The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-05-16

II you spend only one or two
days at San Giovanni Rotondo,
you understand what one bis
hop wrote after his visit there:
There are no bodies at San
Giovanni Rotondo: There are
only souls"
Everyone is praying. There is
a constant flow of faithful en-.
tering and leaving the small
monastery church. Everything
focuses on the altar and the con-
fessional. These are actually the
focal points. Padre Pho Isl the
magnet that draws them there.
Here humility is most in evil
dence. In the hospital, charity is
most in evidence.
In 1910 a handful of men
gathered in Padre Pio's cell and
joined him in making the first
plans for the hospital. It was
then that he himself give it the
name which was the be a sim
pie description of its function:
The House for the Relief of Suf-
fering.
Ten years ago. on April rs.
1947, the picks first struck at
the rock of Mount Csrgsno to
prepare the foundation. Work
had been suspended during
the war and was then resUm-
cd with increased vigor. The
hospital was finally dedicated
in late 1855 in The presence Of
His Eminencs Giscomo cardi-
nal Leresro, Archbishop Of
Bologna, and with the bless
ing Of His Holiness Pope Plus
XII.
From the beginning there was
no thought that Padre Pic
would have any part in the hos.
pital other than in its concep.
ton and in encouraging its com.
pletion. However, last year His
Holiness Pope Plus XII himself
acknowledged Padre Pho as the
hospitals founder and designat,
ed him director for life.
AT the same time the Pope
assigned the hospital to the
management of the Congrega'
ton of Third Order Francisans
of Our Lady of Grace under
Padre Pio's leadership.
The House for the Relief oi
Suffering was built at a cost Of
approximately one and a hall
million dollars. Under the man.
agement Of laymen, members Of
the Third Order franciscan, il
is stated by the Missionary Sis
tiers of the Sacred Heart. It is
a complete and modern hospi
tai in every detail including
among its facilities a helicop'
ter airport on the rooftop fol
transportation of those patients
whose condition prevents them
travelling over the rough noun
tain roads that lead to San Clio
vanni Rotondo. It's five stories
comprise an area of 5000 square
meters.
The hospital operates on
strict policy Of pay II you cen.
do not pay If YOU cannot. No
patient is turned away be.
cause Of inability 70 pay. lts
800 bed capacity Is almost
constantly foil.
There are regular chaplains
assigned to the hospital from
the Capuchin monastery. Padre
Pho is not one of them, although
he sometimes goes into the hos.
pital for special casts, partic-
ularly to prepare the dying.
A great part of the contribu'
tons for construction Of the hos.
pital came from the United
States, and contributions con
tinue to come from Americana
for its maintenance.
American interest In Padre
Pho and his hospital project was
stimulated by U. S. servicemer
who visited San Giovanni Ro-
tondo during the war. Padre Pic
is commonly known to have "a
special. tenderness" for the
American GIs.
Some who knew him during
the war have since become
priests. Many, both priests ant
laymen, return to visit hin
from time to time. He remem
bers many of them by name
and' always welcomes then
warmly.
With the new hospital com
pleted, the framework of a new
monastery church is beginning
to rise on the Capuchins' hill
Even in its early stages one Cal
see the tall and stately line
that it will have. II will hav,
additional confessionals to hand
lie the increased number of peni
tents as well as additional al
tars for the Masses Of visiting
priests.
An additional floor has beel
added to the monastery itself
providing roomy cells for tn
community Of 20 monks. Padre
Pho. however, has remained il
his old cell, and it is said tina
he has so far not even seen tn,
new addition to the monastery
Although Padre Pic Is now
approaching ~ years Of sss,
he Il still broad shouldsred
and erect. TO see him b TO