Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

The Church in Faeto, Italy

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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Faeto is this mystical, magical, Medieval village in the Daunia hills of Southern Italy. It's located just inland from the "spur of the boot" of Italy.

Centuries ago, Franco-Provencal soldiers came to fight a war, then decided to stay here due to its beauty. And, well, yes, there was a Scarlett Fever breakout down the hill and it was safer to stay up in the Difensa Forest.

Before Faeto became a village it was a tiny hamlet. Then the population increased with the arrival of the soldiers and their eventual families and when that happens there has to be a central gathering place. In these times of history, that central location to gather was a church.

This creating-of-a-church turned the tiny hamlet of Faeto into the village of Faeto.

The only church in Faeto

I'm not sure exactly when this church was built but I can guess that the inhabitants of this little village celebrated all of their Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals here, as well as all of the Christmas Masses and Easter Masses too.

My Great Grandparents were probably married here, and their children - my Grandparents - had their First Communion and Confirmations here.

Inside the small church

This church has been well taken care of, with obvious renovations and upgrades.

With fresh paint on the walls and ceilings, there are no broken pillars or mold to be seen anywhere.

Before electricity, these chandeliers held candles.

A closer look at the altar

When I grew up, there were always women who took care of the church, arranging fresh flowers for the altar, dusting down the pews, washing and ironing the linen over the altar and so on.

I imagine it's quite the same here today.

Padre Pio

Padre Pio is the "home boy" saint of the Province of Foggia, where Faeto is located. You can see statues of him everywhere - in churches and in parks, and his photo adorns calendars and will be hung in Catholic homes.

He was special from when he was a child, and he knew he wanted to be a priest when he was 5 years old.

He was known for his humility and for miraculous cures due to his intercession with God. He received the stigmata at age 31, which were wounds that appeared on his hands, feet, and side, similar to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. 

When he said Mass, it is said that he was in such ecstasy that he levitated. People from all over the world came to him - to see him say Mass, to have the Padre forgive their sins, and to pray for miracles for their conditions. It is said that Padre Pio heard over 5 million confessions in his lifetime.

The massive church built in his honor is located in San Giovanni Rotondo. It is 6,000 square feet with 6,500 people seated at worship and standing room for 30,000 people outside.

Padre Pio also started a hospital - Home for the Relief of Suffering - which still stands today and administers to the sick.

He died in 1968 and was canonized as a saint in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.

Statues in niches on the wall

Various statues of saints and the Virgin Mary are inside the niches here at the church.

Between the niches are the Stations of the Cross, a Devotional that Catholics do, especially during Lent, to remember and respect the walk Jesus did from his trial in front of Pontius Pilate then on the way to His crucifixion.

The niches on the other side of the church

Here are more statues of saints, more beautiful paintings and more Stations of the Cross.

In between the pews are wooden kneelers. Some churches have padded boards for the times during the Mass when Penitents kneel during the ceremony.

But some older and conventional churches don't pad them.

I guess the idea is that Christ suffered for us, so we must be willing to suffer also, by genuflecting and kneeling on hard wooden boards.

Suffering and sacrifice is part of the Catholic culture.

A close up of the altar

This simple church has an uncomplicated altar set up with natural light coming through at the top.

Clean embroidered linens and fresh flowers demonstrate the openness and innocence of this centuries-old church.

Once again it amazed me how this small village of about 500 people take care of their town.

And what an experience to me to realize that my Italian Family Heritage came from here!

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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