A Summary of ‘Secrets of a Soul: Padre Pio’s Letters to His Spiritual Directors’ His Intimate Letters from 1910-1920
Padre Pio’s life included some extraordinary events. Included in these events is receiving the Stigmata, the wounds of Christ. The letters in this book are intimate and attest to his personal struggles, concerns, temptations, and fears. The letters make him human and show us that we are like him and must persist in our Lenten journey, even if we have faltered.
The book, “Secrets of a Soul: Padre Pio’s Letters to his Spiritual Directors,” has two parts, each with an introduction by a member of the Capuchins. He was a member of that order; the first section discusses his stigmata. The second section tells what it is like to be a victim to console the heat of Jesus. Do you think this book will be helpful to you?
“Secrets of the Soul: Padre Pio’s Letters to His Spiritual Directors” Summary
In summarizing the book written by Padre Pio, it might be best to say that this book is intimate, personal, and divided into two parts. The first book is about Padre Pio’s stigmata. There are twenty-two chapters in this book, and taken together, they offer a detailed look into the trials and travails of this priest. This is very worthwhile because the stigmata of Padre Pio were well-documented and quite famous.
Example chapters in this book include “It was on the morning of the twentieth of the month,” which discusses how Padre Pio got the Stigmata. Another very good chapter is “Jesus said to me…” about what he thought the Lord said to him in giving him the Stigmata. That was not all; it was reported that Pio could bilocate and could divine sins just from meeting a person.
One of the best aspects of this book is the short, readable chapters that give readers an insight into the divine. The average chapter in this 90-page book is only about four pages long. What is even better is that there is a summary at the beginning of each chapter. The reader can therefore pick and choose what to read. It is not necessary to read this book from front to back; the chapters are self-contained and can be read out of order.
The second book in “Secrets of the Soul: Padre Pio’s Letters to His Spiritual Directors” is on the subject of the victim to console the heart of Jesus. This book, like the first, is about 100 pages long. It is like the first book in that the chapters are short, on average about four pages long, and there is a summary of each chapter at its beginning, so the reader can pick and choose what they want to read.
There are also several interesting chapters in this book. In “When will the sun rise within me?” Padre Pio writes about the difficulty he had in sticking to his vocation. This chapter is useful to us now as it shows us, as we struggle with our Lenten abstinences, how even a very holy person, a saint, struggled. This encourages us.
Another useful chapter is “I was filled with extreme terror at the sight of a celestial being.” This chapter is about the moment when Padre Pio got the stigmata. This is a fascinating first-person account of the experience. Many have wondered what it was like, and in reading this chapter, they can find out.
Why You Should Read This Book
There are two main reasons to read this book. First, if you want to know about Padre Pio, what better way than to read his letters? There are many chapters that give the reader insight into his extraordinary gifts. Second, if you are looking to increase your prayer life during Lent, reading this book and reflecting on its words is a good idea. In meditating on the words, the reader can grow closer to God.
Parting Shots
“Secrets of the Soul: Padre Pio’s Letters to His Spiritual Directors” is a useful book for readers to see inside this man’s mind. It is also useful to learn more about the effects of the stigmata, which Padre Pio had. In addition, the book is a good one to read during Lent as the reader will grow closer to god.
