even padre pio (jr.) showed up at the dance

My sons school held its annual Spring Dance last week. This event has been going on for nearly fifty years. Each grade level rehearses a dance or two then they put on a show for us parents. I cry every year. These kids work so hard and then throw themselves into the performances. The oldest kids are fifth graders so they are all still young enough to really get into it.


This year involved an unexpected treat. There was this little boy (not yet school age) who was dressed as a monk - you know, brown robe, rope belt, padre deal. He would run out on 'stage' between each dance number and bop around in his monk costume. Most kids who are into dress up go with super heroes or princess', not this little one.


I wish I could've gotten better photos of this miniature Padre Pio. He was out there running around, getting the stigmata (okay the stigmata part is just a fantasy of mine but still) then his Mom would shoo him off the 'stage'. Aren't the sneakers just the perfect touch?


In doing a little Padre Pio research (click on this posts title for a nice little Padre Pio link - including a stigmata photo!) I found this tidbit:

Interesting fact about the Roman Catholic Church: There have been a total of 266 popes in the almost 2000 years since St. Peter and none of the popes has ever experienced mental impairment because of old age! In the past 229 years there have been 15 popes, with an average age at death of about 79 years. Ten of these men have lived to be over 80 years old.

And it makes me wonder how on earth anyone could prove this 'interesting fact' about 'mental impairment'. I guess I just need to have a little faith...