Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio

by Susan De Bartoli

Let the Holy Spirit lead you to the Living Water that feeds our well of faith.

When asked about his spiritual gifts of healing, bilocation, prophecy, and stigmata, Padre Pio replied, “You know, they are a mystery to me, too.” While you might think he is just being modest, he is actually getting at the heart of how the Holy Spirit works in every Christian’s life. We can’t fully understand why God gives us certain gifts, but as we walk with Christ, we can engage with this mystery and journey towards holiness.

In Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio, Susan De Bartoli shares stories and wisdom from the life of this humble monk to show how we can use our unique spiritual gifts to love others and draw from the well of faith to encounter Christ in profound ways.

Following the success of her Advent devotional, Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio, Susan De Bartoli invites you to explore Padre Pio’s relationship with the third member of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who is the source of all spiritual gifts.

Through the stories of this simple Capuchin priest, you’ll discover what is possible for those who surrender themselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. At Baptism, we all receive the fruits of the Spirit—gifts like wisdom, fortitude, and piety—that empower us to “dive deep” into the well of faith. The Holy Spirit also graces some of us with special charisms—supernatural gifts such as healing, teaching, or intercessory abilities—intended to serve the Church. In this book, you’ll learn how to nurture these gifts, just as Padre Pio did, so that even your “ordinary“ spiritual gifts and charisms can bless others and deepen your own faith.

Each chapter offers quotations from Padre Pio, a short story about the saint, prayer, and reflection questions that you can apply to your own life, such

What are my spiritual gifts and how have I seen them play out in my life already? Am I consistently drinking from the well of faith? What does the Lord want me to do with my life, and how can I use my spiritual gifts to serve the Church? Am I willing to surrender even the good things in my life to glorify the Lord?   Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio is the perfect companion for those who are already drawn to Padre Pio’s spirituality or anyone yearning to strengthen their relationship with the Holy Spirit. Through the example of this extraordinary saint, you will discover how continually drawing from the well of Living Water can drastically change your everyday walk with Christ.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2024

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio, by Susan De Bartoli, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Most people have God-given gifts, not all can be seen though. Padre Pio's wounds can be seen though. Padre Pio really suffered with his stigmata for 50 years, which is a long time, to be in so much pain. I enjoyed learning more about Padre Pio in this book.

[Debora Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely incredible. This book really brings you into the life of Padre Pio and is an invitation to love God more deeply and fully as he did. What a saint!!!!

[Michele Pfrogner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how the author chose specific events from Padre Pio's life, and built her reflections around them. As much as I have read about this mystical saint, I was unaware that his father came to the United States to work, just a few miles from where I grew up. Also compelling was Padre Pio's obedience, even when he was subjected to gross cynicism and "punishment" from superiors. His unrelenting faith and humility are important lessons for our self-absorbed, "me first" culture of today.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such an impactful look into the life of St. Padre Pio! The book takes you into the life of Padre Pio and the massive impact he made on the world. What a servant’s heart with quiet yet immense faith. I would highly recommend this book for a quick introduction to his life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital copy to read and review.

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written stories about Padre Pios miracles. At end of this book you feel a Peace in you, definitely will be reading it again.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Padre Pio, pray for us.

[Kelly Guilbeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for what it is: a quick read about his life and some reflections at the end of each chapter. Took off a star because it felt choppy.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio by Susan De Bartoli is a wonderful collection that highlights the amazing Saint in all his wisdom.

This is such an enjoyable homage to a true gem…through this book we can explore some of the wisdom that he imparted and how through his life, works, words, and presence and how through these we can apply them within our own lives.

A fitting tribute and also great for self-exploration.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Ave Maria Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/5/24.