Your Testimony Pleases Jesus | My View from the Pilgrimage

Your Testimony Pleases Jesus

While on our way to The Black Virgin of Foggia, my driver and guide, Michael, reminded me that the Word is important, both the word of the Gospel and the words we give one another. The words we give to someone can be comforting, reassuring, confirming. He said, ‘testimony pleases Jesus’. That’s the only reason I’m here typing now 🙂 I am exhausted– back stateside, but jet-lagged! I got in at 1 am ET this morning (after traveling since 2 am Italy time), sat outside in the Uber with the driver for an additional 20 minutes helping him learn to work the translator app I began using on the trip to communicate with Michael (my driver and guide in Italy).

Renaldo, my Uber drive who took me home, was from Cuba and said I was the first customer he was able to really talk to and thanked me for using the app. We got him set up (so his words can be automatically translated from Spanish to English and the passenger’s words from English to Spanish, all coming through his speakers in the car thanks to Bluetooth!).God bless, Renaldo!

I got in the house to find the kids awake and waiting for me! We stayed up til almost 3 am, and I had to be back up by 8am to get Gia to a birthday party (and get a gift lol) that started at 10am! Now, science fair project. But first, YOU. God. Love. This article and pics! And rosaries! Of which 2 are already gone, even though this article has yet to be published! Y’all be looking!

We’ll work our way back in time, starting with a beautiful encounter at the ATL airport around 9:30pm ET yesterday-

Long story shortish, I saw her sitting across from me when I looked up from my book about St. Thérèse of Lisieux (a very famous nun), so I gathered my stuff and walked over to her, of course! Greeting her with, ‘Hello, Sister! What order are you from?” She gestured for me to sit and shared that she’s from the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy in California (by way of Nigeria), and was on her way to Jamaica. That wasn’t even her gate! Her flight was canceled until tomorrow, so she was stranded and posted up at MY gate! I told her where I was coming from, and of course, Padre Pio just so happens to be her favorite Saint!

We were talking, laughing, and sharing, when a woman with a camera approached us and told us about her art project and asked permission to take our pic- she thought we were related because we looked so close and loving haha! And she’s right, when I told Sister Uche where I was coming from, she extended her hand to me and we held hands while continuing to speak about our experiences and my journey.

The woman, Andy, takes photos of couples and family members under clocks hugging or kissing. For family members or friends, she gets cheek pecks. So we agreed! Sister Uche laughed, and I told her my mom was gonna say, ‘only you, Nikki’! I gave her my book on Padre Pio and the Guardian Angels (that one hurt a little, I was still attached to it, lol) and we exchanged info. She needed something to read as she was going to sleep in the airport and wouldn’t take my pillow for comfort, or help getting to a hotel! I was very blessed by that meeting. She said no accidents. No coincidences. Godcidences.

Moving further back in seeming time, while in Bari, Italy at the airport at 3 am the morning before, I saw this wall, which made me immediately reach for my phone to snap a pic. As I approached the centerpiece, I was shocked, but not really-

Earlier in the trip, my driver told me St. Nick was my patron saint. Not St. Clare / St. Francis as I thought before. He said it with utter confidence and moved on to a new topic. A listener and friend, Christina (who is on screen with us most mornings for the rosary), jokingly called me St. Nik. I call her St. Christ(ina). And after researching more about St. Nick (and the gift giving and graces he’s known for… he’s also known for being Black or darker skinned, and for REAL charity spiritually and materially), I learned that his remains and relics are all housed in… drum roll… BARI, Italy. That’s the airport I had to fly into to get to Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo. I knew nothing of St. Nick or Bari until this trip. I didn’t get to see his church but on my way to the bathroom at the airport on my return trip, saw this wall. And as I neared the center tile, was confirmed 🙂 May we all be blessed as a blessing to others!

Our Rosaries and Gifts

I took the rosaries (updated on the site) to St. Michael’s Cave on Mount Gargano, the Black Virgin of Foggia, and the very altar where Padre Pio spent decades celebrating Mass at Our Lady of Grace. Each of these sites holds profound spiritual significance, and I felt your prayers with me every step of the way.

You don’t have to be in San Giovanni to be near me. When you feel love you’re with me. Everywhere is San Giovanni Rotondo. Everywhere is the Light. The Light that bleeds. The Heart that sees. 

St. Michael’s Cave on Mount Gargano (Monte Sant’Angelo)

On our way to St. Michael’s Cave, Michael my driver, was spitting truth! Hot fire, lol, right into his phone that would translate for me into English! We talked all the way, but I couldn’t help but notice the great speed with which we were traveling– like wild. He was safe driving, but fast driving, because I later found out he was trying to get me to the cave by 3 pm for Adoration and then a Mass at 4! A rainbow appeared (look at the driver’s window), and when we arrived at the top of the mountain, he pulled into the curb without parking and was like, GO GO GO!!! When I got down the many, many flights of stairs to the bottom where the cave was converted into a chapel, I saw several people already seated and the music being played was so familiar. I will try to share the video here-

Monte Sant Angelo

They were singing “Gesu, Gesu (Jesus, Jesus)” like Monica from Austria taught me in Galilee!! I pulled out my phone to record as soon as I knelt in my pew, and in came the priest! Perfect timing! It was like they were waiting for me and immediately started!

St. Michael’s Cave, nestled high up in the rugged Gargano Mountain, is believed to be the site where the Archangel Michael appeared to manifest his presence to a local bishop in the 5th century. The cave has been a pilgrimage site for centuries, known for its miraculous healings and spiritual encounters. It (and the church) has become a symbol of divine protection and intercession, and I felt a deep connection to its history as I offered your prayers. The priest that celebrated the Mass, blessed your rosaries with Holy Water and a prayer that you may use this rosary and this practice to focus on Jesus forever.

Michael introduced me to his favorite dessert (with honey and almonds) and we enjoyed cappuccinos before hitting the road again!

The Black Virgin of Foggia

I visited the shrine of the Black Virgin of Foggia, a revered image of the Virgin Mary that holds great significance for the people of southern Italy. The statue is often associated with miraculous healings and divine intervention, and I had the privilege of placing your rosaries near the Black Virgin herself. I also had the honor of bringing back some Holy Oil from the tree at the apparition site, which I blessed the rosaries with before taking them to the altar. Within the church, there’s a crown that has the words to the Salve Regina on it! And there’s a wall with thousands of pictures drawn to represent the various miracles they attribute to Her intercession.

Padre Pio’s Altar

Watch a video I took of the altar on my last night there.

I also took your rosaries to the altar (of Our Lady of Grace) where Padre Pio spent many years offering Mass, interceding for the faithful, and living out his mission of prayer and healing. Padre Pio’s life was a testament to the power of ceaseless prayer (his lips never stopped moving, and his fingers never stopped passing beads through them- he was never without his rosary, always speaking to Jesus and Mary, always reciting the Rosary) and the transformative nature of God’s Love. As I stood at the altar, I offered up the prayers you’ve entrusted to me and joined them with his. I could still feel his prayers echoing in that sacred space.

While sitting before the Crucifix in the choir upstairs above the altar, I heard from within, ‘when your inner dialogue becomes the Angelic Greeting- Hail Mary, Full of Grace, it begins. Your real life.’

I had them blessed by the priest (thank you Father Damian!) who was celebrating the Masses every morning. He is a student from Rome (by way of Nigeria) and could see Me in me. He had me bless them, too. I of course, prayed over our rosaries and will touch them to the rocks from St. Michael’s Cave and to the oil from the Black Virgin before sending them off to you!

The Nuns!

Every morning it was just me and the nuns. Praying and reading at the old altar before Mass would start at 6:30 am. Finally, on the last day, I used my translator app to introduce myself and request a photo for you! They were lovely and told me to tell you to pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. And not to worry about distractions. Distractions are to be expected, and the prayers are counted and felt anyway! Pray anyway!

Michael, my driver and the 3rd order Franciscan, took me to his favorite place for meditation and prayer– a convent way up on the mountain overlooking Padre Pio’s church, tucked away quietly. The silence could be felt deeply, and I immediately understood why this was his place for retreat- which was wild because Our Lady of Grace and the city of San Giovanni Rotondo were already isolated and tucked away. This was even more hidden. I loved it! The nuns are from Mexico, and as soon as I walked in, Our Lady of Guadalupe greeted me, along with Sister Gabrielle, and her English-speaking sister, Maria. We hugged and talked about the Rosary, my ministry, their ministry, and YOU. Your job, my job, is to Love and to give Love. We have work to do!

Can you tell I had been crying?!

They wanted me to join. But know my work is to be out amongst the peoples haha.

(St.) Michael and Me at the Capuchinas of San Giovanni Rotondo! His Spiritual getaway!

That’s All Folks

Finally, a personal testimony. My body rejects the USA lol. I keep a stomach ache. Everything hurts my stomach- pasta, coffee, you name it. In Italy, I felt great! The food was deeply nourishing and I ate LOTS of it with zero trouble. That was a miracle in and of itself! Simple ingredients, made with Love. I stayed so far off the beaten path that there was no such thing as fast food. Just real people in a real kitchen with real ingredients. If you feel called to journey to San Giovanni Rotondo, I highly recommend Hotel Centro di Spiritualità Padre Pio.

Everything you need is right on site, including a chapel, a restaurant, and good food. Plus, the staff was friendly, and the rooms were simple, clean, and with good views! I enjoyed the for real cardio I got every morning on my way up to Our Lady of Grace and pray that Luigi (the companion sent by my angel, my angel in human form!) is somewhere healthy and happy!

I love you,

nik

GIVEAWAY WINNERS- CONGRATULATIONS!!

@christinemjolly

@itz_nik901

INFO ABOUT THE ROSARIES

Only the Brown, Mahogany, and Cream rosaries were carried along with me to Italy. There are very few of them added to the site for purchase. The Black ones arrived after I left, however, they have been blessed (with Holy Water from the St. Michael Cave, and Holy Oil from the Black Virgin of Foggia), and touched to the others, and mine (as well as to the ones mentioned in the description of the rosaries on the page). Get one, gift one! I Love you!

nik

p.s. Last story! After boarding my flight from Rome to ATL, I overheard a man, alarmed, speaking with a flight attendant. The flight attendant moved two rows back to another man. They were reporting the same issue- something they observed about the plane. The two passengers didn’t appear to know each other, and both had made the same concerning observation, and she alerted officials who boarded the plane. They explained to each man their right to concern and that the more eyes, the better, but that the abnormality was normal and wouldn’t cause a problem in flight. I was listening over talking and background music to all of this. I had never seen anything like it before in my life, and could feel the anxiety rising within. I looked in the eyes of the second concerned passenger as the officials walked away to leave the plane, and he seemed calm. The attendants came back out and thanked those two passengers and gifted them with extra snacks. I sat back and did the only thing I could do, pray. Our landing was incredibly stalled and bumpy, and the attendants were told to take their seats and not make a final pass-through and that we were to put trash in the seatbacks. I continued to pray (only Love is here, the Rosary, the St. Michael prayer). Passengers near me looked at each other for reassurance. I was looking, too! But at Love. At the only sure thing we have and are. And we landed smoothly. And life is Love. I prayed for the souls and families in DC, and now for those in Philadelphia. I pray for all of us. I love you.