What do you think?
Rate this book
Padre Pio: The Stigmatist
Padre Pio died on September 23, 1968, his funeral attended by over 100,000 people. During the fifty-eight years he was a priest, his monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, became a mecca for pilgrims from all over the world. Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887 in the town of Pietrelcina in southeastern Italy, Padre Pio joined the Capuchin Order in 1903 and was ordained in 1910. On September 20, 1918 he received the sacred wounds of Christ, the stigmata, which he bore the rest of his life.
Renowned for the stigmata, which modern medical science could not explain, Padre Pio also possessed other unusual qualities, such as bilocation, celestial perfume, reading of hearts, miraculous cures, remarkable conversions, and prophetic insight. Although he did not leave his monastery and was under obedience not to write or preach, this humble Capuchin monk became world famous for his piety, his counsel, and his miracles. He was universally regarded as a saint in his own time.
Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio of Pietrelcina on Sunday, May 2, 1999 in St. Peter's Basilica Square before a throng of 650,000 devotees of this famed 20th-century stigmatist. His faithful followers now look forward with anticipation to his canonization.
"Remember that God is within us when we are in His grace, and outside of us when we are in sin." -Padre Pio
Renowned for the stigmata, which modern medical science could not explain, Padre Pio also possessed other unusual qualities, such as bilocation, celestial perfume, reading of hearts, miraculous cures, remarkable conversions, and prophetic insight. Although he did not leave his monastery and was under obedience not to write or preach, this humble Capuchin monk became world famous for his piety, his counsel, and his miracles. He was universally regarded as a saint in his own time.
Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio of Pietrelcina on Sunday, May 2, 1999 in St. Peter's Basilica Square before a throng of 650,000 devotees of this famed 20th-century stigmatist. His faithful followers now look forward with anticipation to his canonization.
"Remember that God is within us when we are in His grace, and outside of us when we are in sin." -Padre Pio
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Charles Mortimer Carty
27 books2 followersFr. Charles Carty broadcast a radio program, the Catholic Radio Hour, from St. Paul, Minnesota, and worked as a Catholic Campaigner for Christ, an "Apostolate to the man in the street", using a trailer and loud-speaker.
He wrote and distributed pamphlets and books on the Catholic Faith, most notably the Radio Replies series, in which he collaborated with Fr. Leslie Rumble, M.S.C.
They worked together--Fr. Carty in the United State, and Fr. Rumble in Australia--without meeting in person until after the first Radio Replies volume was a hit.
Fr. Carty died on May 22, 1964 in Connecticut.
He wrote and distributed pamphlets and books on the Catholic Faith, most notably the Radio Replies series, in which he collaborated with Fr. Leslie Rumble, M.S.C.
They worked together--Fr. Carty in the United State, and Fr. Rumble in Australia--without meeting in person until after the first Radio Replies volume was a hit.
Fr. Carty died on May 22, 1964 in Connecticut.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 22, 2026
To be honest I could have happily given this a three. It's quite repetitive and - entirely unlike the good Padre, so we're continuously told - it more than outstays its welcome. Also, as with many Catholic works published around this era, it has a peculiar structural layout that causes it not always to feel like a cohesive book but more an assembled content dump of history and commentary, testimony, anecdote and prayerful meditations.
We might as well keep on the negatives for now, so as to get them over with.
There are, I think, only so many times that we can be told of miraculous cures and amazing supernatural feats reported by these excited converts and pilgrims before, ironically, each testament loses its sense of wonder and becomes almost monotonously predictable. Yes, there are many reports from people with elaborate Italian names I probably made a mess of in my head, and at face value they are indeed amazing. I did not know much at all about this saint before, and now I am fairly convinced he had some serious, God-given gifts about him. But after so many times of being told that Petre Pepperoni or Signorina Margherita were at death's door until Padre Pio came to them in a dream, or their pious neighbour invoked the living friar, one can't help but hear the cynical voice outside that whispers: "Yeah. But how many other times have there been when there was no divine intercession?"
Going off the book's reports, there would not appear to have been a single case of Padre Pio failing to come through. And believing Catholic though I whole-heartedly am, I cannot assume such a stunning level of consistency. (Note that, being Catholic likewise, I also understand that miracles do not and have never worked like this. There is never a sure-fire, everything-or-nothing deal where the communion of saints is either 100% effective or else false). By all this, I mean to say that the sheer amount of cases brought fourth ended up having the ironic effect of lessening their impact.
Personally, the aspect of the Father's life that I found most compelling was the famous stigmata which he carried for some half-a-century. Like many of the supranormal evidences noted in the Catholic world (if not always - and wisely so - authenticated by the Vatican), this strange occurrence seems to have been afforded every opportunity to be thoroughly and demonstrably debunked, and as far as I see this has not been the case.
Less impressive to me personally was the correspondence shared between Padre Pio and one of his spiritual children, where the man elaborates on the different loves of God and many another concept which, so far into the book, I just could not wake myself into bothering to understanding.
Nor was I particularly appreciative of the size-one font in which the final funerary recount was written. There seems zero worldly reason for this editorial choice, and it brought back fond memories of trying to decipher the same in a dimly-lit airplane cabin on its way to England when I read a similar TAN-published devotional.
It should be obvious then, that I wasn't exactly charmed by this book. So why four stars instead of three?
Well, for one, it's still an interesting account of one of our modern saints, which alone makes it important. And also, despite being repetitive and overlong, the writer Charles C. Carty does still do an impressive job in anthologising the man's life and works. There are even, for a modern reader, some more in-depth theological sections by the author that are more richly captivating than the padre's own writings.
And also, dear reader ... because I feel guilty.
You see, reading this book of ascetic piety and spiritual perfection, my own wretched state was rendered glaring not only mentally, but even physically by the book itself. It was an old paperback from my father-in-law's bookshelf - one clearly read so many times in his life, that the spine was all creased and broken, held together only by lovingly administered tape. Lines of spiritual resonance was marked and underlined by pen throughout. He had even written his full name, address and landline number on the inside sleeve. And now I, the hopeless son-in-law, decide to awaken this decrepit book from retirement and give it one final spin which was destined to be its last.
The thing held together for so long, but eventually, chunks of pages started falling, and by the last few chapters, it was down to every page until the back sleeve making a desperate attempt to escape. The book was disintegrating in my hands as I read it on my afternoon walks, and I would have looked quite the sight to any passersby - some kind of religious nut, infernally disorganised as he juggles a handful of protruding pages in his hands, dropping them like offerings into every bin he passes.
Let this not be a true metaphor of the state of my soul.
We might as well keep on the negatives for now, so as to get them over with.
There are, I think, only so many times that we can be told of miraculous cures and amazing supernatural feats reported by these excited converts and pilgrims before, ironically, each testament loses its sense of wonder and becomes almost monotonously predictable. Yes, there are many reports from people with elaborate Italian names I probably made a mess of in my head, and at face value they are indeed amazing. I did not know much at all about this saint before, and now I am fairly convinced he had some serious, God-given gifts about him. But after so many times of being told that Petre Pepperoni or Signorina Margherita were at death's door until Padre Pio came to them in a dream, or their pious neighbour invoked the living friar, one can't help but hear the cynical voice outside that whispers: "Yeah. But how many other times have there been when there was no divine intercession?"
Going off the book's reports, there would not appear to have been a single case of Padre Pio failing to come through. And believing Catholic though I whole-heartedly am, I cannot assume such a stunning level of consistency. (Note that, being Catholic likewise, I also understand that miracles do not and have never worked like this. There is never a sure-fire, everything-or-nothing deal where the communion of saints is either 100% effective or else false). By all this, I mean to say that the sheer amount of cases brought fourth ended up having the ironic effect of lessening their impact.
Personally, the aspect of the Father's life that I found most compelling was the famous stigmata which he carried for some half-a-century. Like many of the supranormal evidences noted in the Catholic world (if not always - and wisely so - authenticated by the Vatican), this strange occurrence seems to have been afforded every opportunity to be thoroughly and demonstrably debunked, and as far as I see this has not been the case.
Less impressive to me personally was the correspondence shared between Padre Pio and one of his spiritual children, where the man elaborates on the different loves of God and many another concept which, so far into the book, I just could not wake myself into bothering to understanding.
Nor was I particularly appreciative of the size-one font in which the final funerary recount was written. There seems zero worldly reason for this editorial choice, and it brought back fond memories of trying to decipher the same in a dimly-lit airplane cabin on its way to England when I read a similar TAN-published devotional.
It should be obvious then, that I wasn't exactly charmed by this book. So why four stars instead of three?
Well, for one, it's still an interesting account of one of our modern saints, which alone makes it important. And also, despite being repetitive and overlong, the writer Charles C. Carty does still do an impressive job in anthologising the man's life and works. There are even, for a modern reader, some more in-depth theological sections by the author that are more richly captivating than the padre's own writings.
And also, dear reader ... because I feel guilty.
You see, reading this book of ascetic piety and spiritual perfection, my own wretched state was rendered glaring not only mentally, but even physically by the book itself. It was an old paperback from my father-in-law's bookshelf - one clearly read so many times in his life, that the spine was all creased and broken, held together only by lovingly administered tape. Lines of spiritual resonance was marked and underlined by pen throughout. He had even written his full name, address and landline number on the inside sleeve. And now I, the hopeless son-in-law, decide to awaken this decrepit book from retirement and give it one final spin which was destined to be its last.
The thing held together for so long, but eventually, chunks of pages started falling, and by the last few chapters, it was down to every page until the back sleeve making a desperate attempt to escape. The book was disintegrating in my hands as I read it on my afternoon walks, and I would have looked quite the sight to any passersby - some kind of religious nut, infernally disorganised as he juggles a handful of protruding pages in his hands, dropping them like offerings into every bin he passes.
Let this not be a true metaphor of the state of my soul.
February 5, 2021
An excellent book on St. Pio. Definitely a bros approach, the author compiles the book into sections about the various graces and feats Our Lord enabled him to do. There is also a collection of his sayings and wisdom. A great starter for anyone trying to get to know this wonderful saint a little better.
February 21, 2014
I had been reading a book about Ed & Lorraine Warren, and in it Lorraine, keeps mentioning a Padre Pio, who had the stigmata of Christ,now I will be honest, I am not a religious person, I believe in Nature ,Mother Earth, I am Wiccan,but decided to buy and read this book. Wow! what a humbling experience it was, Padre Pio, was an amazing man! he came from an not very rich family, had many ailments, he had pneumonia, and nearly died, but not once,did his faith leave him. I do believe in a God, and have read the bible,from cover to cover, and do dip into it,as I do love the stories, now you may think,that being Wiccan,that's not the done thing, but as I have always been taught, "if you don't read,you won't learn"
Padre Pio's story, has to be,one of the most moving life stories,I have ever read! Do I believe, he had the Stigmata? yes, Do I believe he could heal the sick? yes! Do I believe he could read hearts? YES! I had to buy this book, on Amazon, from the U.S,A, and wait three weeks,for its arrival, Was it worth the wait! The answer is YES! After reading Padre Pio, the Stigmatist, I want to read more about this amazing, humble little monk,,,
Padre Pio's story, has to be,one of the most moving life stories,I have ever read! Do I believe, he had the Stigmata? yes, Do I believe he could heal the sick? yes! Do I believe he could read hearts? YES! I had to buy this book, on Amazon, from the U.S,A, and wait three weeks,for its arrival, Was it worth the wait! The answer is YES! After reading Padre Pio, the Stigmatist, I want to read more about this amazing, humble little monk,,,
September 27, 2024
This is a good book, as long as you understand that it is not really a biography of Padre Pio. Rather, it contains many stories about his miracles and other supernatural gifts, some of his letters and spiritual maxims, and tales of his conversions. So, if you are looking for the story of his life, this is not the book for you. But if you would like to be edified by the great power that God gave this stigmatized priest for the salvation of souls, you will find here stories of incredible works of grace.
August 26, 2019
This was a fascinating book which has helped me to approach an understanding of religious miracles, healing, and visions/hallucinations with respect to Padre Pio, considered a living saint in his time. The three stars rating has to do with the writing style/literary merit (meh) which did not match the content (excellent).
March 23, 2025
A wonderful collection of stories, medical testimonies, and attestations about the life and miracles of Padre Pio. No one has publicly had the stigmata longer than he did.
"As long as you have fear you will not sin." (p. 231)
"Too much fear makes us act without love; too much confidence prevents us from reckoning with and fearing with intelligent caution the danger we must overcome." (p. 231)
"The person who meditates and turns his mind to God, who is the mirror of his soul, seeks to know his faults, tries to correct them, moderates his impulses, and puts his conscience in order." (p. 232)
"In this world not one of us deserves anything." (p. 233)
"The habit of asking 'why' has ruined the world." (p. 239)
"In the spiritual life, the more you run the less you get tired." (p. 245)
"If He hides Himself from your view, it is not because He wishes to punish you for some act of unfaithfulness, but rather to test your faithfulness and to purify you once again of certain affections that the carnal eye does not perceive." (p. 267)
"Be certain that the more a soul loves God the less he feels it." (p. 268)
"In these sad times of dead faith and triumphant impiety and because we are continuously surrounded by people with hate in their hearts and blasphemy on their lips, the best way of keeping ourselves immune from their pestilent contagion all around us is to fortify ourselves with the food of the Eucharist." (p. 270)
"As long as you have fear you will not sin." (p. 231)
"Too much fear makes us act without love; too much confidence prevents us from reckoning with and fearing with intelligent caution the danger we must overcome." (p. 231)
"The person who meditates and turns his mind to God, who is the mirror of his soul, seeks to know his faults, tries to correct them, moderates his impulses, and puts his conscience in order." (p. 232)
"In this world not one of us deserves anything." (p. 233)
"The habit of asking 'why' has ruined the world." (p. 239)
"In the spiritual life, the more you run the less you get tired." (p. 245)
"If He hides Himself from your view, it is not because He wishes to punish you for some act of unfaithfulness, but rather to test your faithfulness and to purify you once again of certain affections that the carnal eye does not perceive." (p. 267)
"Be certain that the more a soul loves God the less he feels it." (p. 268)
"In these sad times of dead faith and triumphant impiety and because we are continuously surrounded by people with hate in their hearts and blasphemy on their lips, the best way of keeping ourselves immune from their pestilent contagion all around us is to fortify ourselves with the food of the Eucharist." (p. 270)
May 5, 2025
Interesting little biography of the life and deeds of Padre Pio. I will say, it's basically saint bait (in the sense that it's designed to build up his fame) and there's nothing wrong with that. But don't expect any critical analysis while reading it.
Also, the section with miracles attributed to Padre Pio should've been in the appendix. So many of them were just 'put a picture of Padre Pio in the same room as a child with the flu, and the child got better!' Like, yeah, that was probably going to happen regardless. A few of them were impressive though.
Also, the section with miracles attributed to Padre Pio should've been in the appendix. So many of them were just 'put a picture of Padre Pio in the same room as a child with the flu, and the child got better!' Like, yeah, that was probably going to happen regardless. A few of them were impressive though.
July 15, 2026
This book contains a lot of really fascinating first-hand accounts of the life of Padre Pio. The bulk of the book is apparently drawn from a collection of letters and testimonies about Padre Pio that was compiled by someone named Alberto del Fante. My reasoning for giving this less than 5 stars is that the structure of this book is a bit hard to follow at times, as most of the book is basically just letter after letter. While this book is at times repetitive, it nevertheless gives an astounding and inspiring portrayal of a great saint.
March 27, 2024
A good book on Padre Pio highlighting his spiritual gifts with many testimonies from people who encountered him. The book also includes chapters on Padre Pio's spiritual maxims, letters to his spiritual children, and medical reports. I was disappointed that this book included only a very short biographical account of Padre Pio's life. I would recommend this book as a supplement to a biography of Padre Pio's life.
March 24, 2025
He was the first Saint that I have read about. My mother and grandmother went to go see him, only to have the doors shut because the mass was full. I thought of him often in my younger years after reading this book, and they were happier times. I shall read this again, eventually. Because of this book, I always took mass and the Eucharist very seriously.
Want to Read
October 13, 2019I read this book long before Padre Pio was canonized as a Saint. It's among the best books I've read. It's the book that gave me enlightenment on unexplained Christian and Catholic saintly prodigies. The book has strengthened my Catholic faith. To me the book deserves a five star mark.
May 19, 2017
Padre Pio was pretty cool
September 21, 2019
Very good book with stories of Padre Pio's ministry. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to understand more about him.
March 6, 2020
Definitely one of the best books, if not the best, on St. Pio of Pietrelcina. The chronological order is confusing at times, but it is still worth reading.
November 18, 2020
I learned a lot about Padre Pio reading this book.
December 29, 2024
Lots of good information. Can be dry at times.
October 20, 2021
Interesting and challenging at the same time. I rescued this book years ago when a school library was being recommissioned then put in a box and forgot all about it. Found it again when I was decluttering my parents' house. Started reading it and just kept going till the end. Written in early 1950s so a lot of it is dated but the basics about Padre Pio's life still relevant. Makes me want to read something more modern which would put his life and times in perspective in 2021.
April 25, 2020
This is a great book about faith, devotion, and love.
Padre Pio's suffering was great but in all things, he spoke of his love of the Lord and his devotion to bringing more people to God. He did not appease the crowds or go easy on people, he made them stretch, he made them look within, and they loved him for it.
Padre Pio's suffering was great but in all things, he spoke of his love of the Lord and his devotion to bringing more people to God. He did not appease the crowds or go easy on people, he made them stretch, he made them look within, and they loved him for it.
February 18, 2016
"One day a boy told [Padre Pio] he was afraid he loved him more than God. The Father replied: You must love God with an infinite love, through me. You love me because I direct you to good, and to God the Supreme Good, and I am just the means that carries you to God. If I directed you not to God but to evil, you would not love me anymore." -Padre Pio
A perfect example of what the saints do for us!! This book on Padre Pio was very good. (It has many black and white photos which is a plus!) Very comprehensive- it seems to have it all. (The only critique I would have is that the chapter on his cures drags on and on- there are soooo many!) Padre Pio is fascinating- the only priest ever to have the stigmata, bilocation, cures, etc. etc. And still he has such HUMILITY. (I was just thinking how horrified in life he would have been of the book's title!) What a remarkable blessing that we have been gifted in such recent times with such a GREAT saint! May he bring us all closer to Christ!
A perfect example of what the saints do for us!! This book on Padre Pio was very good. (It has many black and white photos which is a plus!) Very comprehensive- it seems to have it all. (The only critique I would have is that the chapter on his cures drags on and on- there are soooo many!) Padre Pio is fascinating- the only priest ever to have the stigmata, bilocation, cures, etc. etc. And still he has such HUMILITY. (I was just thinking how horrified in life he would have been of the book's title!) What a remarkable blessing that we have been gifted in such recent times with such a GREAT saint! May he bring us all closer to Christ!
July 21, 2012
An interesting fast read; a biography of Padre Pio, who in 1918 began allegedly experiencing "stigmata" on his hands, side and back. The author takes no position on whether stigmata is real, or whether Pio was authentically saintly, but carefully relates the story of the priest's life, his service in World War I as a chaplain, his decades in his remote Italian monastery and the effect his "miracle" had on officialdom, (a major part of the book). The Vatican tried to cover up the stigmata stories as early as 1919, compiling all kinds of rumor and innuendo negative to the padre. Overwhelming public support, however, prevailed no matter what the hierarchy wanted people to believe. He was considered a living saint by millions, but there were many who questioned where all the money was going. Padre Pio died in 1968, the stigmata "miraculously" disappearing during his final illness. Pope John Paul II streamlined his beatification and ultimate sainthood in 2002, but the controversies remain.
May 23, 2015
This is a biography of a very religious man, who from childhood knew what his path is life was deemed to be. The book will take you through his many trails of life, miracles, and the lives of many people that he touched and will also talk about the stigmata that Padre Pio had during his life. I would recommend this book as a very good read and a informative read.
December 29, 2014
This book is an unending bombardment of miracles attributed to Padre Pio. In the aggregate, the miracles listed are so numerous and incredible in nature that only the most hard-hearted skeptic could look at all of these instances and not be moved.
December 28, 2015
I need to get a book on Padre Pio that takes place after this one, the edition I had was written in 1955. But nevertheless a good read.
A very poor man (aren't they mostly?), Catholic, who is recognized as a saint today. The evidence is overwhelming, in this book, and probably others.
A very poor man (aren't they mostly?), Catholic, who is recognized as a saint today. The evidence is overwhelming, in this book, and probably others.
July 12, 2009
Interesting, but repetitive. It also seems to credulous concerning Padre Pio. I had to slog through the beginning and parts near the end, but I am glad I did.
July 26, 2011
I am not quite sure if I believe in the Stigmata but Padre Pio's story is probably the most believable and probably the most documented of our time an interesting read.
July 15, 2012
Kind of boring. I really want to read a great book about Padre Pio, so I'll keep looking. This particular book was written as he was still living. Never finished
July 23, 2013
Good read, mostly of his miracles, cures and conversions.
September 25, 2015
Padre Pio is an amazing saint of our time., thus the 4 stars. The writing is merely a compilation of witnesses.
January 10, 2016
This book called to me from the shelf. Very insightful.
Read
April 1, 2010My first Padre Pio book, but not my last, svery interesting and enlightening.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews