Word: pio
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...goings on were even more tasteless. When the doors were opened at 4:45 a.m., there was a stampede of pilgrims-three-fourths of them women-for the choice pews. These, however, had been chained and locked off by a group known as the Spiritual Daughters of Padre Pio-a shrewish ladies' auxiliary made up of the wives and relatives of local big shots who defended their squatters' rights...
Bubbling Scandal. Donations continued to pour in from all over the world. The monastery prospered astonishingly, to the envy of other Capuchins. Padre Pio, who had been relieved of his vow of poverty in 1957 by Pope Pius XII in order to supervise the donations and administer their good works, became known as "the richest monk in the world." In fact, he declared truthfully, "the money does not belong to me; it belongs to the charities for which it was intended." But jealousy-and, by this time, scandal-began to bubble...
...over a cushion on which the padre had knelt, finally tearing it to bits. He saw other women following the padre about, armed with scissors to snip off pieces of his cassock. When he discovered that bandages dipped in chicken blood were being sold as having come from Padre Pio's wounds, he declared, "This is superstition, not faith," and returned to Rome...
...Cleanup. A few days later, on the 50th anniversary of Padre Pio's ordination, congratulations came from all over the world, including a warm message from the Archbishop of Milan, Giovanni Battista Montini, a longtime friend. But from the Vatican came not a word. Instead, Maccari returned for a cleanup. Result: the trinket vendors drifted away, and the Spiritual Daughters were shorn of their powers. There were cries of "inquisitor," but Maccari had his way. Padre Pio was put under guard, and he soon found himself virtual prisoner in his own convent; his mail was opened and read...
Stoically, Padre Pio went about his work, saying "I am patient, I will wait." He did not have much longer; on June 3, 1963, Pope John died. When a new Pope was elected, he was Padre Pio's old friend, Montini-Paul...