This rosary is dedicated to and in honor of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who was Canonized on June 16, 2002. Fr. Pio Mandato is a cousin of Saint Pio through Graziella De Nunzio Mandato, his mother. Fr. Mandato wrote and recited all the meditations while praying the rosary beads given to his family by Saint Pio. Fr. Pio and his parents were born in Pietrelcina in Southern Italy. Pietrelcina is the same town where his cousin, Saint Pio, the Famous Stigmatist Priest was born. The families knew each other very well. Fr. Pio received his First Holy Communion from Padre Pio before coming to the United States. He grew up in New Jersey and entered the Capuchin seminary at the age of 17, where he received his Franciscan formation and later his priestly formation. Father Pio was ordained in 1985 as a Capuchin Franciscan and has been involved in various apostolates throughout the years, from Hospital Chaplaincy to working with the homeless in New York. Fr. Pio has directed numerous retreats and healing masses across the country. In 1998 he was accepted into the Diocese of Scranton and began living a life of prayer in solitude, yet at times going forth to preach. Fr. Pio F. Mandato, F.M.H.J. is a Franciscan priest living as a missionary hermit in the Diocese of Scranton, PA, under Bishop Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.