Sometimes the saints can seem distant to us, although the Faith teaches that they are waiting to be our dearest friends and guides to Heaven. One of the most powerful modern-day saints and spiritual fathers is St. Pio of Pietrelcina (1887–1968) — and he is waiting to meet you, wherever you are, just as he introduced himself to his spiritual daughter Mary O’Regan, who wrote this wonderful book.

Padre Pio, an Italian Franciscan, continues from his place in Heaven to seek out souls from every walk of life to nurture and protect. In Pio you will find a father who prays for you to receive extraordinary graces, guides you through hard times, and helps you discern your vocation. Pio told a beloved spiritual daughter that he saw all his children in spirit when he offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Is yours one of the souls he is seeing now?

Through the lens of Pio’s letters to his directees, his counsels on various spiritual themes, and little-known historical events — from World War II “flights,” to hidden trials, to dramatic conversion stories, to humorous anecdotes — you will come to know the stigmatic friar as never before. You will absorb fascinating details about his life, beginning with his infancy in the care of saintly parents, and learn:

• The heart-pounding story of his first bilocation at age seventeen

• Ways that he was attacked and is able to assist you in the spiritual combat

• The role of dryness and darkness in prayer and temptations to unite you closer to God

• Five means he gave to his spiritual children to assist them on the path to salvation

• How to grow in more ardent love for Our Lady and go to Confession with true contrition

• How to triumph over corruption and persecution and genuinely forgive