WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU WAKE UP AND CRY DURING THE NIGHT? A TRAGEDY? A HURTFUL MOMENT? LET US LEARN WHAT PADRE DOMENICO FELT, AND WOULD OR COULD WE FEEL THE SAME?

This testimony is taken from the book entitled, "Testimonianze Firmate da Confratelli e Fedeli e Scritti di P. Domenico da Cese, Frate Minore Cappuccino della Provincia d'Abruzzo. Translation: "Testimonies Signed by the Brothers and Faithful, and Writings by Padre Domenico da Cese Capuchin Minor Friar from the Abruzzo Province".

"Testimonies of the Confreres" Number 1; Written by Padre Leone Campana on April 15, 2005 - Chieti, Italy.

"Faith, Hope, and Charity"

Living the three virtues, Padre Domenico on earth put himself in communion with God and was a witness to Him. Example of a life of prayer, poverty, penance, fasting, humility, and welcoming the devotees who considered him "Holy". I remember the first meeting with Padre Domenico da Cese of Avezzano as if it was today: it took place in the choir of Saint Francesco di Paola in Sulmona. During the Novena of the Immaculate Conception in 1940, on one of those afternoons in place of Fra Egidio da Avezzano, the organist, Padre Domenico came. All of us collegiate were around him to kiss his hand and we were not satisfied with contemplating him in his simplicity and with those degrees stuck on the rough Franciscan habit. The culmination of our admiration was when in the singing of the "Tota Pulchra" his voice, powerful, and covered the voices of us in the choir and the organ itself. He was one of the most "talked about" friars: who was called "saint"; who a simpleton, smart. Padre Eustachio da Tussio, who lived with him in the convent of Campli, told me that there was a continuous flow of pilgrims since Padre Domenico was in that solitary and almost abandoned convent. He lived a life of prayer and penance. He always had the big rosary that hung from his belt in his hand. It was said that he ate only at midday and he also maligned this, "There are his devotees who fill him with all good things". He gave us a course of spiritual exercises for us friars, ( I don't remember the year.) in the convent of Penne. Among the participants there was Padre Nazareno from Spedino, Padre Domenico, myself, and others. Padre Nazareno in the arrival of Padre Domenico noted that he was carrying a bag, containing only the breviary. Padre Domenico ate breakfast or dinner, at this point Padre Nazareno said to me, "Here Padre Domenico does not have his spiritual children to feed him.". Anyways, Padre Nazareno (very loving type and researcher of the truth) set off to discover Padre Domenico's behavior in the night. Halfway through the exercises he said to me, "Padre Domenico retires to his room in the evening and waits for all of us to retire. Then he puts a blanket over his shoulders to protect himself from the cold and goes to the choir to pray. I caught him crying and I asked him at once if he felt bad, to which he replied, "No.". Then why are you crying? "I cry over the atrocious pains of Jesus.". I learned from this pious brother to the praise and glory of God who gave him to us. Amen."

How beautiful! Do we love Jesus as Padre Domenico did? Do we cry over the suffering that our Lord continues to suffer because of the sins and indifference toward Him? Something for each of us to think and pray on. May our Lord bless you always.