Saint Padre Pio's Mysterious Handprint on the Window

Today I'd like to share a true story with you from Father Alessio Parente's book titled Padre Pio: Our Good Samaritan. Father Alessio was one of Saint Padre Pio's fellow monks at the monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, and was also a dear friend and "bodyguard" of Padre Pio during the Padre's last years. I corresponded with Father Alessio and have enjoyed his many books about Padre Pio. Now, from his Padre Pio: Our Good Samaritan, I bring you the following true story:

“In July, 1957, Father Placido of San Marco in Lamis, Italy, a friend of Padre Pio’s from his novitiate and student days, was urgently hospitalized, in Foggia, near the monastery. Father Placido had an acute form of cirrhosis of the liver. His condition deteriorated, despite medical treatment. One night, Father Placido saw Padre Pio [in spirit, because Padre Pio never physically left the monastery, so Jesus had to very often transport him in spirit to get to people God wanted Padre Pio to help—that gift is called ‘bilocation’]. That night Padre Pio appeared beside Father Placido’s hospital bed, speaking to him, urging him to have patience; comforting him and assuring him of his recovery. Then Placido saw Padre Pio go towards the window of the hospital room, place his hand on the glass, and disappear.

“In the morning when Fr. Placido woke up,” continued Fr. Alessio Parente, “he felt better; he remembered the welcome visit of the night before and now looked toward the window. He was surprised to see the mark of a hand on the glass. He got out of bed and approached the window to examine the mark carefully, close up. He recognized Padre Pio’s handprint [because Padre Pio bore the ever-bleeding wounds of Christ for fifty years in his hands, feet, and side]. Fr. Placido was then convinced that Padre Pio’s visit had not been a dream, but reality. He told the whole story to the nuns, the nurses, and the hospital staff.

“The news spread throughout the city, and immediately there was a rush of friends and people to the hospital to see the mark of Padre Pio’s hands.” (A true story from Fr. Alessio Parente, OFM Capuchin’s Padre Pio: Our Good Samaritan.)

The above story is only one example of the many wonderful things God did through St. Padre Pio—and continues to do through St. Padre Pio. Do you need a healing or a blessing of any kind today? Do your loved ones have an urgent need? Please look up at St. Padre Pio, because he’s there, waiting to intercede for you with Jesus. Our Saint is so close now to the Source of Life, the Great Physician, the Ruler of All Nature, now that Padre Pio is in Heaven. Turn to him. He’ll do what he can for you, my friend.

With love and prayer for you,
Eileen Dunn Bertanzetti