Inner Struggles

The decision to leave behind the life he had known, something Francesco had prepared for over the years from childhood to adolescence, became increasingly difficult as the appointed time drew near.

It was an agonizing inner battle that tore at his soul.

The torment continued until one day, a vision brought him a profound sense of clarity about his future. It revealed a ceaseless struggle against a formidable and relentless enemy, one who would return again and again to challenge him. Yet, Francesco saw that he would always prevail, guided and strengthened by the presence of a mysterious, radiant figure of incomparable beauty.

From that moment, his doubts melted away.

The vision returned, like a final confirmation, on the very morning he was to leave Pietrelcina.

Entering the Novitiate

It was January 6, 1903. Francesco was almost sixteen years old, having reached the required age of fifteen the previous May, as stipulated by the Capuchin rules. Accompanied by two companions and their teacher, Angelo Caccavo, under whom all three had studied, he boarded the train to Morcone, the site of the novitiate.

The farewell at the station was deeply painful.

Francesco’s mother, Zi’ Giuseppa, wept uncontrollably, even as she offered her son to Saint Francis with all her heart. For Francesco, too, the parting was a moment of profound anguish.

The train ride from Pietrelcina to Morcone lasted only an hour.

Upon arrival at the monastery, the superiors conducted individual examinations of the three aspirants on the subjects they had studied. All three passed the test.

However, one of Francesco’s companions was found to be too young to meet the minimum age requirement and had to return home with their teacher. The other companion was admitted but, after a few days in the novitiate, realized that this life was not for him and decided to leave. Francesco was left alone to continue his journey