Brother Gerardo of Deliceto (Fra Gerardo da Deliceto)

I found this picture on the internet of a Friar I knew when I was living in San Giovanni Rotondo at the Monastery where St. Padre Pio lived and died. His name is Brother Gerardo. He was a lay brother. His cell was next to mine. (Religious call their rooms cells, not rooms).  Here he is in the Monastery kitchen scraping off apple peels from plates. These most likely would go out to the chickens. This Brother was extremely happy. He had a perpetual smile across his face and would always greet you when you passed by. In my book CAPUCHIN DAYS I talk about some experiences I had with him.  I think he had lived there since the 1920's.