A KERRY man who credits Padre Pio with saving his life features in a new book about the stigmatic’s Irish miracles.
The story of Jack McCarthy from Tralee is one of several uplifting tales from this county to be found in Padre Pio: The Irish Connection, penned by award-winning author and broadcaster Colm Keane.
Jack McCarthy and his family believe his leg - and his life - was saved through the intercession of the St Pio.
Several years ago, he was seriously ill while suffering from a disease of the arteries. Then in his mid-70s, the Tralee man was told the leg would have to be amputated and that the outlook was bleak.
On the eve of the surgery, his wife, Ella, and his daughter sourced a mitten that had been owned by the Italian mystic, which they believe, saved the limb and his life.
“He still has his leg. He had his toe removed since, but it was just amazing. He believes that it was Padre Pio saved his leg,” said Mr McCarthy’s daughter, Rosalyn O’Mahoney.
“I also absolutely believe that Padre Pio is a miracle man. It is definitely through the power of prayer that Daddy is still alive. And I do believe that it was a miracle that his leg was saved,” she added.
“I went to Daddy with the mitten and he caught it in his hand and he kissed it. He said prayers and he rubbed it profusely up and down his leg. He kissed the mitten again.”
The following day, Mr McCarthy was taken to the operating theatre and he returned with his leg intact.
Author Colm Keane spent over a year intensively researching the Padre Pio study, talking to devotees in 25 counties of Ireland.
But the most astounding stories to emerge are those that came from Kerry, according to Mr Keane.
“It was remarkable when I started doing research in Kerry, I literally went from one case history to the next. The Padre Pio office in Dublin would regard Kerry as one of the big centres of devotion. I don’t know why that is,” he stated.
