The fascinating life story of Padre Pio, with emphasis on his life as a seminarian, young priest and his early years at San Giovanni Rotondo. From this small, remote mountain friary, he became world famous and exercised unbelievable influence on the entire world, though he was soon forbidden by his superiors to preach, to correspond or to write. Covers his early work with Mary Pyle, and with the American GIs who came to visit him during WWII when his part of Italy was liberated. Padre Pio developed a special love for America and Americans - to the point that he wished that all Americans would become his spiritual children. This book demonstrates his amazing sense of humor, his prayer and fasting, his uncanny knowledge of people (even before they visited), and his profound supernatural awareness. In sum, Padre Pio and America will instill a profound awe in readers over the impact a truly saintly priest can have on all who come into contact with him!
As devotee of Padre Pio and St. Francis of Assisi, Frank Rega has been a Third Order (Secular) Franciscan for over 25 years. His first book, Padre Pio and America, was published by TAN Books, as well as his second book, St. Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims. He has also published books about the mystic Luisa Piccarreta, the Catholic President of Ecuador, Garcia Moreno, and many articles for Catholic periodicals. He is founder and moderator of a 425 member online international Padre Pio prayer and discussion group. He is also an active member in the Knights of Columbus. His web site is www.frankrega.com. A Henry Rutgers Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa at Rutgers University, Mr. Rega also studied at Yale University's Institute of Human Relations on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship. Most recently he was employed by Compuware Corp. as a software engineer on projects for NASA and the Department of Homeland Security.
