Saint of the Month - December 2024: Padre Domenico of Cese

The Servant of God

Padre Domenico of Cese

An Apostle of the Holy Face

For December 2024, this ministry features another little-known Servant of God - a modern miracle-working Capuchin Priest not unlike the popular St. Padre Pio of San Giovanni Rotondo.  In fact, he was a spiritual son of the Saint and was also marked with the Stigmata of our Lord.  He was born Emidio Petracca on March 27, 1905, in the Italian town of Cese, but is today known more widely in his country as Padre Domenico of Cese.  I have a particular admiration for him because of his great love for the Holy Face Devotion, which I follow, too ... and which I highly value as both a timely light and a powerful weapon in our uncertain times.

Similar to his sainted spiritual director, Padre Domenico experienced extraordinary graces from early childhood. In his case, Heaven first touched him at age three when Our Lady of Graces cured him of polio through the fervent prayers of his mother, Caterina.  Then, on January 12, 1915, the 9-year-old Emidio mysteriously announced to his classmates and teachers that an earthquake was about to hit them.  Not surprisingly, no one took him seriously ... but a devastating quake did indeed occur the very next day, killing over 30,000 people in the Abruzzo region, including Emidio's two younger sisters and many other townsfolk from Cese.  The boy and his father, Giovanni, were in the parish church when the disaster struck, and were partially buried under rubble when it collapsed; fortunately, a man - a stranger to them - pulled them out of the debris before suddenly disappearing.

After hearing a sermon preached by visiting Capuchin Priests, the 12-year-old Emidio asked his parents for permission to join their Franciscan Order.  Giovanni objected, citing he was the sole-remaining child, but the boy turned to prayer and our Lord spoke to him, directing the youngster to inform his parents that if they allowed him, they would be blessed with additional children.  They consequently relented and things turned out as Emidio relayed - Giovanni and Caterina soon welcomed a new daughter followed by two boys!

Emidio was accepted by the Capuchins in Avezzano in November 1921; he was then just 16 and chose the religious name of Domenico.  In the course of his training, the novice was moved around to different monasteries and for a while was pulled into mandatory military service.  He was eventually professed a Capuchin on April 8, 1928, before going on to be ordained a priest in October 1931.  10 years after his ordination, the priest was called back into military service, but before reporting for duty he stopped at San Giovanni Rotondo to meet the famous Padre Pio, who he had been hearing so much about.

The young Padre Domenico

as a military chaplain.

Padre Domenico stayed in San Giovanni Rotondo between November 19th - 23rd, 1941, during which he bonded with the Saint who seemed to have been already familiar with him.  It was at this time that Padre Pio either predicted to him his eventual stigmatization or discerned the young priest was suffering invisible Stigmata (this author isn't certain from the biographies I've read).  Whatever the case, during certain periods in his life, the Stigmata were visible, as attested to by witnesses and evidenced by photographs.

After spending time in other monasteries of his Order, in 1966 Padre Domenico found himself assigned to Manopello.  When he arrived, one of his fellow friars took him to see a highly revered relic in one of the local churches - the "Volto Santo" (Holy Face), aka the "Veil of Manopello" - which I won't spend much time explaining (it deserves a separate blog).  For the purpose of this post, it suffices to say the veil is a rectangular piece of delicate near-transparent "sea silk" fabric, on which is visible the slightly bruised face of a bearded man that's interpreted to be Christ, Himself.  Upon seeing the face for the very first time, Padre Domenico exclaimed: "This is the man who saved me from the rubble!" ... and from that instant he was enamored by the image and enthusiastically promoted devotion to it; referring to the face as "a great miracle" and truly that of Jesus.

Padre Domenico with the Veil of Manopello.

Padre Domenico obtained permission from his superiors to remain permanently in Manopello where he became the Rector of the Volto Santo Sanctuary.  In this capacity he arranged for the veil to be scientifically studied, which determined its image isn't a painting, but rather, is inexplicable in origin.  Furthermore, his promotional efforts were instrumental in spreading more knowledge and devotion to the Veil of Manopello, making it a popular object of pilgrimage.

As Rector/Guardian of the Volto Santo, the saintly Capuchin spent his time not just administering the sanctuary and welcoming pilgrims, but he also heard confessions for long hours at a time and was a sought-after spiritual counselor.  Padre Pio, himself, often referred his visitors from Italy's Abruzzo Region to Manopello with the words, "Why did you come all the way here, so far? You’ve got a priest there, my spiritual son - he is like me!"  The fact is - not only was Padre Domenico stigmatized, but he also read hearts, healed illnesses, and even bilocated ... so he really was like his holy mentor.

A sidenote concerning this priest's gift of Bilocation - Padre Domenico may just be the only mystic whose Bilocation was captured on film!  After Padre Pio died on September 17, 1968, Padre Domenico was asked if he was going to attend his friend's funeral; he responded that he couldn't because of a prior commitment he made with pilgrims coming to the Sanctuary on the same date.  A few days after the funeral, however, a few of Padre Domenico's acquaintances reported seeing him at San Giovanni Rotondo despite the fact that he never left Manopello.  Amazingly, film footage of the funeral aired on Italian TV also showed him walking near Padre Pio's casket during the funeral procession (incredible!) - see below.

A still image from St. Pio's funeral footage

showing Padre Domenico's undeniable

presence at the event although he was back

in Manopello at the exact same time.

Ironically, Padre Domenico met his end after visiting another miraculous relic that bears an image of the Holy Face - the famous Shroud of Turin!  On September 13, 1978, he was in Turin during a rare public exhibition of the Shroud and was hit by a speeding car after he left the Cathedral in the evening.  The impact broke several of the priest's ribs and he was also thrown to the curb where he fatally hit his head.

As the Capuchin lay dying in the hospital, he forgave the remorseful driver who came to see him, and reportedly offered his suffering "for the Shroud of Turin."  He died on September 17, 1978 - exactly 10 years after his dear Padre Pio's passing; Padre Domenico was 73-years-old.

Padre Domenico enthusiastically preaching.

The miracles connected with Padre Domenico during his lifetime did not cease with his passing.  His spiritual children continued to invoke his intercession and graces were reported leading to his Cause for Canonization being opened.  May God grant the Church the gift of his speedy Canonization!

Padre Domenico, pray for us!