St. Padre Pio had many spiritual "children" during his lifetime, men and women who would keep in contact with him and would go to him for spiritual direction.
One such spiritual daughter was Luigia Sinapi, an Italian laywoman who was also granted a variety of mystical gifts from God.
On January 27, Pope Francis recognized her "heroic virtues," declaring her "venerable." The next step in her canonization process is the verification of miracles through her intercession.
Who was Luigia Sinapi?
Born in 1916, Sinapi was raised in a good Catholic family and initially felt drawn to the religious life.
She entered the Society of the Daughters of St. Paul in Rome, but had to leave due to health problems.
According to the Vatican website, after World War II she "worked at the National Institute of Geophysics as secretary of the Venerable Servant of God Enrico Medi. The job corresponded to an intense life of prayer, animated by a profound inner spirituality and characterized by various sufferings, accompanied by numerous mystical gifts."
Throughout her life she had great physical suffering, which she offered for the salvation of priests and all souls.
She led an intense spiritual life, which opened her up to "numerous supernatural gifts such as the precognition of events and situations, bilocation, discernment of the spirit sand above all the mystical union with the Lord Jesus, lived in an atmosphere of modesty, humility and service."
During this time she also became a friend to St. Padre Pio, meeting with him frequently and enjoying his spiritual friendship.
She also became friends with Pius XII, whom she predicted would be elected pope.
Sinapi was a remarkable woman, who died at the age of 62.
