a grenade exploded were I had been, leaving a hole in the ground. When I turned back the monk was not there anymore.'^{^[102]}

Savino Greco from Cerignola had a brain tumor and another tumor in the back of his right eye. He went to a specialist in Bari, and the diagnosis was confirmed. He was transferred to Milan for surgery. He had a dream of Padre Pio who told him: “With time you will be cured.” When the time came to operate, he was so scared that run away from the hospital. He went to stay with a cousin in Milan. After few days the pain was so intense that he decided he had no choice but to try surgery. Back in the hospital the surgeon did a pre operatory examination with the other doctors. During the examination Savino smelled an intense perfume of violets, roses, and lilies. When the doctors finished the examination they were completely amazed. There was no trace of any tumor. They said he could go home.^{^[103]}

Maria Pompilio wrote in her “Memorie di Padre Pio” that when her brother died, she asked Padre Pio to intercede so that he could come in her dreams. Her brother came in a dream and said: "Padre Pio assisted me in my agony. He stayed until the Judge judged me. I was given eleven years of Purgatory, but for intercession of Padre Pio the pain was reduced to one year. Many mysteries in the life of Padre Pio will be known only in the other world." The morning after Maria went to see Padre Pio. From afar he said: "Are you glad now?" "Yes, it seems that you are everywhere." Padre Pio replied: "What sense has for me being on Hearth if I can't go up and down. I know. Your brother told you that the mystery of my life will be known only in Paradise."

On January 29, 1957 in Alençon (France) Daniel Batonnier was about to die of cerebrospinal meningitis. The mother at 13:30 sent a telegram to Padre Pio. At 16:00 the child was fully recovered. The doctors were puzzled. The child, seeing a picture of Padre Pio: 'Mom, I know that friar. He came to see me twice today. He was humming so as not to scare me, and then he left. Mom when I grow up I want to be a friar like him'.

Padre Pio brings to Cardinal Mindszenty bread and wine to celebrate mass. Mosaic in St. Pio's crypt.

In 1956 Padre Pio served the Mass of Cardinal Mindszenty while he was incarcerated in Budapest. The news spread. Padre Pio was asked: "Did you really talk to him, did you really see him? “Certainly, if I have talked to him, I must have seen him."

In another occasion: 'Did you visit Cardinal Mindszenty while he was prisoner in Budapest in 1956?' "Yes. I have seen him and spoken to him."

Saint Luigi Orione made this statement: "I saw Padre Pio in St. Peter's Basilica the day that Saint Therese of the Child Jesus was declared blessed. He came smiling towards me, walking through the crowds. He disappeared when we were few feet away from each other." That happened on April 29, 1923.^{^[104]} ^{^[105]} ^{^[106]} ^{^[107]}

Padre Bonaventura was preaching in 1956 in the basilica of the Holy Spirit in Naples. Padre Pio appeared in the church for about forty minutes. Everybody in the assembly saw him. Padre Bonaventura wrote to Padre Carmelo, superior at the convent, about it. Padre Carmelo thought of a hallucination, and asked Padre Pio: “Is Padre Bonaventura right?” Padre Pio answered: “Yes, it is true. It is true.”^{^[108]}

Padre Domenico Petracca da Cese Manoppello, a Capuchin friar who had been friend with Padre Pio since 1940 reported that early in the morning of September 22, 1968 he went to open the church at Manoppello, located more than 200 kilometers away to the north of San Giovanni Rotondo, in the province of Abruzzi. Inside the church he found Padre Pio on his knees in the first row pew, his head in his hands, before the image known as the Holy Face. Padre Pio said to him: “I do not trust myself any more. Pray for me. Goodbye until we meet again in Paradise.”

A woman went stay with the daughter and son in law in Bologna, while waiting to have surgery for a malignant tumor in her arm. She was sitting alone in the living room when a capuchin friar came through the door. "I am Padre Pio da Pietralcina". He exhorted her to have faith in the Madonna and blessed her arm. Then he said good bye and left. The day after she met the doctor to go over the details of the surgical intervention. The surgeon examined the arm. There was no trace of the tumor.

Padre Umile, friend of Padre Pio was bedridden in Genova because of a fall. On September 22, 1968 at 4:30 PM Sister Ludovica brought to Padre Umile a cup of tea. In entering the room she felt and intense perfume of flowers. Padre Umile said to her: "Padre Pio went to say me the last goodbye." Few hours later Padre Pio died.^{^[109]}

On October 24, 1949 the newspaper Il Progresso Italo-Americano reported this story. Giacomo Cadice had run away from home. In time the parents received a letter form Sidi-Bel-Abess in Algeria, where he stated that he had joined the Foreign Legion and would have to stay there for five years. His father Pietro went to Padre Pio asking for help. Padre Pio said: “Go and pray. By the third moon your son will return home!” Next part of the story was told by the son himself. One night he was on guard at an advanced post, when he saw a friar gesturing with the hand to follow him. They went across the desert for days, than embarked on a ship for Marseille in France, and the friar disappeared. From there Giacomo reached his home, joining his family. When Pietro showed his son a picture of Padre Pio, he immediately recognized the friar and started crying.^{^[110]} ^{^[111]} ^{^[112]}

Giovanni Gigliozzi was in a broadcasting studio in Rome, about to get on air when he got a terrible blinding attack of migraine. He knew that it would last for hours and he couldn’t do a thing about it. Suddenly he heard steps toward him. He opened his eye and Padre Pio was there. He did not speak a word’ He just gazed at him with an affectionate smile and laid his hand on his head, and disappeared. So too did the migraine. Days later in the hallway of the convent Padre Pio told him: “Well, Giovanni how is the head? Ah! These hallucinations!”^{^[113]}

Padre Alberto reported that one afternoon on May 1928 he approached Padre Pio who was standing at the window. He had the gaze fixed and was pronouncing the words of absolution in a very clear voice. Padre Alberto called Padre Tommaso, the superior, and both saw Padre Pio concluding the absolution. Few days later a telegram came to Padre Tommaso from a city in northern Italy, thanking him for having sent Padre Pio to assist a dying man.^{^[114]} ^{^[115]}

Padre Carmelo da San Giovanni in Galdo, superior of the convent, decided to have meetings with the group of early spiritual daughters, at the Ventrella's house, to gather firsthand information about the beginning of Padre Pio's ministry in San Giovanni Rotondo. The first meeting was held on December 14, 1954, on January 10 and 25, 1955, and at later dates. Ten spiritual daughter were present: the Ventrella sisters, the Pompilio sisters, Filomena Fini, Rosinella Gisolfi in Placentino,

Rachele Russo, Rachelina Gisolfi and Nina Campanile. Padre Carmelo testified: 'During the first meeting Rachelina Gisolfi told everybody that Padre Pio was present. Back to the convent I didn't have the courage to ask Padre Pio about it. During the second meeting Rachelina said again that Padre Pio was there. Back to the convent I took the courage and asked him.

The answer: "Why? You don't want me there? You don't want that I come to those meetings?"

After the third meeting, back to the convent: "Yes I was there." After another meeting: "How come you don't ask me anymore if I came to the meeting?"^{^[116]}

In 1953 Padre Pio was sitting with other monks for a play in the hall of the friary. Padre Carmelo da Sessano, the Superior, was sitting by him. He reported that Padre Pio during the intermission "placed his arms on the back of the chair in front of him and rested his head on them, remaining silent and motionless for few minutes". ^{^[117]}

The next day, Padre Carmelo went to visit an invalid sick man in town and was amazed when the man and his family expressed his appreciation for permitting Padre Pio to go visit him the previous evening. Padre Carmelo asked about the time and the duration of the visit. They matched perfectly with the intermission.^{^[118]}

Ettore Masone, Padre Pio's only nephew. Was not yet thirty when he became gravely ill, fell into a coma, and appeared dead. The family made arrangements for the funeral next day. But all of a sudden he woke up and shouted: "I'm not dying anymore." He recovered completely and instantly. He recalled: I was at the gates of heaven and saw my sister Giuseppina who died many years ago standing there at the door. Then I also saw Padre Pio. Both wouldn't let me in." That's when he woke up.^{^[119]}

In 1952 a woman was about to die during delivery because of an erroneous blood transfusion. She received the Last Rites. When the priest left she saw a monk. "I am Padre Pio and you will not die. Say an 'Our Father' and one day you will come to see me." About a year later she went to see Padre Pio. He told her: "You got the miracle because the Sacred Heart sent me to save you, since you are devout to him and did the First Fridays of each month."

The father of a capuchin friar from Maglie (Lecce) lay in bed, paralyzed with a spinal disorder. The friar asked Padre Pio to pray for him. One afternoon the sick man saw a bearded friar at his bedside. The friar gently told him: “Suffer, suffer with patience”. The following day the same thing happened, and the man was not improving. The afternoon visits continued. On the tenth day the visiting friar said: “Enough is enough.” From then on the man started rapidly improving, and after few days he was able to go back to farming. The farmer explained to his capuchin son what had happened, and he recognized Padre Pio in a picture shown to him.^{^[120]}

Padre Michelangelo Bellini reported that his grandma was over eighty years old and in a coma, when he prayed Padre Pio that she could live long enough to see him celebrate his first Mass. By the morning she had made an extraordinary recovery and told him that she had dreamed that a monk had brought her ten more years of life. She lived exactly for ten more years.

The sister of Mons. Luigi D’Indico, the pastor of St. Joseph in the Santa Croce neighborhood of Florence, Italy , was in a comatose state, suffering from paratyphoid A and B. The family prayed Padre Pio. On July 20, 1921 at 2:30 PM, Mons. D’Indico was working in his office. He felt that somebody was behind him. He turned and saw a friar walking and leaving the room. He asked his secretary who was that friar. The secretary thought that he was under stress because his sister was close to death, and was having hallucinations. At the same hour Mons. D’Indico’s sister saw Padre Pio at her bedside. He told her: “Do not worry, tomorrow the fever will disappear, and in few days there will be no trace of the illness in your body.” She got rapidly better, and in few days was completely healed.^{^[121]} ^{^[122]} ^{^[123]} ^{^[124]}

A woman went to Padre Pio’s Mass, leaving her child at home. When she returned, the daughter was eating a candy. The mom asked where she got the candy. The child pointed at a picture of Padre Pio. Later, after the confession, Padre Pio said: “Did you want a candy too?”

The only child of Antonio Massa, of San Giovanni Rotondo, was gravely ill and parents and relatives took turns taking care of him. One evening he suddenly started laughing and told his mom: “Mommy, Mommy, Padre Pio tickled my feet.” He was recovered.^{^[125]}

Joe Spada was hospitalized with terminal cancer in 1975. He, his wife, the nurses and other people at the hospital were frequently overcome by the beautiful aroma of fresh flowers.

One night he was alone and saw Padre Pio sitting beside him. When Margie returned her eyes fell on a handkerchief that she did not recognize. As she reached for it, Joe said, "That's Padre Pio's handkerchief. He put it there on the stand just before he left." Still today on several occasions, Padre Pio's handkerchief has given off the aroma of fresh flowers.

According to tradition in Loreto there is the house in which Mary lived. Several times was reported that Padre Pio had been seen praying there in the evening.

One day Fra Daniele Natale took the courage to ask: “Padre, have you ever been to Loreto?” “No.” “But people have seen you there!” “Oh! That is something different.”

In 1937 Mons. Fernando Damiani, General Vicar of Salto, Uruguay, visiting Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, had an hearth attack that lasted for two hours. Padre Pio was called. He was confessing and went to see Mons. Damiani after the acute phase had subsided. He told him: “I knew that you wouldn’t die, that’s why I continued the confessions.”^{^[128]} Damiani recovered and before returning to Uruguay he asked Padre Pio to be helped in his final moments.

On September 1941 was held in Salto a Congress for Vocations, with the intervention of several bishops, including Archbishop Antonio Maria Barbieri of Montevideo. They were guests at the residence of Mons. Alfredo Viola, Bishop of Salto. On the 11^th of September, after midnight Mons. Damiani had another hearth attack. Mons. Barbieri heard a knocking at the door. The door opened, and a voice said: “Go help Mons. Damiani who is dying.” Mons. Barbieri run to Mons. Damiani. Mons. Damiani asked for the last rites. Four bishops and six priests were present for the extreme unction. A doctor visited the patient and said there was nothing he could do. Mons. Damiani died peacefully about thirty minutes after last rites. On the nightstand there was a draft of a telegram written with shaking hands: “Padre Pio San Giovanni Rotondo – Continuous chest pains are wiping me out.”^{^[129]} ^{^[130]} ^{^[131]} ^{^[132]} ^{^[133]} ^{^[134]} ^{^[135]} ^{^[136]} ^{^[137]} ^{^[138]}

In 1949 Mons Barbieri talked to Padre Pio about the event. Padre Pio tried to dodge the questions and said smiling: “If you understood, let’s not talk about it. How much more do you want to know?”^{^[139]} ^{^[140]}

Mons. Barbieri asked Padre Pio to assist him on his deathbed. Padre Pio:”I will die before you will, but I’ll assist you from heaven”. Barbieri survived Padre Pio by eleven years.^{^[142]}

In1958 Mons Viola gave to the friary a written sworn description on the events.^{^[141]}

Dr. Cardone

Dr. Andrea Cardone made a written statement soon after Padre Pio’s death: “I, the undersigned, Dr. Andrea Cardone, declare that I had a conversation with Padre Pio on two occasions in my home in Pietrelcina. The first was on February 18, 1965, at 9:00 AM, the second of September 23, 1968, at 6:00 AM. On both occasions Padre Pio was present in his mortal flesh, and our conversation lasted several minutes.”^{^[143]}

Coward

One young man in Rome was ashamed of his normal custom of tipping his hat when passing in front of a Catholic church. He was scared that his friends would make fun of him. But one time he heard Padre Pio’s voice in his ear saying: “Coward.” Later on, he met Padre Pio in person and without saying anything Padre Pio said, “Next time it will be a loudspeaker in the ear!”^{^[144]} ^{^[145]} ^{^[146]}