A famous Italian tenor, Beniamino Gigli wanted to meet Padre Pio. He arrived in San Giovanni Rotondo in a luxurious car with a uniformed Chaffuer. When Gigli was introduced to Padre Pio, the priest gave him that searching look of his which went to the heart of things without being influenced by appearences. He went up to him and said point blank “ you call yourself ‘Gigli’ like the Lily which is a symbol of purity but you are a sullied lily because you are cheating on your wife and have a secret relationship with another woman” You call yourself ‘Beniamino’ which means beloved of God but God does not love you at all because of the state of your soul” One can imagine how upset the tenor was on hearing what Padre Pio had read in his soul which others had chosen to ignore and confronted him with the responsibility. Beniamino however had the strength and humility to accept this brutal indictment and changed his ways, broke off the extramarital affair and until his death became a faithful friend of Padre Pio.
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