Episode 3 — The Skeptic: Father Achille Ferrara

When two peasant women came down from the mountain claiming they had seen the Mother of God, the parish priest of Castelpetroso did not believe them. His name was Don Achille Ferrara. He was a man of reason, formed in seminary, accustomed to the quiet rhythm of a small mountain parish. He had heard stories before — visions, dreams, voices in the night. He knew how the human mind could play tricks, especially in places where life was hard and faith ran deep. So when Fabiana Cecchino and Serafina Valentino came to him with their story, he listened — and he doubted. For weeks, he resisted. He questioned them. He waited. He watched. And then, on May 18th, 1888, something happened that would change his life forever. In this episode, Danny Cicchino tells the story of the man who tried not to believe — and who became one of the most important witnesses of Castelpetroso. From skepticism to certainty, from doubt to mission: the journey of Father Achille Ferrara is the story of every honest soul who has ever asked the hard questions about faith. A story of courage, humility, and the quiet power of truth. 🎧 Listen now and follow the podcast on:www.santuarioaddolorata.it/en/podcast/ 📲 Share with friends and family: bit.ly/littlelourdes ✝️ Basilica Minore dell'Addolorata — Castelpetroso (IS), Molise, Italy