Padre Pio told a woman it was her fault that her husband had left her…


One of Padre Pio’s great friends was Giuseppe Canapone. Giuseppe had certain privileges that few people enjoyed. He could go to Padre Pio’s cell without seeking anyone’s permission, speak with Padre Pio at all times of the day, and he spent his holiday time in San Giovanni Rotondo. 

Giuseppe said, “I spent all my free time at San Giovanni Rotondo…I was only happy when I was with him…I felt that he loved me….” Padre Pio always smiled when he saw Giuseppe. Owing to the fact that Giuseppe was in the company of Padre Pio so often, he was witness to many days-in-the-life of Padre Pio. 

One occurrence that Giuseppe retold-from-memory to the author and Padre Pio biographer, Renzo Allegri, has left a deep impression on me. It was a summer afternoon, and a huge mob of people lay in wait outside the church, for Padre Pio’s blessing. Giuesppe opened the church, and the people flocked around Pio.They were all of a mind to get close to him, and kiss his hand. 

But there was one woman, who was dressed in a flashy, showy way which was intended to draw attention to herself. In a loud voice, she shouted again and again at Padre Pio, “Priest, pray for me because my husband has left me.” In a hysterical way, she kept bawling hysterically, and flaunting her sorry tale. 

Giuseppe reflected that, “she didn’t have the least respect for other people or for the sacred place she was in.” 

Her dramatics were designed to attract sympathy and to distract others. But losing patience with her, Padre Pio turned to her, gave her his piercing stare, that he was famous for, and told her in no uncertain terms that, “If you had been a decent person, your husband wouldn’t have left you.” 

She was utterly silenced, and scurried from the church instantly. His treatment of her may seem callous – so cruel to a woman who had been abandoned by her husband – which is probably one of the worst fates to befall a wife. It’s interesting that he levels the blame at the woman –  this is counter-intuitive because it’s usually the man who is automatically censured like a naughty brat for absconding. 

Also, if you stay scrupulously within a rigid mindset, you can become an automaton in assigning guilt to whichever partner, man or wife leaves the home.

The garishly-dressed wife, obviously thought that she would be considered the injured party, and that Padre Pio would take her side – she did not expect his reprimand. 

Let’s bear in mind that Padre Pio was able to read the heart, mind and soul of each person who came to see him – and he knew from reading her heart that the woman had not behaved in a ‘decent’ way and that she was at fault for her marriage falling apart. 

So, it was not the man who deserted his wife who was at fault. But the woman who, according to Padre Pio, did not live up to standards of decency. The sad part is that had she been more gracious, she would have kept her husband, and not have been caterwauling in front of Padre Pio.  

For an account where Padre Pio took a husband to task, you might like the story about Padre Pio preventing a gangster from murdering his wife. 

You might like, Writing about Padre Pio, how it influences real life. 

Comments

  1. Thanx for this. I did not know this story.

    God bless.

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  2. Wow.. A distraught woman goes to the church for help to heal her relationship and is met with judgement and derision from the fraud that was padre pio.. what's new?

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    1. May God forgive that statement.

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    2. On what authority do you call the priest a fraud?

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    3. Maurice, sounds like she got the help she needed. A direct response.. I don't see any judging that you stated? Where is the judging? I see no name calling, a lecture, not anything. .. She received an answer she did not want to hear. Pio did not say what the man did was right. just that by her actions had caused him to leave.. Not everything has to be treated with kid gloves.. An honest direct answer sometimes does the trick. But, we were not there, so we cannot tell what truly happened. By the way, you should read the book on this man, you might have a different view of him then.

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    4. May God forgive your ignorance and have mercy on your soul.

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    5. Gulit makes you desperate to do desperate things, even trying to minupluative people into thinking your the victim when your the one who victimized.

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    6. Mr. Maurice, I suggest your read more about Padre Pio... get to know him. You just don't say that he is a fraud just because of this story... There is always a reason for his action, and you Sir don't know what your are talking about. I hope someday you'll take back what you say about him. May God bless and keep you through the intercession of ST. PADRE PIO.

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    7. Be careful, he can read your heart as well.

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    8. Maurice - if you kneel and tell him you are sorry he will bless you abundantly.

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  3. I thought marriage was for better or worse. Apparently not. I guess if a man is driven bonkers by his wife it is okay to abandon her. But women can only leave if they are abused? :(

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    1. as the statement says st padre pio could read hearts of people and only he knows why he said what he did , well obviously jesus to

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    2. St. Padre Pio did not say it was okay for the husband to leave. He simply stated why.

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  4. It seems that neither one understood the story ot perhaps we understand in our own way. It is not about judging the poor woman. Being a Christian and walking in the footsteps of Jesus does not mean that we are smiling and condoning all day. Sometimes to love truely we must be honest and scold as well. When you scold someone it is not out of judgement but out of love. At times it takes someone who is unafraid of your fury to open your eyes to the reality within you. We are inperfect beings and we must be reminded at times. I am sure this woman went home and took a hard long look into herself as we all should. I thank God for all of my trials...each and every one of them are worth the suffering because of His blessed silver lining. God bless you all.

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  5. Nobody is saying what the man did was ok. Padre Pio didn't say the husband did the right thing by leaving. Padre Pio just put the blame on the woman who caused the man to turn to this decision of leaving her. Quit being so defensive, Padre Pio is not saying what you are suggesting. That is ridiculous.

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  6. May I recommend The "Padre" - His Mission To Save Souls by Fr Marcellino Iasenzaniro - which is collection of testimonies such as this one - many examples of how St Pio's frankness and directness has lead to someone's soul being saved - while they may have been upset in the short term in the long term they were thankful

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  7. I remember reading one book (can't remember which one) on Padre Pio where a woman went to confession to him. In the woman's own account she wore a scapular always but often she wore it in her bra. This was not something she broadcast and there was absolutely no way Padre Pio could know this. She entered the confessional and knelt down and before the woman could even bless herself, the Padre told her to remove her scapular from her bra and put it around her neck where it belonged. She was shocked but did so immediately. Yes, Padre Pio knew. :)

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    1. That is so amazing! I pray that many of these undocumented stories are true happenings!
      I pray that no one places words in Padre Pio's mouth!

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    2. Hi there, Yes it wise and holy of you to pray that no one every puts words in Padre Pio's mouth.

      But, unknown, if I may draw your attention to something; the above account is not undocumented. Many, many witnesses were present who heard Pio speak, and it was reported by Giuseppe Canapone who has excellent credibility.

      God bless you always

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  8. Did they end up getting together? This would be my question..

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