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.

Old Footage of St. Padre Pio

I know I jump around a lot from secular to sacred and what have you but that's just me. I couldn't resist putting a link to this old footage of St. Padre Pio taken in the 1940's and 1950's and beyond. GI's used to go up to see him during world war II.

This footage has just solo Cello behind it. It is very well done.
CLICK HERE

St.Padre Pio

On going through my slides, I found this one. An old photo taken in 1918 or thereabouts of the Famed Stigmatic Franciscan Priest, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. This particular picture was taken in the Friary Garden where he lived and died. His body had the 5 wounds of Christ imprinted on it–the incident happened in 1918 when he was alone in prayer in the choir loft. He wrote the details of the experience to his Spiritual director in whom he confided with many letters which were released after his death in 1968.

His life is full of the most amazing gifts of the holy spirit, one of which was the ability to bi-locate to parts of the world to help souls in need while never leaving his humble mountain friary. He could read hearts as well- and those who came to confess to him in the sacrament of penance will testify that if they tried to hide any serious sins, he would start naming them, where they took place, and how many times! It could be very un nerving for the man or woman who came to him out of curiosity only.

At his canonization in Rome on June 16, 2002, one can see that this man has touched millions worldwide.

For more photos and a more about his amazing life, CLICK HERE.

They don't come much cuter than this!

Meet 'Grigio' (Italian for Grey). This most cute and sweet little fellow was dropped off at a shelter 3 days before Christmas. Last Sunday, Linnea could wait no longer for a cat (our 4 year old cat 'Mezzo' disappeared on Christmas day, taken away most likely by a coyote), so we went to a cat adoption at the local pet and feed store. As soon as I saw this little guy, I knew he was the one. So we broght him home and named him for his color.  But a little bumpy road lay ahead.  He was very thin, though active; yet we were given medicine to help him along. He stopped eating and drinking at one point and because of his frail size we became very anxious.  His little sweet heart was always appreciative and he loved to cuddle in linnea's lap for hours on end.  I figured it was time to enlist someone whom I knew could help this little fellow pull through- St. Padre Pio!  I felt a little foolish asking God, through his servant St. Padre Pio for help. With so much suffering and need in the world it seems trite to ask for the health of a cat - Yet God, who is the creator of all things big and small and holds them into existence finds no request to small if done out of love.  So I took out a 3rd class relic of St. Padre Pio, blessed little Grigio with it with the sign of the cross then placed the relic under his bed.

Within a few days or less, he began to recover quite well. Eating, and drinking became more frequent and he began to leap and toss about like a healthy little kitten. He is still small and delicate and probably will always be. Linnea and he have bonded tightly- as she does so well with cats. I am thankful to God and St. Padre Pio for the little fellow's health. His simplicity and meekness (is as much as a cat can aquire virtue!) truly remind me of the unfathomable love of the creator for his creatures.

Another note; the Ceanothus trees are in bloom here in Topanga and they are Spectacular. He is a picture of one on our hill side.