Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Biography of Padre Domenico da Cese Published in Poland

 


"The Stigmatist of Manoppello" ("Stygmatyk z Manoppello") is released in Poland.

 

The Life, Miracles and Mystical Experiences of Father Domenico of the Holy Face of Jesus

 

Reviewed by Antonio Bini

The book, authored by Aleksandra Zapotoczny, recounts the story of this mysterious Capuchin stigmatist and his supernatural gifts, emphasizing his connection to the Holy Face of Jesus preserved in Manoppello and his friendship with Padre Pio of Pietrelcina.  

 

Aleksandra Zapotoczny, has written several books on Pope John Paul II (in Italy Mondadori published in 2022 her book "Live inside us").   She has been interested for years in the Holy Face, which is known throughout Poland and has been venerated by thousands of Polish pilgrims.  Her interest in the Holy Face quite naturally extended to the figure of Father Domenico da Cese leading her to participate in several of the commemorative meetings in Manoppello, held annually around the anniversary of Father Domenico’s death, which took place on September 17, 1978, in Turin, where he had gone for the exposition of the Shroud.  Through these occasions she became a part of the group of devotees and propagators of the figure of the Servant of God, who have come to Manoppello from all over Italy.

During these gatherings she met the late Br. Vincenzo d'Elpidio, who was a long-time friend of Fr. Domenico and tireless supporter of his cause of beatification. The author manages to comprehend the friar’s extraordinary dedication to the Holy Face whose authenticity he always maintained.

Brother Vincenzo d'Elpidio, Antonio Bini and Aleksandra Zapotoczny


The volume narrates the most important facts of the life, the alleged miracles and the mystical experiences of Emidio Petracca, known to the world as Father Domenico, faithful propagator of the Holy Face. The author is convinced that Poland will also come to love Father Domenico and his work, helping to spread the extraordinary news that the world preserves a great gift: the image of the Face of Christ.

It is a cause for reflection that it was the Capuchin himself who, although despite the fact that he did not wish to be spoken about, prophesied on several occasions that after his death there would be an ever increasing amount of talk about his life at the service of the Holy Face.

Readers will also find many images of the places linked to the life of this priest from Abruzzo. There are testimonies and a number of interviews with people significantly present in the life of Father Domenico and those who frequent the Basilica of Manoppello. Space is given to the words of the vice postulator of the Cause of Beatification, Father Eugenio Vittorio Di Giamberardino and to Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, at the time of the interview rector of the Basilica of the Holy Face in Manoppello, who for many years, together with Sister Petra-Maria Steiner, collected many documents concerning the Servant of God.  Some family members of Father Domenico are also among those interviewed.

In her introduction to the book, the author Aleksandra Zapotoczny thanks in Italian one by one the people who contributed to the realization of this volume: "My most sincere thanks to Antonio Bini, to the editorial staff of 'La voce delle Cese', to Paul Badde, to the Capuchin Fathers of Manoppello and to the other witnesses of the holy life of Father Domenico da Cese".

Zapotoczny says that: "it is a great responsibility to introduce a person to those who do not yet know him. To date, publications have been published on the figure of Father Domenico in Italian, English, German and Portuguese, but this book of mine is the first in Polish. I paid great attention to describing the figure of Emidio Petracca, especially for those Poles who, not knowing languages, could not deepen the topic. I read about Father Domenico for the first time in the book by the German writer Paul Badde and this character intrigued me immediately, especially for the fact that he was "recommended" to the faithful by Padre Pio. So I decided to introduce Father Domenico to Polish readers, using for the cover of my book the first photo of Father Domenico that I saw published in Paul Badde's volume".

Zapotoczny recalls how "Poland is coming to know this incredible relic. In my book, I dedicate an entire chapter to the history of this Veil, mentioning all the people who have been working for years to make it known everywhere, as Father Domenico desired, including Renzo Allegri, Sister Blandina, Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, Saverio Gaeta and many others. An affectionate thought also goes to Pope Benedict XVI, who wished to visit Manoppello back in 2006, thus turning the spotlight on this relic.  Many Polish pilgrimages go to Manoppello and in our country there are already several churches that preserve copies of the Holy Face but, until today, the figure of Father Domenico has been known hardly at all.

We asked the author some questions to better understand her work.

1) What particular circumstance led you to write the book?

For years I have been dealing with the topic of the relics of the saints, regarding which I have published two books, with the third in preparation. Precisely because of this I approached the Veil of Manoppello. The first "eye to eye" encounter with Jesus was impressive. When you look at the Veil and the light that illuminates the reliquary changes, it is as if the face of Jesus comes to life. The fact that the Veil remained in the tomb of Jesus together with the Shroud of Turin inspires the faithful to deepen their knowledge of the life and death of Christ. During my research, I read for the first time the name of Father Domenico da Cese in the book written by the German writer Paul Badde, where a photograph of the Capuchin was also published. The figure of Father Domenico immediately inspired me and from that moment I knew that this photo would be published on the cover of the book I would write about him. I thank my publishing house Wydawnictwo AA for accepting my project.

2) You spoke of the bilocations of Padre Pio and Padre Domenico. How could you define or frame the relationship between these two Capuchins?

In Poland the Neapolitan priest Don Dolindo Ruotolo is known, also for being in the odor of sanctity. He too was recommended to the faithful by Padre Pio.  Don Dolindo did not receive the stigmata, but like Father Domenico he had the gift of bilocation. A curious fact, not well known in Poland, is that relating to the "double bilocation": first of all of the appearance of Padre Pio in Manoppello shortly before his death and then the presence of Father Domenico during the funeral of the friar of Pietrelcina. This is a curious and mysterious event, which deserved to be presented to the vast Polish public. Although, as we well know, supernatural events are not a sufficient measure to confirm the sanctity of a person. Being holy means something else.

3) You mentioned the process of canonization

The servant of God, Father Domenico da Cese is a figure to be presented to the Poles. In the book, of course, I report all the main biographical facts and I also recalled the information on the opening of the process of Beatification, as well as the prayer for the intercession of Father Domenico which was translated into Polish for the first time.

4) You also mentioned the figure of Brother Vincenzo.

My research to complete the book began before the pandemic and was interrupted by the lockdown period. This book was published on the 45th anniversary of Father Domenico's birth into heaven but, in the meantime, Brother Vincent has left us. It was very precious to me to have been able to know him and to receive a special blessing from him. In the book, I also published one of his testimonies about Father Domenico.

5) You also remembered Sister Amalia Di Rella, from Ruvo di Puglia, who was the spiritual daughter of Father Domenico

In my book, which contains 200 pages, I presented the life, the presumed miracles and the graces that would have been received through the prayers of Father Domenico da Cese when he was still alive. I introduced all the people who were close to him. Among these, the figure of Sister Amalia di Rella could not be missing. Puglia is much loved by Polish people and, presenting this spiritual daughter of Father Domenico, I wanted to invite the devotees to travel not only to Manoppello but also to Ruvo di Puglia (and in particular to the Church of Purgatory, spiritual home of Sr. Amalia and the Volto Santo Association, Editor’s note   )

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Aleksandra Zapotoczny, born in Wadowice, Poland, the birthplace of St. John Paul II, now lives in Rome. A Vatican expert, she collaborated with the Postulation for the process of Beatification and Canonization of the Polish Pope. A journalist accredited to the Holy See Press Office, she is the author of 26 books on saints and their relics.  Her book on Father Domenico is published by Wydawnictw AA of Krakow  - Stygmatyk z Manoppello - Aleksandra Zapotoczny | Wydawnictwo AA  - and can be purchased through the main web-stores. Future editions in other languages are desirable.