Padre Pio's Ecstasy - Part One

by Chris Mcals

In the month of October 1911 the young Priest, Padre Pio of Pietralcina, was sent to Venafro in the region of Molise to study Sacred Eloquence (the theory and practice of preaching), along with some other newly ordained Priests, under the direction of his friend and Confessor, Padre Agostino da San Marco in Lamis.

While there, he fell gravely ill and was taken to Naples by the Father Superior of the Venafro Convent, Padre Evangelista da San Marco in Lamis, for a medical evaluation; however the doctors didn’t understand the nature of Padre Pio’s illness and were unable to help him.

Padre Pio returned to Venafro, but because of his grave illness he was confined to bed and was therefore unable to celebrate Mass. He could at best receive Holy Communion, his only nourishment for the next 21 days.

While Padre Pio’s was ill the Friars at the Venafro Convent became aware of his ecstasies during which he had long conversations with Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Mother, His Guardian Angel and, at times, with St. Francis of Assisi. In the background there were always indications of his encounters with the devil, which Padre Pio called “dirty scoundrel.”

Padre Agostino was an Eye-Witness of Padre Pio’s ecstasies and he took it upon himself to jot down as best as possible every word he heard coming out of Padre Pio’s mouth. His pencil notes were written quickly and in a hurry while he stood in the same room with Padre Pio. Afterwards he copied everything in another notebook, which eventually became the first part of his diary from which I am translating these excerpts from their original Italian.

One morning, during the first eight or nine days of his illness, after receiving Holy Communion, Padre Pio was in a state of deep affliction. He was asked the cause of his affliction to which he responded with a question of his own, “Tell me the truth, did I receive Holy Communion this morning?”

The Priest who brought him Communion earnestly assured him that he did indeed receive Holy Communion, still Padre Pio couldn’t be persuaded because he was unaware, so the Priest who gave him Communion mentally directed a simple prayer to Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel, and immediately Padre Pio remembered, and thanked him.

Padre Pio received Communion twice while he was in ecstasy without his awareness and it was Jesus who, during his ecstasy, made him aware of it, as described in the following two ecstasies.

First Ecstasy (no date)

. . . My Jesus . . . how wonderful You look this morning! . . . tell me Jesus, are You in my heart? . . . Did I receive You this morning? . . . Yes? . . . And who was that brought me Communion? . . . My papa? . . . It’s always he who brings me Communion . . . if I ask him he immediately responds: I gave you Holy Communion with these unworthy hands . . . but, my Jesus, should I keep asking him? Will he tell me the truth? . . . I know he doesn’t lie . . . yes with my mouth? . . . But, Jesus, what sign do You give me? . . . He called me? . . . He called me! . . . Then I was asleep . . . no? . . . And what did he say to me? . . . Pio, behold Jesus in my unworthy hands! . . . Ah Jesus, forgive me . . . I already felt You in my heart like the disciples of Emmaus . . . I felt You . . . with Your sweetness . . . I no longer feel thirsty . . . Ah, my Jesus, my sweetness . . . . how can I live without You? Come back always my Jesus, come, to You alone my heart belongs . . . Oh, if I had infinite hearts, all the hearts in Heaven and on earth, even the heart of Your Mother, all of them, all of them I would offer them to You . . . My Jesus, my sweetness, Love, Love who sustains me . . . thank You . . . to the next time! . . .

Second Ecstasy (no date)

My Jesus, why so small this morning? . . . You made Yourself so small! . . . My Angel, do you see Jesus? . . . Well, then, bow to Him . . . that’s not enough . . . kiss Jesus’ wounds . . . Good! . . . Well done, my Angel. Well done, little boy . . . there, there he gets serious. . . . he starts pouting! . . . what should I call you? What’s your name? . . . Anyway forgive me my Angel, come on, and bless Jesus for me . . .

My Jesus, my Jesus, why so small? . . . tell me . . . come closer to me . . . tell me, can you speak? You are small! . . . Tell me, Jesus, did I receive Communion this morning? . . . Yes? . . . And who gave me Communion? . . . Ah! . . . It’s always him! . . . if I ask him he tells me the usual story . . I brought you Communion! . . . And he speaks French, too: Petit enfant, petit enfant . . . But Jesus what sign do You give me? . . . He called me! . . . But was I asleep? . . . I was talking with You! . . . And what did he tell me? . . . He commanded me! . . . but what did he say? . . . Pio, behold Jesus!. . . I command you in the name of this Jesus that I have in my hands to take Communion . . . Ah is that so, my Jesus? . . . And what other sign? . . . Padre Agostino was also there and he held the paten? . . . Ah thank you, my Jesus, thank you! . . . Go back to Heaven my Jesus . . .

Ah, my beautiful Mommy, my dearest Mommy . . . so Your eyes are beautiful after all! . . . Jesus was right . . . yes You are beautiful . . . if it weren’t for our Faith, people would call You a Goddess . . . Your eyes shine brighter than the sun . . . You are beautiful, my Mommy, I glory in Your beauty, I love You . . I beg You, help me . . . Jesus wants me to go there, help me Mommy dear . . .

My Jesus, we ran out of time . . . to the next time! . . . Ah, how I long to see You in Heaven! . . . . Ah, what will Heaven be like, if even on earth we can feel so wonderful? . . . To the next time, my Jesus, my sweetness, my beauty . . . To the next time, Love that sustains me! . . .

Padre Pio’s ecstasies were almost ongoing: they happened two or three times a day and lasted anywhere from one to two and a half hours. On Nov. 29/1911 and March 3/1912 his doctor was also present.

During the ecstasy of Nov 29 (I will be publishing at a later date) the doctor was only there for a few minutes and, seeing him with his unblinking eyes fixed upwards, he lit a match and kept it close to his pupils: Padre Pio remained totally unaware, so the doctor said that he was in catalepsy.

During the ecstasy of March 3 the doctor listened to the words that Padre Pio uttered for half an hour. He proceeded to give him a physical check up during the ecstasy and was surprised to see that Padre Pio’s heartbeat wasn’t synchronized with his pulse.

He also marveled at the liveliness and beauty of his face and asked those who were also present whether Padre Pio retained any cognition of what transpired during his ecstasies, afterwards. Having received an affirmative answer he said that in his opinion this was a very unusual and unnatural state.

Because Padre Pio remained asleep for quite awhile after his ecstasies and only awoke immediately if summoned by an act of obedience to a superior, the Padre Superior called him while the doctor was there, only he did so from outside the room and with a low voice so that no one of those present in the room could hear him. Immediately Padre Pio woke up saying, “Who is it?. . . “

The doctor was amazed at the sight of this phenomenon as well.

Padre Pio’s ecstasies were always preceded or followed by diabolic apparitions. At first the devil appeared to him in the guise of a black, ugly cat. The second time he appeared under the guise of nude nymphs who lasciviously danced before him. The third time, without appearing, they spat on his face. The fourth time, also without appearing, they tortured him with unbearably jarring sounds. The fifth time the devil appeared to him in the form of a flagellator who scourged him. The sixth time he appeared in the form of a crucifix. The seventh time in the form of a young friend of the Friars, who had just visited them and left. The eighth time he appeared under the form of his Spiritual Father. The ninth time he manifested himself under the form of Pope Pius X. Other times he took the shape of his Guardian Angel, St. Francis, Our Blessed Mother… and finally he appeared in his own horrible likeness, along with a host of hellish spirits.

Padre Pio was always able to discern the diabolic apparitions by ordering them to say Glory to Jesus! After having recognized them for what they really were, he was always able to overcome the crisis with the Divine help, and immediately after there followed an apparition of Jesus, Mary and his Guardian Angel.

When Satan appeared to him under the form of our Blessed Mother, Padre Pio admitted that he suffered more than he did when the beast appeared to him under any other disguise.

One morning he wanted to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but his Father Confessor, who was in a hurry, told him to go ahead and take Communion, and he would hear his confession later that evening.

Later that day, the devil appeared to him disguised as his Spiritual Father and told him that he had come to hear his Confession, as he had promised him in the morning. Padre Pio recognized him immediately first of all because he had a large wound in his forehead, which he justified saying that he had fallen down the stairs, and second because of the disgust he always felt in his spirit when he received similar visitations.

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Padre Pio's Ecstasy, Part Two

by Chris Mcals

Part Two

On January 6, 1903, Francesco Forgione entered the Novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at Morcone, a Municipality in the Province of Benevento, located about 50 miles northeast of Naples where, on January 22 of the same year, he took the Franciscan habit and the name of Fra’ (Brother) Pio, in honor of Pope St. Pius V, the Patron Saint of Pietralcina.

In 1911 when, during one of his mysterious illness, Padre Pio became confined to bed for three weeks during which he received frequent Heavenly visitations (sometimes up to three a day) that were either preceded or followed by diabolic apparitions.

The following is one of Padre Pio’s ecstasies that occurred during his illness in Venafro. His ecstasies were eye-witnessed by many, including Padre Agostino who recorded them in his journal while they were taking place. They were later found (after Padre Agostino’s death) and published under the title: “Diario.”

Nov. 29, 1911

Jesus, I entrust to You these Brothers . . . they get up at night . . . You know . . . tell me, why are You so afflicted? . . . people offend You very much . . . people do all sort of wicked things . . . Jesus, I’d like to ask You a favor . . . but I see You so afflicted . . . someone must have offended You . . . My Angel you remember that I abused your presence . . still tell Jesus . . . may I have those Graces? Although He knows . . .

Jesus, I love You . . . my soul is torn . . . You are so serious . . . You don’t think about it . . . It’s true . . . people are wicked . . . Your mercy . . .

Why, Jesus? . . . only one thing . . . come to me always . . . with what should I nourish myself? . . . with love! . . . but my love is weak . . . Jesus I love You very much . . . compensate where my love is lacking . . . oh, how sad I see You this morning! . . . yes, You remember. . . I’m weak . . . at any moment . . . My God, I don’t mind that You look at me like that. . . but I wish my voice could reach all sinners . . . Come all of you sinners into this wound where everything is Love . . .

My Mother, remember what I told You about that person . . . Jesus, You know, he is one of my Brothers . . . look at the habit of our Father (St. Francis) if he had been like me he would have killed himself . . . My God don’t punish him . . . Our Priests too . . . At the Altar who knows what they do . . . don’t punish them . . . Jesus, I entrust You with that person that Padre Agostino mentioned to me . . . Jesus, why so afflicted this morning? . . . Can it be that I didn’t Communicate myself well? . . . but what do You expect from this miserable wretch? . . . I am unworthy! . . . You want to glorify Yourself in me? . . . in me? . . . what glory? . . . Jesus, don’t let me see You like this . . . it breaks my heart . . . to whom should I turn? . . .

Jesus, why yesterday morning the others didn’t notice? . . . Nobody must know . . . My Father. . . he can . . . but the others despise our things . . . Jesus, I entrust my Spiritual Father to You . . . who knows what that dirty scoundrel is cooking up for him! . . . To me, instead . . . do not allow it . . . I know, it’s a test . . .but who knows what could happen to him . . .

Jesus, was the doctor here yesterday? . . . well . . . he is a secular ! . . . the Brothers yes, but a secular! . . . I know he is good, but he is still a secular! . . .

Jesus don’t say “no” . . . to whom should I turn? . . . Your Mother, and You too . . . Jesus, don’t say “no” . . . remember that You spilled Your blood for everybody . . . and what does it matter if that man is hard-hearted? . . . it doesn’t matter . . . I too renounce. . . meanwhile he . . .

Jesus . . . My Jesus, still afflicted . . . always afflicted this morning . . . Tell me, is it I who offended You? . . . for mankind . . . My God, men afflict You all the time! . . .

Jesus, look . . . whether You want it or not . . . You see . . . I must deafen You . . . or You will no longer appear to me . . . or You will no longer appear . . . there we go again . . . there we go again . . . there we go again . . . people! . . . People do favors either to their children or to their acquaintances . . . Our Order was instituted for men . . . why don’t You grant me this favor? . . . Would this be the first time I’m asking You for it? . . . why so afflicted? . . . I want to see You laugh a little . . . You look at me in that way . . . it’s people, including Priests, even in front of Your Altar . . . In the end You are a Father . . How many times I too left a lot to be desired! . . . when I lived at home my father saw my little pranks . . . still! . . . Jesus they are offending You grievously . . . this morning You are afflicting me . . . My God if I could place Your heart in mine! . . .

I appeal to Your Mother! . . . Jesus, I love You so very much . . . I keep repeating it, yes I love You, Love, Love! You alone! . . . You alone be praised! . . . Jesus, don’t forget those people who are sacrificing themselves for me . . . last night they could have easily rested, instead they got up to visit me . . . In the end, who am I? . . . Please help them! . . . as far as I’m concerned I’m not even good enough to say Mass, but let them do their ministry.

Jesus, I don’t want to keep boring You . . . I talked a lot. My Jesus, my Superior tried to persuade me that last night that dirty scoundrel was here . . . Stay always close to me! . . . Who knows what will happen!

Jesus, one more thing . . . in our Province him too . . . The Rule is better observed . . . I too will suffer . . . even if You send me out (of the Order) . . . . Help these Superiors . . . You already know . . . You already know . . .

Jesus . . . why that thirst the other morning? . . . You are right, I missed You who are my Father and my Spouse.

Angel of God, my Angel . . . are you not my guardian? God gave you to me . . . Are you a creature? . . . Either you are a creature or you are a creator . . . are you a creator? No. So then you are a creature and you have a law and must obey it . . . you must stay next to me whether you like it or not . . . you are compelled . . . And he laughs . . . what are you laughing about? . . .

Tell me something . . . no, you must tell me . . . who was present here yesterday morning? . . . And he laughs again . . . please, tell me . . . who was it? . . . either Padre Agostino or Padre Superior . . . well, tell me . . . was it their guardian angel? . . . answer me . . . if you don’t tell me I will say that it was one of the other four . . . and he laughs! . . . come on, tell me . . . I’m not letting you off the hook until you tell me . . .

Otherwise I’ll ask Jesus . . . and then you’ll have to deal with Him! . . . And He laughs! . . .

So, young man, tell me who it was! . . . you made me talk quite a bit, you know! . . . yes, yes, Padre Agostino, the Father Lector, the teacher! . . . well then, my Angel, will you save him from the warfare that that dirty scoundrel is preparing for him? Will you save him? . . .

Tell me, Jesus, why allow it? . . . You don’t want to tell me?. . . if You won’t appear to me anymore. . . but if You will come again I will have to tire You . . .

Jesus. . . but tell me, are You really Jesus? . . . Say Jesus! . . . Good!

Jesus, when You come back next time, I need to ask you a few things . . . You already know them . . . but for now I want to touch on them briefly . . . What were those flames in my heart this morning? . . . If it weren’t for Rogerio who held me down . . . and then even the Lector . . . my heart wanted to race out of my chest . . . what was it? . . . and another thing . . . What was that thirst? . . . My God . . . what was it? Last night after the Superior and the Lector left I drank a whole bottle of water and the thirst wasn’t quenched. . . it devoured me . . . and it afflicted me until Communion . . . what was it? . . .

Jesus is that dirty scoundrel coming back tonight? . . . Well, help those two who assist me; protect them, defend them . . . I know, You are here . . . but . . . my Angel stay with me!

Jesus one last thing . . . let me kiss You . . . what sweetness in these wounds! . . . They are bleeding . . . but this Blood is sweet, it’s sweet . . . Jesus, sweetness . . . Holy Eucharist . . . Love, Love who sustains me . . . Love, I will see You again soon!

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Seeing Padre Pio in 1967

by Chris Mcals


A Visit to San Giovanni Rotondo

In 1966, when I was 19 years old, one of my aunts came to visit my family with the intention of making a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo to attend a Mass officiated by Padre Pio. At the time I lived in Bari, Italy.

I immediately volunteered to go with her. All I knew about Padre Pio was that he was a Capuchin Friar who was reputed to be a holy man. He also had a reputation for a bad temper, even though I personally believed that kind of reputation to be unfair.

We often think that God's Love is supposed to make us feel good but we fail to remember that He said through the Apostle St. Paul, that He disciplines those He loves. And that’s exactly what Padre Pio did. He was harsh to those who needed to be treated harshly, only because he knew that there was no other way that they could be saved.

In 1966 Padre Pio was an ailing old man (he died on Sep 23, 1968) who celebrated his daily Mass at the crack of dawn, so we had to get up very early in the morning to get to San Giovanni Rotondo (about an hour and a half travel time from Bari).

I shared a large bedroom with my two younger sisters, and this particular night our aunt was also sleeping with us. Suddenly I was awakened from my slumber by a sweet scent of jasmine flowers.

I knew there were no flowers in the house, so I couldn’t figure out where that scent could possibly be coming from. I sat in my bed and peered around in the dark to see if anybody else in the room had also been awakened, but to my surprise everybody was sound asleep. The wonderful fragrance lingered for a little while and then it gradually dissipated, and I went back to sleep.

Later I told my aunt about my middle of the night experience and she said that sometimes Padre Pio visits in spirit those who are going to see him, and that his visits are always accompanied by a strong fragrance of flowers, usually roses, but sometimes also jasmines.

I was filled with wonder. Why did Padre Pio come to visit me, of all people? I'll never know the answer to that question, but I favor the Jasmine among all other flowers, because it reminds me of the experience I had that night.

When we arrived at the Monastery, the church square was crowded. I felt a bit disappointed to see that everything looked so modern, so post-Vatican II. The front of the church was covered in polished, white marble, and it was much wider than I expected. The massive hospital to the right of the piazza was almost too close to the church, in my opinion. We made our way through the entrance, found a place near the door, and remained standing there for the duration of the Mass.

Padre Pio's Mass

I could see Padre Pio only because he was celebrating Mass from the choir balcony, above the Main Altar. His movements were few, slow and painful. His trembling voice sounded full of tears, very much like that of a suffering old man almost begging for help. He recited the prayers of the Mass one slow, painful word after another, with long pauses in between and I could hardly understand what he was saying because of the slur in his broken voice.

His hands were half covered with brown gloves so nobody could see his holy stigmata. Wishing to validate what my aunt had told me, I was hoping to see if he glanced at me even for an instant, but it was clear that he was totally absorbed with God and the Sacrifice of the Mass.

The air in the church got stifling because of the heat and the crowd, and the Mass was proceeding very, very slowly. We had been standing on our feet for a long time, so after a couple of hours I began to look forward to the end of the Mass, to get back into the open air. In the end it was a touching experience and I was very happy to have had the privilege to see Padre Pio and to hear his voice.

As for the connection between awakening to the fragrance of jasmines prior to attending Padre Pio's Mass, I still have my doubts. It was strange, for sure, but whether or not the two were related, I really don't know.

In 1979 I was also privileged to read, in the original Italian language, the second edition of Padre Pio's "Epistolario," which was published five years after his death, as well as the second edition of the "Diario" which was published in 1975. The Epistolario is a compendium of the original letters that were exchanged between Padre Pio and his spiritual director, Padre Benedetto, as well as his Confessor, Padre Agostino da San Marco in Lamis, from 1910 to 1922. It contains countless references to Padre Pio's extraordinary mystical experiences whether they pertained to Divine apparitions, the Living Fire of Love or to the relentless attacks of the devil.

The Diario is a collections of four copybooks, plus a wealth of additional information written by Padre Pio's Confessor and friend, Padre Agostino, who diligently annotated everything he personally witnessed about the life and spiritual experiences of Padre Pio. He jealously kept his copybooks hidden until his death in 1963, when they were found, and later published under the title, "Diario" (Diary).

This book is precious to me especially because of the four copybooks in which Padre Agostino jotted down every word he heard uttered from Padre Pio's mouth during his ecstasies, as he interacted with our Lord Jesus Christ, our Blessed Mother and his Guardian Angel. The colloquy shows pauses whenever Padre Pio was engaged in listening to the Divine apparitions.

The beginning of this book is totally dedicated to these sacred moments, which are very touching and awe inspiring, as you can see from those I have published in this blog, entitled: Padre Pio's Ecstasy, Part One and Two (to get an idea, click on the links: ecstasies and ecstasies 2). 

If you want to learn more about Padre Pio, both books can be downloaded for free on the web in PDF format.

The body of Padre Pio is on display for the veneration of the faithful