Page 25 - Padre Pio
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Padre Pio was 18 yr.
First known bilocation of Padre Pio, to Udine, were Giovanna Rizzani was being born,
and to St. Peters in Rome. Padre Pio left handwritten testimony.
Padre Pio was 18, and studying philosophy in Sant'Elia a Pianisi, when he experienced
bilocation for the first time.
He had the presence of mind to write down his experience within three weeks and consign it
to his superiors. 111
He wrote on February 1905: "Few days ago an unusual thing happened to me. I was in the
choir with Fra’ Atanasio at about 11 PM on January 18, 1905, when I found myself far away in
Udine, were a father was dying and a child was being born." The Virgin Mary told me: 'I'm
entrusting this child to you. One day she will come to you, but you will meet her first in Saint
Peter’s.’ After that I found myself back in the choir.†112 113
The girl to be born was Marchioness Giovanna Rizzani Boschi. Vanina for her friends.114 She
is one of 6 witnesses who testified at the Process of beatification. Her life was full of
coincidences that don't have a rational explanation. She was born January 18, 1905.
Padre Pio handwritten note was kept for years by Padre Agostino. Later he gave it to
Giovanna. Giovanna asked Padre Pio about it and he confirmed the authenticity.115 116 117
The dying person was Giovanni Battista Rizzani. His wife Leonilde had been praying at his
bedside, hoping for a last-minute conversion. Leonilde saw a young Capuchin standing over
the husband’s bed. As soon she looked at him he left the room and disappeared down the
corridor.
She was then caught by violent contraction and gave birth to a five weeks premature girl.
After the death of her husband, Leonilde moved with her daughter to Rome, to live with her
parents. In the summer of 1922 Giovanna went with a friend for confession in St. Peter’s
basilica. When they arrived it was almost closing time and they were told to come back next
day. On the way out Giovanna saw a Capuchin hurriedly enter a confessional. She
immediately went to him and confessed. After confession she and her friend waited for the
Capuchin to get out, to greet him. The custodian saw them and asked them to live. They told
him about the Capuchin in the confessional. The man looked in the confessional. It was
empty.
111 Ruf91, 66
112 Epist. IV, 1027-9
113 Alb10, 315-6
114 Bru70, 105-110
115 Epist. IV, 1027
116 Alb10, 251-272
117 Cap12, 247-50
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