Padre Pio and America - Frank M. Rega

First titled, The Holy Man on the Mountain, this book tells the fascinating
life story of Padre Pio, with emphasis on his life as a seminarian, young priest
and his early decades at San Giovanni Rotondo. Incredible is the number of times
the Capuchins sent him home sick unto death while a seminarian and young priest
and how he was finally sent to remote San Giovanni Rotondo "For a couple
of weeks of mountain air." He never left. But from this small, remote mountain
friary, he became world famous and exercised unbelievable influence on the entire
world-though early on, he was forbidden by his superiors to preach, to write
or to correspond. A few clerics developed enmity toward Padre Pio, resulting several
times in orders from his superiors that he be moved. It is simply hilarious to
learn why ne never was-though being under obedience, he was entirely willing
to do so.

The author also weaves in the Saint's early work with L'Americana,
Mary Pyle, his "foreign ambassadress," and then with the American
GI's who came to visit him during WWII, with San Giovanni Rotondo was liberated
from the Germans. Padre Pio developed a special love for Americans and America-to
the point that he wished that all Americans would become his spiritual children.


This book demonstrate Padre Pio's great love for his parents, his amazing
sense of humor, his abstemious eating, his uncanny knowledge of people (even before
they visited), and his profound supernatural awareness. In sum, Padre
Pio and America is an inspiring book that will instill a profound
awe in readers because it shows the impact a truly saintly priest can have on
all who come into contact with him-and in Padre Pio's case, even on
the whole world!

"Your book is excellent! I found it hard to put down. . . . It is easy
to commend your work. . . . The Lord reward you forever." -Fr. Angelus
M. Shaughnessy, O.F.M. Cap.