The Small Tower

Not far from the birthplace of Padre Pio, on the summit of the remains of an ancient baronial castle one can find the “Small Tower,” a small room constructed on a rock in which one enters by a steep staircase. This small room welcomed Padre Pio from 1909 to 1912, difficult years of sickness that kept him away from the convent and during which he was not permitted to stay at his parents’ home. In fact, during this epoch the strict rules of the Capuchin Monks required monks that lived outside the convent to take off the habit of Saint Francis.

During these years, Padre Pio began to correspond with his confessors Father Benedetto Nardella and Father Agostino Daniele. The letters to and from Padre Pio form an extraordinary autobiography through which we can participate in his spiritual life as he dealt with his sufferings and fought his demons.

In this place, the letters tell us that Padre Pio was consoled by the maternal presence of the Madonna and comforted by the presence of Jesus, his Guardian Angel and Saint Francis. In his home town, Padre Pio lived these years surrounded by the love of his family and the affection of his fellow villagers. He passed moments filled with serenity and peace made of simple genuine sentiments that remained always in his memory. Here, Our Lord prepared him for his mission in the world. Padre Pio observed, “I don’t know how to thank our Dear Jesus for the great courage and force that he gives to me to bear not only the many sicknesses that he sends to me but also the continuous temptations that he permits and that day by day are multiplied. These temptations make me shake from head to foot, thinking that I could offend God.”