Morcone

Morcone is a rural town in the Matese mountains. Its origin dates back to the Samnite period.
Several historians identified the town with ancient Mucre, and the remains of its polygonal walls can still be admired today.

The convent was erected at the foot of the mountain where the town used to be, and it has been restored. The Capuchins were called upon by the Marquees of Morcone to "pick out the site". On May 27th 1603 they "planted the Cross" and the next day the first stone was laid for the chapel of San Filippo. Except for brief interruptions, the convent has always been a novitiate. The experimental year has the purpose of helping the novices to find his way around in the unknown scheme of his new life, enlightening them to understand what Capuchins actually are and how they live.

Francesco (the future Brother Pio) knocked on the convent door on January 6th 1903. He found a delightful surprise facing him: Brother Camillo of Sant'Elia a Pianisi (1871 - 1933), the mendicant brother who often went to Pietrelcina from Morcone. His figure remained etched upon the boy's mind and heart. Brother Camillo greeted him with joyful politeness: "Franci'! Well done, well done! You have been loyal to your promise and to Saint Francis' call" and he took him to meet the Father Master of all novices.

Life in this convent was governed by uncomfortable discipline but it was nevertheless convincingly accepted. Because Francesco had chosen the most difficult path, on January 22nd 1903 he was clothed with the "probation robes" at the foot of the high altar at 9.00 a.m., in the presence of the professed monks and the novices. He was named Brother Pio of Pietrelcina. What were his intentions when he entered the convent? With what commitment did he live that year of novitiate? He himself tells us about it in a 1922 autobiographic letter: "May Jesus grant me the grace of being a worthy son of Saint Francis. May I be a good example to my brothers so that the ardor in me can grow and continue forever, making me become a perfect Capuchin".

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