A Saint Bedtime Story for Kids: St. Padre Pio in the Sky
In this Juice Box episode, families will learn who St. Padre Pio was through an incredible World War II story, and why his life still matters for kids who need courage, mercy, and hope.
Who Is St. Padre Pio? (The Man in the Sky Story for Kids)
St. Padre Pio was a Catholic priest and saint known for deep prayer, compassion, and helping people turn back to God. In this story, he’s in his small town of San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II, promising the people that God will protect them.
At the same time, an American pilot named Jack is sent on a bombing mission toward that very town. As the plane drops through the clouds, Jack and his co-pilot suddenly see a stern-looking monk “in the sky”, and when Jack tries to release the bombs, nothing works, even after trying again and again.
The next day, Jack goes to the monastery and recognizes Padre Pio as the exact “man in the sky.” A brother monk explains that Padre Pio is known for being very close to God, and sometimes being seen in more than one place.
For kids, this story shows that God is stronger than fear, and holiness is real. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is choose mercy, prayer, and peace instead of destruction.
Key Takeaways
- St. Padre Pio was a real priest and saint who loved people, prayed constantly, and helped many through confession and compassion.
- During World War II, he told his town not to be afraid and promised that God would protect them.
- An American pilot on a mission saw a monk-like figure in the sky, and the bombs would not release, no matter how many times he tried.
- The pilot later visited the monastery and recognized Padre Pio as the same man he saw in the clouds.
- The story points to a famous saint “gift” that people talk about with Padre Pio: God sometimes allowed him to be seen in more than one place to help others.
- The moral is strong and simple: God can stop what’s harmful, protect the innocent, and invite our hearts back to mercy even in the middle of scary, confusing moments.
Episode Summary
This episode tells a powerful St. Padre Pio story set during World War II, while we build a LEGO airplane brick-by-brick, like a fun “hands busy, hearts listening” kind of moment. It begins in San Giovanni Rotondo, where Padre Pio celebrates Mass and then heads back to the confessional. Even though he’s in pain, he keeps serving, and he encourages his worried town with a promise: God will protect them.
At the very same time, an American pilot named Jack is flying a military mission toward that town. As the plane drops through the clouds, Jack and his co-pilot see something shocking: a monk-like figure, floating in the sky, staring them down. The radio orders Jack to drop the bombs, but when he pulls the lever, nothing happens. He tries again and again. Still nothing. And then the mysterious figure disappears.
The next day, Jack can’t shake what happened, so he goes to the monastery. Inside the quiet church, he sees Padre Pio and instantly recognizes him as “the man in the sky.” A brother monk explains that Padre Pio is known for extraordinary signs of God’s closeness, including being seen in more than one place. Jack doesn’t leave with a scientific explanation. He leaves with something better: awe, peace, and a heart that finally becomes quiet in prayer.
Listen to the Story
Transcript
[00:00:00 --> 00:00:01] Hello, ladies and gentlemen,
[00:00:01 --> 00:00:04] boys and girls tuning in from near and far.
[00:00:04 --> 00:00:07] This is "Juice Box Radio" broadcasting across the skies
[00:00:07 --> 00:00:09] and into your homes.
[00:00:09 --> 00:00:11] Tonight, we invite you to gather around
[00:00:11 --> 00:00:14] as we build a sturdy airplane brick-by-brick,
[00:00:14 --> 00:00:16] and hear a true and incredible story
[00:00:16 --> 00:00:18] from the days of World War II.
[00:00:18 --> 00:00:21] It's a story about a pilot, a mission in the sky,
[00:00:21 --> 00:00:23] and a holy saint named Padre Pio
[00:00:23 --> 00:00:26] who appeared when hope was needed most.
[00:00:26 --> 00:00:30] So settle in, grab your Lego pieces, and listen closely;
[00:00:30 --> 00:00:32] this is a tale of courage, mercy,
[00:00:32 --> 00:00:34] and God's powerful protection
[00:00:34 --> 00:00:37] coming to you live now from high in the clouds.
[00:00:37 --> 00:00:39] And now, without further delay, let's begin.
[00:00:41 --> 00:00:42] "Juice Box!"
[00:00:42 --> 00:00:43] (bubble popping)
[00:00:43 --> 00:00:44] (straw squeaking) (child giggling)
[00:00:44 --> 00:00:48] (grandiose congregational music)
[00:00:51 --> 00:00:54] The man in the sky.
[00:00:54 --> 00:00:59] (grandiose congregational music continues)
[00:01:02 --> 00:01:04] Padre Pio bowed before the altar
[00:01:04 --> 00:01:07] as the server closed the missal.
[00:01:07 --> 00:01:09] He turned toward the congregation
[00:01:09 --> 00:01:11] and made his way to the ambo.
[00:01:12 --> 00:01:14] While he ascended to the pulpit,
[00:01:14 --> 00:01:16] he winced in pain, (Padre Pio groaning)
[00:01:16 --> 00:01:21] as he felt a rush of pain in the wound on his right side.
[00:01:21 --> 00:01:24] He stopped walking for a moment, closed his eyes,
[00:01:24 --> 00:01:26] (Padre Pio inhales deeply) took a deep breath,
[00:01:26 --> 00:01:28] and silently prayed;
[00:01:28 --> 00:01:32] "Lord, thank you for uniting me to your passion."
[00:01:33 --> 00:01:35] He continued ascending to the pulpit,
[00:01:35 --> 00:01:36] he positioned himself,
[00:01:36 --> 00:01:39] and then looked out at the congregation
[00:01:39 --> 00:01:42] full of people from their little town
[00:01:42 --> 00:01:46] of San Giovanni Rotondo with a beaming smile.
[00:01:46 --> 00:01:50] (grandiose congregational music continues)
[00:01:50 --> 00:01:52] "Dear friends," he said,
[00:01:52 --> 00:01:56] "How good it is to pray with you all today."
[00:01:56 --> 00:01:58] As he looked out at the congregation,
[00:01:58 --> 00:02:01] he could sense the distress of their hearts.
[00:02:01 --> 00:02:04] He ached for their wellness.
[00:02:04 --> 00:02:08] "Do not fear my friends," he said, with kindness,
[00:02:08 --> 00:02:11] "Though the war rages on,
[00:02:11 --> 00:02:14] God will spare our little town;
[00:02:14 --> 00:02:15] this, I promise you."
[00:02:16 --> 00:02:20] Padre Pio watched as some of the people in the congregation
[00:02:20 --> 00:02:23] looked at one another in confusion,
[00:02:23 --> 00:02:26] wondering how he could know such a thing.
[00:02:26 --> 00:02:31] Padre Pio smiled before breathing in to continue preaching.
[00:02:31 --> 00:02:34] As he inhaled, he felt another rush of pain
[00:02:34 --> 00:02:36] from his wounded side;
[00:02:36 --> 00:02:39] he closed his eyes to collect himself.
[00:02:39 --> 00:02:44] (intriguing grandiose congregational music)
[00:02:44 --> 00:02:47] When Padre Pio had completed Mass,
[00:02:47 --> 00:02:49] he retired to the sacristy,
[00:02:49 --> 00:02:53] offered a prayer of Thanksgiving, and removed his vestments.
[00:02:53 --> 00:02:55] As he removed the vestment,
[00:02:55 --> 00:02:59] he felt static electricity on his head,
[00:02:59 --> 00:03:00] so he hung up the vestment
[00:03:00 --> 00:03:04] and used his hand to straighten his white hair.
[00:03:04 --> 00:03:08] He straightened his brown habit before exiting the sacristy
[00:03:08 --> 00:03:10] and making his way towards the back of the church
[00:03:10 --> 00:03:13] in order to return to the confessional.
[00:03:14 --> 00:03:18] He opened the confessional door and turned on the light,
[00:03:18 --> 00:03:20] he grabbed the purple stole,
[00:03:20 --> 00:03:22] which had been left on the chair,
[00:03:22 --> 00:03:24] put it around his shoulders,
[00:03:24 --> 00:03:26] and sat down in the rickety wooden chair.
[00:03:28 --> 00:03:31] As he waited for a penitent to enter,
[00:03:31 --> 00:03:34] he scratched his white beard and noticed a glimpse of red
[00:03:34 --> 00:03:35] on his hand.
[00:03:35 --> 00:03:39] He looked down at the bandages on both of his hands,
[00:03:39 --> 00:03:41] which had begun to stain through with blood.
[00:03:41 --> 00:03:42] (Padre Pio sighs)
[00:03:42 --> 00:03:46] He turned to the small side table next to the chair,
[00:03:46 --> 00:03:50] which held a few books, a rosary, a box of tissues,
[00:03:50 --> 00:03:52] and extra bandages.
[00:03:53 --> 00:03:56] He slowly began to unravel the stained bandages,
[00:03:56 --> 00:03:59] wincing with pain as he felt the wounds exposed
[00:03:59 --> 00:04:00] to the open air.
[00:04:01 --> 00:04:05] As he gently replaced the bandages with fresh white cloth,
[00:04:05 --> 00:04:09] he heard the confessional door open on the opposite side,
[00:04:09 --> 00:04:11] as a penitent entered. (door clacking)
[00:04:11 --> 00:04:12] (air whooshing)
[00:04:12 --> 00:04:16] Meanwhile, an American soldier named Jack
[00:04:16 --> 00:04:19] was flying a large military plane over Italy.
[00:04:19 --> 00:04:22] He felt beads of sweat on his forehead,
[00:04:22 --> 00:04:26] as he considered what he was about to do.
[00:04:26 --> 00:04:28] He looked at his co-pilot, Dan,
[00:04:28 --> 00:04:31] who did not appear to be troubled at all.
[00:04:31 --> 00:04:32] (button clicking) (radio static whirring)
[00:04:32 --> 00:04:35] A voice on the other end of the radio said,
[00:04:35 --> 00:04:38] "Lieutenant Jack, do you copy?"
[00:04:38 --> 00:04:41] Jack radioed back and said, "Copy, commander.
[00:04:41 --> 00:04:42] Over."
[00:04:42 --> 00:04:45] The sergeant responded and said,
[00:04:45 --> 00:04:47] "Operation Thunderstorm, go.
[00:04:47 --> 00:04:48] Over."
[00:04:48 --> 00:04:50] Jack felt a lump in his throat
[00:04:50 --> 00:04:54] as he steered the plane towards the small town
[00:04:54 --> 00:04:55] of San Giovanni Rotondo.
[00:04:56 --> 00:04:58] Dan turned to him and asked,
[00:04:58 --> 00:05:01] "So the bombs will just fall
[00:05:01 --> 00:05:03] out of the bottom of the plane?"
[00:05:03 --> 00:05:06] Jack reluctantly nodded his head.
[00:05:06 --> 00:05:09] He can now see the small town from the cockpit.
[00:05:09 --> 00:05:14] Jack tilted the yoke and began descending towards the town.
[00:05:14 --> 00:05:18] As they descended, they flew into a patch of clouds,
[00:05:18 --> 00:05:22] surrounding Jack and Dan in an ocean of whiteness.
[00:05:22 --> 00:05:24] As they came out of the clouds,
[00:05:24 --> 00:05:28] Jack screamed and threw his hands off the yoke.
[00:05:28 --> 00:05:31] He began panting in fear and confusion.
[00:05:31 --> 00:05:34] He slapped himself to try to wake himself up,
[00:05:34 --> 00:05:36] thinking he might be dreaming.
[00:05:37 --> 00:05:41] Jack turned to Dan who was entranced by what he was seeing.
[00:05:41 --> 00:05:45] Jack asked, "You see it too?"
[00:05:45 --> 00:05:46] Dan nodded his head.
[00:05:46 --> 00:05:49] "What is it," he asked Jack
[00:05:49 --> 00:05:52] looking back at the cockpit window and said,
[00:05:52 --> 00:05:55] "It looks like, like a monk."
[00:05:57 --> 00:06:00] Jack trailed off without completing his sentence,
[00:06:00 --> 00:06:04] trying to make sense of what he was seeing in the sky.
[00:06:04 --> 00:06:08] There was a man with white hair and a white beard
[00:06:08 --> 00:06:10] dressed in a brown robe,
[00:06:10 --> 00:06:13] like what you would see in a monastery.
[00:06:13 --> 00:06:16] He appeared to be floating in the sky,
[00:06:16 --> 00:06:19] he did not do or say anything,
[00:06:19 --> 00:06:23] he simply looked at them with stern eyes.
[00:06:23 --> 00:06:26] The commander began to speak to Jack over the radio.
[00:06:26 --> 00:06:29] "Lieutenant," he said, "Now!
[00:06:29 --> 00:06:30] Drop the bombs now!"
[00:06:32 --> 00:06:34] Jack pulled a lever next to the yoke,
[00:06:34 --> 00:06:37] and closed his eyes as he prepared for the impact,
[00:06:37 --> 00:06:39] but he felt nothing.
[00:06:41 --> 00:06:44] He waited a few more seconds thinking it would come,
[00:06:44 --> 00:06:46] but nothing happened.
[00:06:46 --> 00:06:48] He slowly opened his left eye,
[00:06:49 --> 00:06:50] he looked out the window,
[00:06:50 --> 00:06:53] and there did not appear to be any damage.
[00:06:53 --> 00:06:55] He opened both of his eyes,
[00:06:55 --> 00:06:58] turned to Dan and asked, "Did they drop?"
[00:06:59 --> 00:07:03] Dan shook his head and said, "No, nothing came out."
[00:07:03 --> 00:07:06] Jack said, "That's impossible.
[00:07:06 --> 00:07:09] The lever pulled back all the way."
[00:07:09 --> 00:07:11] The commander came back over the radio;
[00:07:11 --> 00:07:13] "Lieutenant," he screamed,
[00:07:13 --> 00:07:15] "Right now!
[00:07:16 --> 00:07:18] Drop the bombs right now, or you're done!"
[00:07:20 --> 00:07:23] Jack looked out at this mysterious monk in the sky
[00:07:23 --> 00:07:26] and then back down at the lever.
[00:07:26 --> 00:07:29] He pulled it again and looked out the window,
[00:07:29 --> 00:07:30] but nothing came out.
[00:07:31 --> 00:07:32] "It's not working!
[00:07:32 --> 00:07:33] Over!" (radio static whirring)
[00:07:33 --> 00:07:35] The commander responded,
[00:07:35 --> 00:07:38] "What do you mean it's not working?"
[00:07:38 --> 00:07:41] Jack did not respond to the commander right away
[00:07:41 --> 00:07:44] as he got lost in the floating monk's eyes.
[00:07:45 --> 00:07:48] He snapped back into it when he heard the commander yell;
[00:07:48 --> 00:07:49] "Lieutenant!"
[00:07:50 --> 00:07:53] Jack pulled the lever again and again,
[00:07:53 --> 00:07:55] but nothing happened.
[00:07:55 --> 00:07:57] He responded to the commander and said,
[00:07:57 --> 00:08:00] "I've pulled the lever six times now,
[00:08:00 --> 00:08:02] and the bombs aren't dropping.
[00:08:02 --> 00:08:03] Over."
[00:08:03 --> 00:08:06] Jack looked back out the cockpit window,
[00:08:06 --> 00:08:08] and the monk was gone.
[00:08:08 --> 00:08:12] He looked all around to see if he had simply moved,
[00:08:12 --> 00:08:14] or if it was actually gone.
[00:08:14 --> 00:08:18] He turned to Dan and asked, "What happened to him?"
[00:08:18 --> 00:08:21] "He's gone," Dan responded.
[00:08:22 --> 00:08:24] The commander radioed again and said,
[00:08:24 --> 00:08:27] "Lieutenant, land the plane right now."
[00:08:28 --> 00:08:30] Jack responded, "Happy.
[00:08:30 --> 00:08:32] Over and out."
[00:08:32 --> 00:08:37] (ethereal somber music) (plane whirring)
[00:08:39 --> 00:08:40] (air whooshing)
[00:08:40 --> 00:08:43] Padre Pio made the sign of the cross and he said,
[00:08:43 --> 00:08:45] "I absolve you from your sins
[00:08:45 --> 00:08:48] in the name of the Father and of the Son
[00:08:48 --> 00:08:50] and of the Holy Spirit."
[00:08:50 --> 00:08:53] The penitent responded, "Amen,"
[00:08:53 --> 00:08:57] before he heard him stand up and exit the confessional.
[00:08:57 --> 00:08:59] Padre Pio remained in his seat
[00:08:59 --> 00:09:02] waiting to see if another penitent would enter,
[00:09:02 --> 00:09:04] but nobody did.
[00:09:04 --> 00:09:06] Padre Pio did not move,
[00:09:06 --> 00:09:10] instead, he picked up the rosary from the side table
[00:09:10 --> 00:09:12] and began to pray.
[00:09:12 --> 00:09:15] As he picked up the rosary with his right-hand,
[00:09:15 --> 00:09:18] he could see that the blood had begun to stain
[00:09:18 --> 00:09:20] through the bandages once again.
[00:09:20 --> 00:09:22] He took a deep breath in
[00:09:22 --> 00:09:23] (Padre Pio inhales deeply) and out,
[00:09:23 --> 00:09:24] (Padre Pio exhales deeply)
[00:09:24 --> 00:09:26] and then made the sign of the cross with the rosary,
[00:09:26 --> 00:09:27] and began to pray.
[00:09:28 --> 00:09:33] As he prayed the Creed, he heard the evening bell ring.
[00:09:33 --> 00:09:35] He made a funny face to himself,
[00:09:35 --> 00:09:40] shocked that 10 hours had passed since he completed Mass.
[00:09:40 --> 00:09:42] He removed the stole, kissed it,
[00:09:42 --> 00:09:45] and set it down on the chair.
[00:09:45 --> 00:09:47] He then opened the confessional door,
[00:09:47 --> 00:09:50] revealing his brother monks entering the church
[00:09:50 --> 00:09:52] for evening prayer.
[00:09:52 --> 00:09:54] He genuflected towards the tabernacle
[00:09:54 --> 00:09:58] and joined them in the pews as they began to pray.
[00:09:58 --> 00:10:00] (air whooshing) (intriguing orchestral music)
[00:10:00 --> 00:10:03] Jack woke up to the sound of rain.
[00:10:03 --> 00:10:05] As his dreary eyes opened,
[00:10:05 --> 00:10:08] he realized that he was covered in mud.
[00:10:08 --> 00:10:11] He had been sleeping under a tree,
[00:10:11 --> 00:10:14] since that was the only place for Air Force soldiers
[00:10:14 --> 00:10:15] to sleep.
[00:10:15 --> 00:10:18] As he sat up, he was still thinking
[00:10:18 --> 00:10:20] about what he saw in the sky.
[00:10:20 --> 00:10:23] It had been almost 24 hours,
[00:10:23 --> 00:10:27] but he still felt just as amazed as the moment it happened.
[00:10:27 --> 00:10:30] The mechanic had found no issue with the plane,
[00:10:30 --> 00:10:35] and nobody could understand why the bombs did not drop,
[00:10:35 --> 00:10:38] but he was unable to fly because there was a thunderstorm.
[00:10:38 --> 00:10:40] (thunder rumbling)
[00:10:40 --> 00:10:42] Jack had heard that there was a monastery
[00:10:42 --> 00:10:44] in San Giovanni Rotondo,
[00:10:44 --> 00:10:46] and he wanted to go there and ask
[00:10:46 --> 00:10:50] if they could help explain what he saw in the sky.
[00:10:50 --> 00:10:52] He thought about going,
[00:10:52 --> 00:10:55] but he said to himself, "That's absurd.
[00:10:55 --> 00:10:58] They'll think I'm crazy if I ask them about a monk
[00:10:58 --> 00:10:59] in the sky."
[00:11:01 --> 00:11:03] But Jack could not rest,
[00:11:03 --> 00:11:05] he felt that he needed to go.
[00:11:06 --> 00:11:09] He dug up the one outfit he had access to
[00:11:09 --> 00:11:11] other than his uniform,
[00:11:11 --> 00:11:14] so that he could make his journey in disguise.
[00:11:14 --> 00:11:16] He took a deep breath in (Jack inhales deeply)
[00:11:16 --> 00:11:19] feeling very unsure of himself.
[00:11:19 --> 00:11:20] He wandered from the tree
[00:11:20 --> 00:11:24] and walked a long way into the nearest town.
[00:11:24 --> 00:11:27] He could tell it had once been filled with life,
[00:11:27 --> 00:11:31] but now was a hollow shell of itself because of the war.
[00:11:33 --> 00:11:36] Jack watched cars drive by on the street.
[00:11:36 --> 00:11:40] Finally, he saw a taxi and raised his hand.
[00:11:40 --> 00:11:42] The taxi stopped.
[00:11:42 --> 00:11:43] Jack opened the door,
[00:11:43 --> 00:11:46] and the driver said something in Italian
[00:11:46 --> 00:11:47] that he could not understand.
[00:11:48 --> 00:11:52] Jack did his best to speak in an Italian accent
[00:11:52 --> 00:11:56] to keep his disguise, though he knew it wasn't very good.
[00:11:56 --> 00:12:00] And he said, "San Giovanni Rotondo monastery."
[00:12:00 --> 00:12:03] The driver motioned for him to get in the car,
[00:12:03 --> 00:12:06] so Jack sat down and closed the door.
[00:12:06 --> 00:12:08] (car door thudding) (rain pattering)
[00:12:08 --> 00:12:12] As Jack rode in the passenger seat of the taxi,
[00:12:12 --> 00:12:15] he looked out at the window at the rainy sky.
[00:12:15 --> 00:12:17] He wondered if he was really crazy,
[00:12:17 --> 00:12:20] and if there had been a man in the sky at all.
[00:12:20 --> 00:12:22] He felt his stomach turn
[00:12:22 --> 00:12:25] as he wondered if someone or something
[00:12:25 --> 00:12:27] had tried to stop him from dropping the bomb
[00:12:27 --> 00:12:28] on a small town.
[00:12:30 --> 00:12:35] After a long ride, the taxi arrived at the monastery.
[00:12:35 --> 00:12:37] As Jack looked out the window,
[00:12:37 --> 00:12:40] he was surprised at how simple it was.
[00:12:40 --> 00:12:42] He had seen other churches and buildings
[00:12:42 --> 00:12:45] that were grand and ornate,
[00:12:45 --> 00:12:47] but there was nothing terribly remarkable
[00:12:47 --> 00:12:49] about this monastery.
[00:12:49 --> 00:12:52] Jack paid the driver and exited the taxi.
[00:12:52 --> 00:12:53] (door thudding)
[00:12:53 --> 00:12:54] He tilted his head up
[00:12:54 --> 00:12:58] and looked all the way to the top of the monastery spire.
[00:12:58 --> 00:13:00] He closed his eyes
[00:13:00 --> 00:13:03] as he felt the cool rain refresh his face.
[00:13:03 --> 00:13:05] He took a deep breath in
[00:13:05 --> 00:13:06] and ascended the steps (Jack breathes deeply)
[00:13:06 --> 00:13:09] to the large monastery church doors.
[00:13:09 --> 00:13:12] He tugged one of the doors open.
[00:13:12 --> 00:13:16] As he entered, he felt enveloped in silence.
[00:13:16 --> 00:13:18] He could hear the faint sound of monks
[00:13:18 --> 00:13:21] practicing chant in the distance.
[00:13:21 --> 00:13:25] He stayed in the back of the church, called a narthex,
[00:13:25 --> 00:13:27] and looked around.
[00:13:27 --> 00:13:30] He saw a font with Holy Water in it.
[00:13:30 --> 00:13:33] He had not been inside a church in years,
[00:13:33 --> 00:13:35] but he remembered his grandma
[00:13:35 --> 00:13:38] always made the sign of the cross with Holy Water
[00:13:38 --> 00:13:40] when she entered a church,
[00:13:40 --> 00:13:42] so he did the same.
[00:13:42 --> 00:13:44] He looked through the archway into the church,
[00:13:44 --> 00:13:48] and he was captured by the silence of its beauty.
[00:13:48 --> 00:13:51] He noticed the figure of a monk with white hair,
[00:13:51 --> 00:13:55] wearing a brown habit, sitting in one of the pews.
[00:13:55 --> 00:13:58] Just as he was about to walk into the church,
[00:13:58 --> 00:14:01] he heard footsteps from around the corner.
[00:14:01 --> 00:14:05] His instinct was to hide, but he did not know why.
[00:14:05 --> 00:14:07] A young monk with short brown hair
[00:14:07 --> 00:14:09] appeared from around the corner,
[00:14:09 --> 00:14:13] smiled at him and said, "Ciao."
[00:14:13 --> 00:14:16] Jack looked at him with wide, embarrassed eyes.
[00:14:16 --> 00:14:18] He did not know how to respond,
[00:14:18 --> 00:14:22] but he did not feel the need to continue his disguise.
[00:14:22 --> 00:14:25] He looked at the monk and asked "English?"
[00:14:25 --> 00:14:28] The monk nodded his head and said,
[00:14:28 --> 00:14:30] "Ah, yes, yes, a little bit."
[00:14:31 --> 00:14:34] Jack said, "I'm visiting from America."
[00:14:34 --> 00:14:38] The monk gave him a knowing glance and said, "Welcome.
[00:14:38 --> 00:14:41] My name is Brother Anthony."
[00:14:41 --> 00:14:43] Jack was taken aback and he said,
[00:14:43 --> 00:14:45] "Thank you, nice to meet you.
[00:14:45 --> 00:14:47] I'm Jack."
[00:14:47 --> 00:14:50] The monk asked, "How can I help you, Jack?"
[00:14:50 --> 00:14:55] Jack responded, "Well, this might sound crazy, but..."
[00:14:55 --> 00:14:56] Jack stopped talking
[00:14:56 --> 00:14:59] as he noticed the monk with the white hair in the church
[00:14:59 --> 00:15:04] stand up, leave the pew, and genuflect to the tabernacle.
[00:15:04 --> 00:15:06] The monk turned around,
[00:15:06 --> 00:15:09] and Jack was silenced with amazement.
[00:15:09 --> 00:15:13] He tried to speak, but was unable to produce words.
[00:15:13 --> 00:15:17] Brother Anthony asked, "What is it, my friend?"
[00:15:17 --> 00:15:20] Jack stuttered for a moment, and then he said,
[00:15:20 --> 00:15:23] "That's him. That's the man."
[00:15:23 --> 00:15:25] "What man," asked Brother Anthony.
[00:15:26 --> 00:15:31] Jack pointed to Padre Pio and said, "I saw..."
[00:15:31 --> 00:15:32] Jack stopped himself.
[00:15:32 --> 00:15:35] He looked at Brother Anthony and asked,
[00:15:35 --> 00:15:37] "This may be an odd question,
[00:15:37 --> 00:15:41] but do you know where that monk was yesterday afternoon?"
[00:15:41 --> 00:15:44] Brother Anthony asked, "Pio?
[00:15:44 --> 00:15:46] He was hearing confessions all day,
[00:15:46 --> 00:15:49] from eight in the morning until six in the evening.
[00:15:49 --> 00:15:52] He rarely leaves the confessional."
[00:15:52 --> 00:15:54] Jack shook his head in confusion,
[00:15:54 --> 00:15:57] he said, "This might sound crazy,
[00:15:57 --> 00:16:01] but I saw that man somewhere else yesterday afternoon."
[00:16:02 --> 00:16:06] Brother Anthony smiled, let out a subtle laugh and said,
[00:16:06 --> 00:16:09] "It sounds like he's done it again."
[00:16:09 --> 00:16:12] Jack looked at Brother Anthony in confusion.
[00:16:12 --> 00:16:13] Brother Anthony continued,
[00:16:13 --> 00:16:16] "Pio is very close to God.
[00:16:16 --> 00:16:18] He's been given the stigmata,
[00:16:18 --> 00:16:21] he bears the wounds of Jesus.
[00:16:21 --> 00:16:25] He's also been known to be seen in more than one place
[00:16:25 --> 00:16:26] at a time.
[00:16:26 --> 00:16:27] It would not surprise me
[00:16:27 --> 00:16:30] if you saw him somewhere else yesterday."
[00:16:31 --> 00:16:33] Jack watched as Padre Pio
[00:16:33 --> 00:16:35] walked towards the back of the church.
[00:16:35 --> 00:16:37] As he entered the narthex,
[00:16:37 --> 00:16:42] Jack wanted to say something, but he seemed so peaceful
[00:16:42 --> 00:16:45] that Jack couldn't bring himself to disturb him.
[00:16:45 --> 00:16:48] Padre Pio smiled at Jack, nodded his head,
[00:16:48 --> 00:16:52] and turned the corner out of Jack's sight.
[00:16:52 --> 00:16:55] Brother Anthony said to Jack, "Enjoy your visit."
[00:16:55 --> 00:16:58] Jack smiled as Brother Anthony walked away.
[00:16:59 --> 00:17:02] Jack quietly entered the church,
[00:17:02 --> 00:17:04] he didn't know exactly what to do,
[00:17:04 --> 00:17:07] but he genuflected to the tabernacle
[00:17:07 --> 00:17:09] and made the sign of the cross.
[00:17:09 --> 00:17:12] He entered a pew, lowered the kneeler,
[00:17:12 --> 00:17:15] and got down on his knees.
[00:17:15 --> 00:17:19] He did not know what to say or how to pray,
[00:17:19 --> 00:17:21] but he sat there in silence,
[00:17:21 --> 00:17:23] looking towards the front of the church,
[00:17:23 --> 00:17:26] and he stayed there for the rest of the afternoon.
[00:17:26 --> 00:17:29] (ethereal congregational music)
[00:17:29 --> 00:17:31] (plane whirring)
[00:17:33 --> 00:17:34] And that brings us
[00:17:34 --> 00:17:37] to the end of tonight's broadcast here on "Juice Box Radio."
[00:17:37 --> 00:17:40] You did a fine job building your airplane,
[00:17:40 --> 00:17:43] and even finer job listening to an amazing story
[00:17:43 --> 00:17:44] of faith and bravery.
[00:17:44 --> 00:17:47] Stories like this remind us that God is always with us,
[00:17:47 --> 00:17:50] even in the most dangerous moments,
[00:17:50 --> 00:17:53] and that the saints are never far away.
[00:17:53 --> 00:17:54] If you enjoyed today's program,
[00:17:54 --> 00:17:57] be sure to stay tuned by subscribing to "Juice Box,"
[00:17:57 --> 00:17:58] so you never miss another story
[00:17:58 --> 00:18:01] filled with faith, fun, and adventure.
[00:18:01 --> 00:18:03] This is Dilly signing off for now.
[00:18:03 --> 00:18:06] Until next time, God bless and clear skies ahead.
[00:18:07 --> 00:18:08] (liquid trickling)
[00:18:08 --> 00:18:09] (bubble popping) - "Juice Box."
[00:00:01 --> 00:00:04] boys and girls tuning in from near and far.
[00:00:04 --> 00:00:07] This is "Juice Box Radio" broadcasting across the skies
[00:00:07 --> 00:00:09] and into your homes.
[00:00:09 --> 00:00:11] Tonight, we invite you to gather around
[00:00:11 --> 00:00:14] as we build a sturdy airplane brick-by-brick,
[00:00:14 --> 00:00:16] and hear a true and incredible story
[00:00:16 --> 00:00:18] from the days of World War II.
[00:00:18 --> 00:00:21] It's a story about a pilot, a mission in the sky,
[00:00:21 --> 00:00:23] and a holy saint named Padre Pio
[00:00:23 --> 00:00:26] who appeared when hope was needed most.
[00:00:26 --> 00:00:30] So settle in, grab your Lego pieces, and listen closely;
[00:00:30 --> 00:00:32] this is a tale of courage, mercy,
[00:00:32 --> 00:00:34] and God's powerful protection
[00:00:34 --> 00:00:37] coming to you live now from high in the clouds.
[00:00:37 --> 00:00:39] And now, without further delay, let's begin.
[00:00:41 --> 00:00:42] "Juice Box!"
[00:00:42 --> 00:00:43] (bubble popping)
[00:00:43 --> 00:00:44] (straw squeaking) (child giggling)
[00:00:44 --> 00:00:48] (grandiose congregational music)
[00:00:51 --> 00:00:54] The man in the sky.
[00:00:54 --> 00:00:59] (grandiose congregational music continues)
[00:01:02 --> 00:01:04] Padre Pio bowed before the altar
[00:01:04 --> 00:01:07] as the server closed the missal.
[00:01:07 --> 00:01:09] He turned toward the congregation
[00:01:09 --> 00:01:11] and made his way to the ambo.
[00:01:12 --> 00:01:14] While he ascended to the pulpit,
[00:01:14 --> 00:01:16] he winced in pain, (Padre Pio groaning)
[00:01:16 --> 00:01:21] as he felt a rush of pain in the wound on his right side.
[00:01:21 --> 00:01:24] He stopped walking for a moment, closed his eyes,
[00:01:24 --> 00:01:26] (Padre Pio inhales deeply) took a deep breath,
[00:01:26 --> 00:01:28] and silently prayed;
[00:01:28 --> 00:01:32] "Lord, thank you for uniting me to your passion."
[00:01:33 --> 00:01:35] He continued ascending to the pulpit,
[00:01:35 --> 00:01:36] he positioned himself,
[00:01:36 --> 00:01:39] and then looked out at the congregation
[00:01:39 --> 00:01:42] full of people from their little town
[00:01:42 --> 00:01:46] of San Giovanni Rotondo with a beaming smile.
[00:01:46 --> 00:01:50] (grandiose congregational music continues)
[00:01:50 --> 00:01:52] "Dear friends," he said,
[00:01:52 --> 00:01:56] "How good it is to pray with you all today."
[00:01:56 --> 00:01:58] As he looked out at the congregation,
[00:01:58 --> 00:02:01] he could sense the distress of their hearts.
[00:02:01 --> 00:02:04] He ached for their wellness.
[00:02:04 --> 00:02:08] "Do not fear my friends," he said, with kindness,
[00:02:08 --> 00:02:11] "Though the war rages on,
[00:02:11 --> 00:02:14] God will spare our little town;
[00:02:14 --> 00:02:15] this, I promise you."
[00:02:16 --> 00:02:20] Padre Pio watched as some of the people in the congregation
[00:02:20 --> 00:02:23] looked at one another in confusion,
[00:02:23 --> 00:02:26] wondering how he could know such a thing.
[00:02:26 --> 00:02:31] Padre Pio smiled before breathing in to continue preaching.
[00:02:31 --> 00:02:34] As he inhaled, he felt another rush of pain
[00:02:34 --> 00:02:36] from his wounded side;
[00:02:36 --> 00:02:39] he closed his eyes to collect himself.
[00:02:39 --> 00:02:44] (intriguing grandiose congregational music)
[00:02:44 --> 00:02:47] When Padre Pio had completed Mass,
[00:02:47 --> 00:02:49] he retired to the sacristy,
[00:02:49 --> 00:02:53] offered a prayer of Thanksgiving, and removed his vestments.
[00:02:53 --> 00:02:55] As he removed the vestment,
[00:02:55 --> 00:02:59] he felt static electricity on his head,
[00:02:59 --> 00:03:00] so he hung up the vestment
[00:03:00 --> 00:03:04] and used his hand to straighten his white hair.
[00:03:04 --> 00:03:08] He straightened his brown habit before exiting the sacristy
[00:03:08 --> 00:03:10] and making his way towards the back of the church
[00:03:10 --> 00:03:13] in order to return to the confessional.
[00:03:14 --> 00:03:18] He opened the confessional door and turned on the light,
[00:03:18 --> 00:03:20] he grabbed the purple stole,
[00:03:20 --> 00:03:22] which had been left on the chair,
[00:03:22 --> 00:03:24] put it around his shoulders,
[00:03:24 --> 00:03:26] and sat down in the rickety wooden chair.
[00:03:28 --> 00:03:31] As he waited for a penitent to enter,
[00:03:31 --> 00:03:34] he scratched his white beard and noticed a glimpse of red
[00:03:34 --> 00:03:35] on his hand.
[00:03:35 --> 00:03:39] He looked down at the bandages on both of his hands,
[00:03:39 --> 00:03:41] which had begun to stain through with blood.
[00:03:41 --> 00:03:42] (Padre Pio sighs)
[00:03:42 --> 00:03:46] He turned to the small side table next to the chair,
[00:03:46 --> 00:03:50] which held a few books, a rosary, a box of tissues,
[00:03:50 --> 00:03:52] and extra bandages.
[00:03:53 --> 00:03:56] He slowly began to unravel the stained bandages,
[00:03:56 --> 00:03:59] wincing with pain as he felt the wounds exposed
[00:03:59 --> 00:04:00] to the open air.
[00:04:01 --> 00:04:05] As he gently replaced the bandages with fresh white cloth,
[00:04:05 --> 00:04:09] he heard the confessional door open on the opposite side,
[00:04:09 --> 00:04:11] as a penitent entered. (door clacking)
[00:04:11 --> 00:04:12] (air whooshing)
[00:04:12 --> 00:04:16] Meanwhile, an American soldier named Jack
[00:04:16 --> 00:04:19] was flying a large military plane over Italy.
[00:04:19 --> 00:04:22] He felt beads of sweat on his forehead,
[00:04:22 --> 00:04:26] as he considered what he was about to do.
[00:04:26 --> 00:04:28] He looked at his co-pilot, Dan,
[00:04:28 --> 00:04:31] who did not appear to be troubled at all.
[00:04:31 --> 00:04:32] (button clicking) (radio static whirring)
[00:04:32 --> 00:04:35] A voice on the other end of the radio said,
[00:04:35 --> 00:04:38] "Lieutenant Jack, do you copy?"
[00:04:38 --> 00:04:41] Jack radioed back and said, "Copy, commander.
[00:04:41 --> 00:04:42] Over."
[00:04:42 --> 00:04:45] The sergeant responded and said,
[00:04:45 --> 00:04:47] "Operation Thunderstorm, go.
[00:04:47 --> 00:04:48] Over."
[00:04:48 --> 00:04:50] Jack felt a lump in his throat
[00:04:50 --> 00:04:54] as he steered the plane towards the small town
[00:04:54 --> 00:04:55] of San Giovanni Rotondo.
[00:04:56 --> 00:04:58] Dan turned to him and asked,
[00:04:58 --> 00:05:01] "So the bombs will just fall
[00:05:01 --> 00:05:03] out of the bottom of the plane?"
[00:05:03 --> 00:05:06] Jack reluctantly nodded his head.
[00:05:06 --> 00:05:09] He can now see the small town from the cockpit.
[00:05:09 --> 00:05:14] Jack tilted the yoke and began descending towards the town.
[00:05:14 --> 00:05:18] As they descended, they flew into a patch of clouds,
[00:05:18 --> 00:05:22] surrounding Jack and Dan in an ocean of whiteness.
[00:05:22 --> 00:05:24] As they came out of the clouds,
[00:05:24 --> 00:05:28] Jack screamed and threw his hands off the yoke.
[00:05:28 --> 00:05:31] He began panting in fear and confusion.
[00:05:31 --> 00:05:34] He slapped himself to try to wake himself up,
[00:05:34 --> 00:05:36] thinking he might be dreaming.
[00:05:37 --> 00:05:41] Jack turned to Dan who was entranced by what he was seeing.
[00:05:41 --> 00:05:45] Jack asked, "You see it too?"
[00:05:45 --> 00:05:46] Dan nodded his head.
[00:05:46 --> 00:05:49] "What is it," he asked Jack
[00:05:49 --> 00:05:52] looking back at the cockpit window and said,
[00:05:52 --> 00:05:55] "It looks like, like a monk."
[00:05:57 --> 00:06:00] Jack trailed off without completing his sentence,
[00:06:00 --> 00:06:04] trying to make sense of what he was seeing in the sky.
[00:06:04 --> 00:06:08] There was a man with white hair and a white beard
[00:06:08 --> 00:06:10] dressed in a brown robe,
[00:06:10 --> 00:06:13] like what you would see in a monastery.
[00:06:13 --> 00:06:16] He appeared to be floating in the sky,
[00:06:16 --> 00:06:19] he did not do or say anything,
[00:06:19 --> 00:06:23] he simply looked at them with stern eyes.
[00:06:23 --> 00:06:26] The commander began to speak to Jack over the radio.
[00:06:26 --> 00:06:29] "Lieutenant," he said, "Now!
[00:06:29 --> 00:06:30] Drop the bombs now!"
[00:06:32 --> 00:06:34] Jack pulled a lever next to the yoke,
[00:06:34 --> 00:06:37] and closed his eyes as he prepared for the impact,
[00:06:37 --> 00:06:39] but he felt nothing.
[00:06:41 --> 00:06:44] He waited a few more seconds thinking it would come,
[00:06:44 --> 00:06:46] but nothing happened.
[00:06:46 --> 00:06:48] He slowly opened his left eye,
[00:06:49 --> 00:06:50] he looked out the window,
[00:06:50 --> 00:06:53] and there did not appear to be any damage.
[00:06:53 --> 00:06:55] He opened both of his eyes,
[00:06:55 --> 00:06:58] turned to Dan and asked, "Did they drop?"
[00:06:59 --> 00:07:03] Dan shook his head and said, "No, nothing came out."
[00:07:03 --> 00:07:06] Jack said, "That's impossible.
[00:07:06 --> 00:07:09] The lever pulled back all the way."
[00:07:09 --> 00:07:11] The commander came back over the radio;
[00:07:11 --> 00:07:13] "Lieutenant," he screamed,
[00:07:13 --> 00:07:15] "Right now!
[00:07:16 --> 00:07:18] Drop the bombs right now, or you're done!"
[00:07:20 --> 00:07:23] Jack looked out at this mysterious monk in the sky
[00:07:23 --> 00:07:26] and then back down at the lever.
[00:07:26 --> 00:07:29] He pulled it again and looked out the window,
[00:07:29 --> 00:07:30] but nothing came out.
[00:07:31 --> 00:07:32] "It's not working!
[00:07:32 --> 00:07:33] Over!" (radio static whirring)
[00:07:33 --> 00:07:35] The commander responded,
[00:07:35 --> 00:07:38] "What do you mean it's not working?"
[00:07:38 --> 00:07:41] Jack did not respond to the commander right away
[00:07:41 --> 00:07:44] as he got lost in the floating monk's eyes.
[00:07:45 --> 00:07:48] He snapped back into it when he heard the commander yell;
[00:07:48 --> 00:07:49] "Lieutenant!"
[00:07:50 --> 00:07:53] Jack pulled the lever again and again,
[00:07:53 --> 00:07:55] but nothing happened.
[00:07:55 --> 00:07:57] He responded to the commander and said,
[00:07:57 --> 00:08:00] "I've pulled the lever six times now,
[00:08:00 --> 00:08:02] and the bombs aren't dropping.
[00:08:02 --> 00:08:03] Over."
[00:08:03 --> 00:08:06] Jack looked back out the cockpit window,
[00:08:06 --> 00:08:08] and the monk was gone.
[00:08:08 --> 00:08:12] He looked all around to see if he had simply moved,
[00:08:12 --> 00:08:14] or if it was actually gone.
[00:08:14 --> 00:08:18] He turned to Dan and asked, "What happened to him?"
[00:08:18 --> 00:08:21] "He's gone," Dan responded.
[00:08:22 --> 00:08:24] The commander radioed again and said,
[00:08:24 --> 00:08:27] "Lieutenant, land the plane right now."
[00:08:28 --> 00:08:30] Jack responded, "Happy.
[00:08:30 --> 00:08:32] Over and out."
[00:08:32 --> 00:08:37] (ethereal somber music) (plane whirring)
[00:08:39 --> 00:08:40] (air whooshing)
[00:08:40 --> 00:08:43] Padre Pio made the sign of the cross and he said,
[00:08:43 --> 00:08:45] "I absolve you from your sins
[00:08:45 --> 00:08:48] in the name of the Father and of the Son
[00:08:48 --> 00:08:50] and of the Holy Spirit."
[00:08:50 --> 00:08:53] The penitent responded, "Amen,"
[00:08:53 --> 00:08:57] before he heard him stand up and exit the confessional.
[00:08:57 --> 00:08:59] Padre Pio remained in his seat
[00:08:59 --> 00:09:02] waiting to see if another penitent would enter,
[00:09:02 --> 00:09:04] but nobody did.
[00:09:04 --> 00:09:06] Padre Pio did not move,
[00:09:06 --> 00:09:10] instead, he picked up the rosary from the side table
[00:09:10 --> 00:09:12] and began to pray.
[00:09:12 --> 00:09:15] As he picked up the rosary with his right-hand,
[00:09:15 --> 00:09:18] he could see that the blood had begun to stain
[00:09:18 --> 00:09:20] through the bandages once again.
[00:09:20 --> 00:09:22] He took a deep breath in
[00:09:22 --> 00:09:23] (Padre Pio inhales deeply) and out,
[00:09:23 --> 00:09:24] (Padre Pio exhales deeply)
[00:09:24 --> 00:09:26] and then made the sign of the cross with the rosary,
[00:09:26 --> 00:09:27] and began to pray.
[00:09:28 --> 00:09:33] As he prayed the Creed, he heard the evening bell ring.
[00:09:33 --> 00:09:35] He made a funny face to himself,
[00:09:35 --> 00:09:40] shocked that 10 hours had passed since he completed Mass.
[00:09:40 --> 00:09:42] He removed the stole, kissed it,
[00:09:42 --> 00:09:45] and set it down on the chair.
[00:09:45 --> 00:09:47] He then opened the confessional door,
[00:09:47 --> 00:09:50] revealing his brother monks entering the church
[00:09:50 --> 00:09:52] for evening prayer.
[00:09:52 --> 00:09:54] He genuflected towards the tabernacle
[00:09:54 --> 00:09:58] and joined them in the pews as they began to pray.
[00:09:58 --> 00:10:00] (air whooshing) (intriguing orchestral music)
[00:10:00 --> 00:10:03] Jack woke up to the sound of rain.
[00:10:03 --> 00:10:05] As his dreary eyes opened,
[00:10:05 --> 00:10:08] he realized that he was covered in mud.
[00:10:08 --> 00:10:11] He had been sleeping under a tree,
[00:10:11 --> 00:10:14] since that was the only place for Air Force soldiers
[00:10:14 --> 00:10:15] to sleep.
[00:10:15 --> 00:10:18] As he sat up, he was still thinking
[00:10:18 --> 00:10:20] about what he saw in the sky.
[00:10:20 --> 00:10:23] It had been almost 24 hours,
[00:10:23 --> 00:10:27] but he still felt just as amazed as the moment it happened.
[00:10:27 --> 00:10:30] The mechanic had found no issue with the plane,
[00:10:30 --> 00:10:35] and nobody could understand why the bombs did not drop,
[00:10:35 --> 00:10:38] but he was unable to fly because there was a thunderstorm.
[00:10:38 --> 00:10:40] (thunder rumbling)
[00:10:40 --> 00:10:42] Jack had heard that there was a monastery
[00:10:42 --> 00:10:44] in San Giovanni Rotondo,
[00:10:44 --> 00:10:46] and he wanted to go there and ask
[00:10:46 --> 00:10:50] if they could help explain what he saw in the sky.
[00:10:50 --> 00:10:52] He thought about going,
[00:10:52 --> 00:10:55] but he said to himself, "That's absurd.
[00:10:55 --> 00:10:58] They'll think I'm crazy if I ask them about a monk
[00:10:58 --> 00:10:59] in the sky."
[00:11:01 --> 00:11:03] But Jack could not rest,
[00:11:03 --> 00:11:05] he felt that he needed to go.
[00:11:06 --> 00:11:09] He dug up the one outfit he had access to
[00:11:09 --> 00:11:11] other than his uniform,
[00:11:11 --> 00:11:14] so that he could make his journey in disguise.
[00:11:14 --> 00:11:16] He took a deep breath in (Jack inhales deeply)
[00:11:16 --> 00:11:19] feeling very unsure of himself.
[00:11:19 --> 00:11:20] He wandered from the tree
[00:11:20 --> 00:11:24] and walked a long way into the nearest town.
[00:11:24 --> 00:11:27] He could tell it had once been filled with life,
[00:11:27 --> 00:11:31] but now was a hollow shell of itself because of the war.
[00:11:33 --> 00:11:36] Jack watched cars drive by on the street.
[00:11:36 --> 00:11:40] Finally, he saw a taxi and raised his hand.
[00:11:40 --> 00:11:42] The taxi stopped.
[00:11:42 --> 00:11:43] Jack opened the door,
[00:11:43 --> 00:11:46] and the driver said something in Italian
[00:11:46 --> 00:11:47] that he could not understand.
[00:11:48 --> 00:11:52] Jack did his best to speak in an Italian accent
[00:11:52 --> 00:11:56] to keep his disguise, though he knew it wasn't very good.
[00:11:56 --> 00:12:00] And he said, "San Giovanni Rotondo monastery."
[00:12:00 --> 00:12:03] The driver motioned for him to get in the car,
[00:12:03 --> 00:12:06] so Jack sat down and closed the door.
[00:12:06 --> 00:12:08] (car door thudding) (rain pattering)
[00:12:08 --> 00:12:12] As Jack rode in the passenger seat of the taxi,
[00:12:12 --> 00:12:15] he looked out at the window at the rainy sky.
[00:12:15 --> 00:12:17] He wondered if he was really crazy,
[00:12:17 --> 00:12:20] and if there had been a man in the sky at all.
[00:12:20 --> 00:12:22] He felt his stomach turn
[00:12:22 --> 00:12:25] as he wondered if someone or something
[00:12:25 --> 00:12:27] had tried to stop him from dropping the bomb
[00:12:27 --> 00:12:28] on a small town.
[00:12:30 --> 00:12:35] After a long ride, the taxi arrived at the monastery.
[00:12:35 --> 00:12:37] As Jack looked out the window,
[00:12:37 --> 00:12:40] he was surprised at how simple it was.
[00:12:40 --> 00:12:42] He had seen other churches and buildings
[00:12:42 --> 00:12:45] that were grand and ornate,
[00:12:45 --> 00:12:47] but there was nothing terribly remarkable
[00:12:47 --> 00:12:49] about this monastery.
[00:12:49 --> 00:12:52] Jack paid the driver and exited the taxi.
[00:12:52 --> 00:12:53] (door thudding)
[00:12:53 --> 00:12:54] He tilted his head up
[00:12:54 --> 00:12:58] and looked all the way to the top of the monastery spire.
[00:12:58 --> 00:13:00] He closed his eyes
[00:13:00 --> 00:13:03] as he felt the cool rain refresh his face.
[00:13:03 --> 00:13:05] He took a deep breath in
[00:13:05 --> 00:13:06] and ascended the steps (Jack breathes deeply)
[00:13:06 --> 00:13:09] to the large monastery church doors.
[00:13:09 --> 00:13:12] He tugged one of the doors open.
[00:13:12 --> 00:13:16] As he entered, he felt enveloped in silence.
[00:13:16 --> 00:13:18] He could hear the faint sound of monks
[00:13:18 --> 00:13:21] practicing chant in the distance.
[00:13:21 --> 00:13:25] He stayed in the back of the church, called a narthex,
[00:13:25 --> 00:13:27] and looked around.
[00:13:27 --> 00:13:30] He saw a font with Holy Water in it.
[00:13:30 --> 00:13:33] He had not been inside a church in years,
[00:13:33 --> 00:13:35] but he remembered his grandma
[00:13:35 --> 00:13:38] always made the sign of the cross with Holy Water
[00:13:38 --> 00:13:40] when she entered a church,
[00:13:40 --> 00:13:42] so he did the same.
[00:13:42 --> 00:13:44] He looked through the archway into the church,
[00:13:44 --> 00:13:48] and he was captured by the silence of its beauty.
[00:13:48 --> 00:13:51] He noticed the figure of a monk with white hair,
[00:13:51 --> 00:13:55] wearing a brown habit, sitting in one of the pews.
[00:13:55 --> 00:13:58] Just as he was about to walk into the church,
[00:13:58 --> 00:14:01] he heard footsteps from around the corner.
[00:14:01 --> 00:14:05] His instinct was to hide, but he did not know why.
[00:14:05 --> 00:14:07] A young monk with short brown hair
[00:14:07 --> 00:14:09] appeared from around the corner,
[00:14:09 --> 00:14:13] smiled at him and said, "Ciao."
[00:14:13 --> 00:14:16] Jack looked at him with wide, embarrassed eyes.
[00:14:16 --> 00:14:18] He did not know how to respond,
[00:14:18 --> 00:14:22] but he did not feel the need to continue his disguise.
[00:14:22 --> 00:14:25] He looked at the monk and asked "English?"
[00:14:25 --> 00:14:28] The monk nodded his head and said,
[00:14:28 --> 00:14:30] "Ah, yes, yes, a little bit."
[00:14:31 --> 00:14:34] Jack said, "I'm visiting from America."
[00:14:34 --> 00:14:38] The monk gave him a knowing glance and said, "Welcome.
[00:14:38 --> 00:14:41] My name is Brother Anthony."
[00:14:41 --> 00:14:43] Jack was taken aback and he said,
[00:14:43 --> 00:14:45] "Thank you, nice to meet you.
[00:14:45 --> 00:14:47] I'm Jack."
[00:14:47 --> 00:14:50] The monk asked, "How can I help you, Jack?"
[00:14:50 --> 00:14:55] Jack responded, "Well, this might sound crazy, but..."
[00:14:55 --> 00:14:56] Jack stopped talking
[00:14:56 --> 00:14:59] as he noticed the monk with the white hair in the church
[00:14:59 --> 00:15:04] stand up, leave the pew, and genuflect to the tabernacle.
[00:15:04 --> 00:15:06] The monk turned around,
[00:15:06 --> 00:15:09] and Jack was silenced with amazement.
[00:15:09 --> 00:15:13] He tried to speak, but was unable to produce words.
[00:15:13 --> 00:15:17] Brother Anthony asked, "What is it, my friend?"
[00:15:17 --> 00:15:20] Jack stuttered for a moment, and then he said,
[00:15:20 --> 00:15:23] "That's him. That's the man."
[00:15:23 --> 00:15:25] "What man," asked Brother Anthony.
[00:15:26 --> 00:15:31] Jack pointed to Padre Pio and said, "I saw..."
[00:15:31 --> 00:15:32] Jack stopped himself.
[00:15:32 --> 00:15:35] He looked at Brother Anthony and asked,
[00:15:35 --> 00:15:37] "This may be an odd question,
[00:15:37 --> 00:15:41] but do you know where that monk was yesterday afternoon?"
[00:15:41 --> 00:15:44] Brother Anthony asked, "Pio?
[00:15:44 --> 00:15:46] He was hearing confessions all day,
[00:15:46 --> 00:15:49] from eight in the morning until six in the evening.
[00:15:49 --> 00:15:52] He rarely leaves the confessional."
[00:15:52 --> 00:15:54] Jack shook his head in confusion,
[00:15:54 --> 00:15:57] he said, "This might sound crazy,
[00:15:57 --> 00:16:01] but I saw that man somewhere else yesterday afternoon."
[00:16:02 --> 00:16:06] Brother Anthony smiled, let out a subtle laugh and said,
[00:16:06 --> 00:16:09] "It sounds like he's done it again."
[00:16:09 --> 00:16:12] Jack looked at Brother Anthony in confusion.
[00:16:12 --> 00:16:13] Brother Anthony continued,
[00:16:13 --> 00:16:16] "Pio is very close to God.
[00:16:16 --> 00:16:18] He's been given the stigmata,
[00:16:18 --> 00:16:21] he bears the wounds of Jesus.
[00:16:21 --> 00:16:25] He's also been known to be seen in more than one place
[00:16:25 --> 00:16:26] at a time.
[00:16:26 --> 00:16:27] It would not surprise me
[00:16:27 --> 00:16:30] if you saw him somewhere else yesterday."
[00:16:31 --> 00:16:33] Jack watched as Padre Pio
[00:16:33 --> 00:16:35] walked towards the back of the church.
[00:16:35 --> 00:16:37] As he entered the narthex,
[00:16:37 --> 00:16:42] Jack wanted to say something, but he seemed so peaceful
[00:16:42 --> 00:16:45] that Jack couldn't bring himself to disturb him.
[00:16:45 --> 00:16:48] Padre Pio smiled at Jack, nodded his head,
[00:16:48 --> 00:16:52] and turned the corner out of Jack's sight.
[00:16:52 --> 00:16:55] Brother Anthony said to Jack, "Enjoy your visit."
[00:16:55 --> 00:16:58] Jack smiled as Brother Anthony walked away.
[00:16:59 --> 00:17:02] Jack quietly entered the church,
[00:17:02 --> 00:17:04] he didn't know exactly what to do,
[00:17:04 --> 00:17:07] but he genuflected to the tabernacle
[00:17:07 --> 00:17:09] and made the sign of the cross.
[00:17:09 --> 00:17:12] He entered a pew, lowered the kneeler,
[00:17:12 --> 00:17:15] and got down on his knees.
[00:17:15 --> 00:17:19] He did not know what to say or how to pray,
[00:17:19 --> 00:17:21] but he sat there in silence,
[00:17:21 --> 00:17:23] looking towards the front of the church,
[00:17:23 --> 00:17:26] and he stayed there for the rest of the afternoon.
[00:17:26 --> 00:17:29] (ethereal congregational music)
[00:17:29 --> 00:17:31] (plane whirring)
[00:17:33 --> 00:17:34] And that brings us
[00:17:34 --> 00:17:37] to the end of tonight's broadcast here on "Juice Box Radio."
[00:17:37 --> 00:17:40] You did a fine job building your airplane,
[00:17:40 --> 00:17:43] and even finer job listening to an amazing story
[00:17:43 --> 00:17:44] of faith and bravery.
[00:17:44 --> 00:17:47] Stories like this remind us that God is always with us,
[00:17:47 --> 00:17:50] even in the most dangerous moments,
[00:17:50 --> 00:17:53] and that the saints are never far away.
[00:17:53 --> 00:17:54] If you enjoyed today's program,
[00:17:54 --> 00:17:57] be sure to stay tuned by subscribing to "Juice Box,"
[00:17:57 --> 00:17:58] so you never miss another story
[00:17:58 --> 00:18:01] filled with faith, fun, and adventure.
[00:18:01 --> 00:18:03] This is Dilly signing off for now.
[00:18:03 --> 00:18:06] Until next time, God bless and clear skies ahead.
[00:18:07 --> 00:18:08] (liquid trickling)
[00:18:08 --> 00:18:09] (bubble popping) - "Juice Box."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is St. Padre Pio for kids?
St. Padre Pio was a Catholic priest and saint who loved God and loved people deeply. He spent long hours praying and hearing confessions. Many people remember him for helping others find courage, peace, and a fresh start with God.
What is “The Man in the Sky” story about?
It’s a story set during World War II where a pilot is sent on a bombing mission toward Padre Pio’s town. In the clouds, the pilot sees a monk-like figure and can’t release the bombs, no matter how many times he tries. Later, he visits the monastery and recognizes Padre Pio as the same man he saw.
Did St. Padre Pio really appear in more than one place?
Many Catholics believe God gave Padre Pio special gifts, and one of the stories people share is that he was seen in more than one place at the same time. The Church teaches that miracles are possible, but we don’t “prove” them like a math problem. We look at the fruit: does it lead people toward God, repentance, and peace?
What is the stigmata (and why is it mentioned with Padre Pio)?
The stigmata mean wounds like Jesus’ wounds, and Padre Pio is known for having them. In this story, it shows that his life was closely united to Jesus’ suffering and love. It’s one of the reasons many people saw him as a sign of God’s power and mercy.
What’s the main lesson for kids from this story?
The big lesson is that God can protect, guide, and bring peace, especially when things feel scary. It also shows that mercy matters: stopping harm and choosing peace can be a holy and courageous thing to do.
If your kids asked a big faith question this week, you’re not alone. Subscribe so you’ve always got a short, safe, Catholic video ready for car rides, bedtime, or Sunday prep.
Support Us
Each dollar brings us closer to creating each new episode!
Juice Box is free for families because supporters make it possible. Your support helps us keep creating joyful, faithful episodes that kids actually enjoy, and that parents can trust. When you give, you’re helping build up a new generation of joyful Catholics who know and love Jesus.
