By KRISTINE CHRISTLIEB CANAVAN
ST. LOUIS — On May 2-4, Adolfo Affatato, specially called spiritual son of St. Padre Pio, traveled from his home in Foggia, Italy, to St. Louis, Mo., to deliver a series of six lectures. Thousands of St. Louisans turned out to show their devotion to the beloved saint and to welcome his spiritual son.
In addition to the lectures in St. Louis, Mr. Affatato’s itinerary also included a presentation in Atlanta and two in Clearwater, Fla. But it was in St. Louis where he spoke — to an overwhelming response — six times.
Traveling at his own expense, the chain of events that led Mr. Affatato to the United States began in 2013 when St. Padre Pio appeared to him in a dream and told him that he would “cross the ocean and take my word.”
The same year, Mr. Affatato met Lynne and Steve Pfaff on an Italian train. The American couple noticed that Mr. Affatato was holding a book about St. Padre Pio. Through a young interpreter, a conversation developed and culminated in Mr. Affatato inviting the Pfaffs to help him translate his book, Padre Pio and I, into English so it would be available to all the English-speaking pilgrims traveling to the saint’s shrine.
Remarkably, the couple, who had no experience in the publishing industry, decided to take on the project. They located a translator, got the book produced, and arranged a limited book tour. Since the Pfaffs live in Clearwater, one of the lectures was planned for their parish. The book’s translator had lived in Atlanta so that became one of the stops. But the six lectures in St. Louis have their own story.
The Pfaffs have a very good friend in St. Louis. Mary Bachinski owns a Catholic book and gift shop. She “happened” to meet the Pfaffs at Mass while they were visiting St. Louis from out-of-town, and they became close friends. When they knew of Mr. Affatato’s trip to the U.S., they immediately called Mary and invited her to Florida. Once she explained that she could not leave her shop unattended, Lynne said, “Then I’m bringing him to you!”
Mrs. Bachinski, who is a powerhouse in the St. Louis Catholic community, got busy and set up a schedule of six lectures. According to Mrs. Bachinski, the success of the series reflects St. Louisans’ hunger for the faith.
Fittingly, the series began at St. Ambrose Parish, the home of St. Louis’ Italian immigrants — and also fittingly, on the twentieth anniversary of St. Padre Pio’s beatification. The church was filled to capacity.
Spiritual devotees from all over the area were in the audience. Bobbi and Steve Schaefer came from O’Fallon, Ill. Bobbi’s mother introduced her to Padre Pio and his simple but profound instruction: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” She said there were several reasons she felt close to the saint. “He’s a modern saint, alive during our lifetime, and was blessed with the stigmata.” She also mentioned St. Padre Pio’s gift for hearing Confession: He would sit for up to twenty hours a day hearing Confessions, when he knew people’s sins before they even confessed them.
Mr. Affatato’s relationship with St. Padre Pio began in 1953 when he was sixteen years old. From a large group of young men, the saint called Mr. Affatato by name: “Adolfo,” he called. The two had never met before. In the years that followed, Mr. Affatato devoted himself to St. Padre Pio. He told his listeners, “Confession is the first step to know the saint” and urged them to be thorough in the confessional. “Even a little lie is a sin in Padre’s view,” Mr. Affatato said.
Mr. Affatato was not compensated for any of the lectures. All proceeds from the sale of his book will be directed to charities.
Even though he is in his early eighties, Mr. Affatato is the youngest, living spiritual son of St. Padre Pio.
“Since it is unlikely he will return to the U.S., his appearances were especially meaningful to those of us who attended,” said Dr. Helen Gelhot, president of St. Louis’ CREDO of the Catholic Laity, one of the organizations involved in promoting the event.
Both Mr. Affatato and St. Louis Catholics were honored to make one another’s acquaintance and to enjoy the fellowship of a common devotion.
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