The Trap

A trader from Genoa had to visit Foggia to negotiate an oil sale. One of his friends who knew he had been away from the church for a long time planned to lay a trap for him. He asked him to make a detour to San Giovanni Rotunda to deliver a letter to Padre Pio, hoping that his friend would meet the priest. He agreed and went to the monastery to deliver the letter and wait for the reply. 

When Padre Pio saw him , he approached him and asked “what do you want ?” He replied he was just waiting for a reply to the letter. “Ah Yes the letter” Padre Pio replied “But what about you, Don’t you want to go to confession ?”

The man admitted that he had not practiced his religion in a long time. Padre Pio asked him “how long since your last confession ?” I was 7 years old said the trader. The priest looked at him as though he saw into his soul and said “how long do you intent to live this disgusting kind of life ?” 

In a flash the man saw how his life had been lived without God, repented, went to confession and was filled with Joy. He stayed on another week and attended the Mass each day.