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"For I Love You So"
- By Anne Van Tilburg
- Published 05/15/2008
- General Short Stories
- Unrated
The young Dr. Frank Caravolo, graduate of the University of Rome, and also qualified as a doctor in the United Sates, knew his disease was incurable. He had just married a beautiful and talented girl whom he had met in America during the last years of his training. He seemed to have all of a bright new world in front of him. But his own medical knowledge, confirmed by the very doctors who had been his professors, said that it was about to end.
He turned to God, and asked Padre Pio to pray for him. As a result, the bright new world he anticipated became far brighter. He was cured. He then became the spiritual child of Padre Pio and his life now became illuminated with a glorious faith. Seventeen years later, as a highly successful doctor, in gratitude he wrote a pictorial book titled "For I Love You So."
Each week , with one or two others. Frank visits prisons to show films of Padre Pio and Our Lady of Fatima, and to try and get the prisoners to say the Rosary. He found that many other religious groups were visiting the prisons. He was mocked. Prisoners would take his holy pictures and throw them on the floor, delighting to see his shocked concern, and to see him get down on his knees to retrieve them with reverence.
How could they know that this man they were mocking was so well known a doctor. How they must have wondered that he came back, week after week after week, suffering the same humiliation, and yet always gently speaking to them about the Miracle of Fatima and the power of the Rosary.
About a year after he had begun these prison visits, Frank was astounded by a very simple but incredibly effective sign from Our Lady. He arrived at the prison as usual. And after showing some slides, he gave out rosaries and Brown Scapulars as usual, to those who would accept them. Suddenly, a young criminal cried out: "My, what a beautiful smell of roses!" "I want to buy some of these," the prisoner said. "How much would they be?"
Other prisoners smelled the beads...and experienced no smell of roses, In awe, one of the prisoners said: "You can't buy this! Can't you see that this is a privilege from the Person in heaven Whom these beads represent?" The next week when Dr. Caravolo arrived at the prison, they were eagerly awaiting this visit. Many of the prisoners were wearing the rosaries around their necks. Now each week that he goes to the prison, even though there are still many other religious denominations sending evangelists to the prison, it is Frank Caravolo for whom they are waiting, as though counting the days of the week until he comes back. "I love you so" is something anyone cans say. But as a practicing member of Our Lady of the Blue Army, Frank Caravolo lives it.
He turned to God, and asked Padre Pio to pray for him. As a result, the bright new world he anticipated became far brighter. He was cured. He then became the spiritual child of Padre Pio and his life now became illuminated with a glorious faith. Seventeen years later, as a highly successful doctor, in gratitude he wrote a pictorial book titled "For I Love You So."
Each week , with one or two others. Frank visits prisons to show films of Padre Pio and Our Lady of Fatima, and to try and get the prisoners to say the Rosary. He found that many other religious groups were visiting the prisons. He was mocked. Prisoners would take his holy pictures and throw them on the floor, delighting to see his shocked concern, and to see him get down on his knees to retrieve them with reverence.
How could they know that this man they were mocking was so well known a doctor. How they must have wondered that he came back, week after week after week, suffering the same humiliation, and yet always gently speaking to them about the Miracle of Fatima and the power of the Rosary.
About a year after he had begun these prison visits, Frank was astounded by a very simple but incredibly effective sign from Our Lady. He arrived at the prison as usual. And after showing some slides, he gave out rosaries and Brown Scapulars as usual, to those who would accept them. Suddenly, a young criminal cried out: "My, what a beautiful smell of roses!" "I want to buy some of these," the prisoner said. "How much would they be?"
Other prisoners smelled the beads...and experienced no smell of roses, In awe, one of the prisoners said: "You can't buy this! Can't you see that this is a privilege from the Person in heaven Whom these beads represent?" The next week when Dr. Caravolo arrived at the prison, they were eagerly awaiting this visit. Many of the prisoners were wearing the rosaries around their necks. Now each week that he goes to the prison, even though there are still many other religious denominations sending evangelists to the prison, it is Frank Caravolo for whom they are waiting, as though counting the days of the week until he comes back. "I love you so" is something anyone cans say. But as a practicing member of Our Lady of the Blue Army, Frank Caravolo lives it.
Source: "Soul" Blue Army Magazine.