Close encounters of a special kind of the Capuchin friars with Padre Pio

Close encounters of a special kind of the Capuchin friars with Padre Pio.

The Capuchin Friars

Padre Pio over the years received immense help from his confreres. From guiding him with spiritual direction to consoling him through the dark nights of restriction,

witnessing the ecstasies and the assaults of the devils. They held him as a model of Christian and Franciscan virtue, they learned from him

how to get and stay close to God. They took with him the fascinating journey of a unique life filled with supernatural intensity.

We are very grateful for what they did.

Fra' Camillo, in his rounds of quest for alms, inspired the preschooler Francesco with his beard and the stories about St. Francis.

Padre Damaso da Sant'Elia a Pianisi, Padre Agostino, Padre Evangelista, and Padre Benedetto all three from San Marco in Lamis, Padre Pio da Fragneto l'Abate,

helped Padre Pio through the formative years, witnessing extraordinary phenomena and testifying about them.

Padre Damaso da Sant'Elia a Pianisi

Met Padre Pio in S. Elia a Pianisi in1904, and again later in San Marco la Catola (charisms and gift of tears). Superior of San Giovanni Rotondo 1941-1944.

Wrote a memory on nine typewritten pages "Ricordi su Padre Pio" (Memories on Padre Pio).

Padre Agostino da San Marco in Lamis

Met Padre Pio in 1907 at Serracapriola. Later, in Venafro witnesses ecstasies and diabolic harassments. Was spiritual director of Padre Pio, and was the addressee

of many letters published in the first volume of the Epistolary. Left precious memories in his "Diary" . Stayed at the convent with Padre Pio for several years between 1944 an 1963.

Padre Pio as Deacon at a High Mass celebrated by Padre Agostino,

Diary of Padre Agostino

Padre Pio at the Altar with Padre Agostino

Padre Benedetto da San Marco in Lamis

He was Provincial Superior from 1909 to 1919. Observed and described the Wounds in 1918. Was Padre Pio's spiritual guide from 1909 to 1922.

Padre Nazareno da Arpaise , Padre Paolino da Casacalenda, Padre Lorenzo da San Marco in Lamis, Padre Ignazio da Ielsi,

Padre Bernardo d'Alpicella, Padre Tommaso da Monte Sant'Angelo , Padre Raffaele da Sant' Elia a Pianisi, Padre Luigi D'Avellino, Padre Pietro da Ischitella,

Padre Clemente Tomay da Postiglione, were besides the young priest and capuchin friar Padre Pio, encouraging him through the times of the Wounds and of the restrictions.

Padre Nazareno da Arpaise

He was Superior of the convent in Foggia in 1916 when Padre Pio stayed. Took care of Padre Pio's delicate health. Left a notebook of memories "Notizie su Padre Pio da Pietrelcina"

Padre Paolino da Casacalenda

In 1918 was Superior of the convent in San Giovanni Rotondo, when Padre Pio received the Wounds.

From 1944 to 1950 he was superior provincial in Foggia.

He had the idea of organizing a system of reservations for the confessions to Padre Pio started on January 7,1950.

He wrote in a manuscript his memories.

Padre Lorenzo da San Marco in Lamis

Was superior of the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo 1919-1922 at the time of examination of the wounds by several physicians.

Padre Ignazio da Ielsi

Was superior of the convent from 1922 to 1925 at the time of involvement with the Holy Office.

Left a precious diary on the events.

Padre Bernardo d'Alpicella

Was provincial superior in Foggia from 1922 to 1937. Described in writing many details of the daily routines of Padre Pio.

Padre Tommaso da Monte Sant'Angelo

Confessed Padre Pio from 1926 to 1944. Wrote his memories in a manuscript 'Brevi cenni riguardanti la vita di Padre Pio e la mia lunga dimora con lui.'

Upon request by ecclesiastical authority held a formal questioning of Padre Pio about the Wounds.

Padre Luigi D'Avellino

As a provincial vicar had to communicate to Padre Pio that he had been transferred to another convent. The transfer was never implemented.

Padre Pietro da Ischitella

He was provincial superior from 1919 to 1924.

Padre Raffaele da Sant'Elia a Pianisi

Was superior of the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo from 1928 to 1941.

Padre Clemente Tomay da Postiglione

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 odor 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 love you."

Padre Ferdinando da San Marco in Lamis, Padre Carmelo da Sessano, Padre Teofilo dal Pozzo, Padre Emilio da Matrice , Padre Amedeo da San Giovanni Rotondo,

Padre Rosario da Aliminusa, Padre Clemente da Santa Maria in Punta, Padre Torquato da Lecore , Padre Carmelo da San Giovanni in Galdo, were superiors or co-friars of

Padre Pio through the fifties and the restrictions of the sixties. They poured on him fraternal love and unconditional support.

Padre Ferdinando da San Marco in Lamis

Was superior of the convent from 1952 to 1953

Padre Carmelo da Sessano was superior of the convent from 1953 to 1959

Padre Teofilo dal Pozzo

He was provincial superior from 1953 to 1956

Padre Amedeo da San Giovanni Rotondo was provincial superior from 1959 to 1961

Padre Torquato da Lecore was provincial superior from 1961 to 1963

Padre Emilio da Matrice

Was superior of the convent fro 1959 to 1960

Padre Rosario da Aliminusa was superior of the convent from 1960 to 1964

Padre Carmelo da San Giovanni in Galdo was superior of the convent from 1964 to 1969

Padre Clemente da Santa Maria in Punta was Apostolic Administrator of the Foggia province from 1963 to 1970

In the last years of his life Padre Pio needed help in many of his daily activities, and the friars provided it in any possible way,

helping him walk on wounded feet, protecting him from rowdy crowds, standing besides him at the altar, organizing the confessions,

while learning from him the love for God and the neighbor. They also shared with him a good laugh.

Padre Onorato Marcucci, back

Padre Alessio Parente

Padre Guglielmo Alimonti shows Padre Pio a framed picture of St. Mary of Graces.

Padre Adriano

Fra' Giovanni

Padre Onorato Padre Pio and Fra' Giovanni

Fra Modestino da Pietrelcina

Fra' Modestino was from the same town of Padre Pio. His family was neighbor and his mother grazed the sheep at Piana Romana, like Francesco.

Fra' Modestino did the inventory of the cell after Padre Pio's death.

He enjoyed a special spiritual relationship with Padre Pio.

Padre Dominic Meyer

Padre Dominic Meyer, from Belleville, Illinois was sent in 1947 to the Convent to take care of the more than 250 letters Padre Pio receive daily in English and German. He did it for the next thirteen years.

He described in September 1949 a bout with "sister fever" in which the temperature was measured by dr. Sanguinetti with a special thermometer as 114 degrees.

Padre Pio visited in bilocation his father on his deathbed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as testified by his daughter and son in law, and later confirmed to Padre Dominic that he was saved in Heaven.

He gave many details of the daily activities of Padre Pio in his letters to his relatives in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Brother Joseph Martin with Padre Pio

Padre Eusebio

Padre Eusebio Notte, was with Padre Pio from 1960 to 1965

Padre Pio puts on with difficulty the right sleeve of the surplice.

Now we know that he had the wound of carrying the Cross on his right shoulder.

Fra Giovanni, Padre Pio and Padre Eusebio Notte

Fra Giovanni, kneeling, in front of Padre Pio

Padre Gianbattista Colavita

Padre Pellegrino

Padre Pietro Tartaglia

Padre Alberto D'Apolito

Padre Andrea D'Ascanio

Padre Ermelindo

Padre Ermelindo holding relics of Padre Pio

Padre Bernardino Traversi

Padre Domenico da Cese Manoppello

Padre Domenico 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, 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.”

Padre Pio died few hours later.