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Patron Saint: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

For those who travelled to the World Youth Day in Rome 2000, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is not unknown to you. For this special event he was chosen by Pope John Paul II as the role model for young people to follow in this millennium, believing that young men and women will find in Pier Giorgio an inspiring Christian model in facing the challenges of modern times. The Holy Father declared that he is "the man of our century, the modern man, the man who has loved much" and that "he was entirely immersed in the mystery of God and total dedicated to the constant service of his neighbour" (John Paul II, Rome, May 20 1990). Born in Turin, Italy in 1901, Pier Giorgio's life was ended at the age of 24 after a short illness. So why was this man so special? What can we learn about his life in order to bring us closer to our understanding of our own vocation?

Those who think of saints as shy and reclusive people who disdain this life whilst pining for the next will be surprised by the figure of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. His sister, Luciana, is still living in Italy and her life has been spent writing books about the life and personality of her brother. From the book Man of the Beatitudes, Luciana has given very intimate details of Pier Giorgio's life, from his childhood to relationships with friends to his undying love for God. She stated "Pier Giorgio grew up serious, fair minded, and very good looking", and was a strapping young outdoorsman and sportsman who combined political activism and work for social justice. His youth was filled with many characteristics not dissimilar to those of today's teenagers; riding, skiing, reading Dante and other poets, ardent political discussions in the company of friends, falling in love and even clashing with the police! However, he also developed a spiritual life which he never hesitated to share amongst his friends. In a letter to a friend he reaffirmed his faith in saying "The faith given to me in Baptism suggests to me surely: of yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the centre of all your action, then you will reach your goal." He decided to become an engineer, and studied at the University of Turin so, as he told a friend, he could "serve Christ amongst the miners".

Political activism often took precedent over his studies. He openly voiced opposition to his father's political views, a very influential man who owned and directed the liberal newspaper "La Stampa". "Charity is not enough", he once stated, "we need social reform." Pier Giorgio was strongly anti-Fascist and anti-Socialist and did nothing to hide his political views. Often he was involved in fights with those he opposed, particularly whilst protesting with other young Catholics in Rome. Pier Giorgio's studies were also often put on hold due to spending considerable time with the poor. He often gave up his vacations believing that "if everyone left Turin, who would take care of the poor?" This charity did not just involve giving something to others, but the giving of all of himself.

Participating in the Holy Eucharist daily, spending time in adoration each night and meditating upon the words of St. Paul and St. Catherine of Sienna led Pier Giorgio to two spiritual affirmations: an act of faith and an act of charity. On May 22, 1922, he took the scapular of the Third Order of St. Dominic and assumed the name of Giorolamo, the Dominican preacher and reformer of Florence's Renaissance. In writing to a friend he said, "I am a fervent admirer of this friar, who died as a saint at the stake." His act of Charity began at the age of 17 where he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to serving the sick and needy, caring for orphans and demobilised returned servicemen from WWI. He was forgetful of his family's wealth, often giving what money he had to help the poor. "I see a special light surrounding the poor and unfortunate, a light that we do not have," he explained to a friend. His sister Lucianna believed that his very courtesy was a charity, and those who met him all experienced his unselfish kindness. Pier Giorgio often found himself amongst those groups in society who were seen as outcasts; the split families, the illegitimate children and men with criminal records. He was not scandalised, believing "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." (John 8:7) He also had a great love for the sick, from whom he would eventually contract the fatal polio disease.

Neglecting his health because his own grandmother was dying, Pier Giorgio died after only six days of terrible suffering on July 4, 1925, at the age of 24. During these last few days he suffered in silence. Not even his family knew how grave his health was because they were focused on the grandmother's illness. On the eve of his death, with a paralysed hand, he scribbled a message for a friend remembering the injections he was meant to deliver that day to the poor he attended. Beside the couch he died on laid the last book he read: the life of St. Catherine of Siena, the saint he loved and "envied" because she had spoken to Jesus while she was alive. Lucianna Frassati believed that her brothers death was "too big for us to understand." She went on to describe the day he died.

"The doors began to open to let in new faces, unknown as was his life. Mama tried to stop it, not realising that the revelation of her son's greatness was beginning. At my request she withdrew the order. The throng of silent people, their faces blank or wet with tears, went in to him, touched him like a relic in front of us who had ignored him for years and it was from these unknown people that we received our greatest lesson."

Many of those who mourned his death were surprised to learn that the saintly young man was in fact the heir to the very wealthy Frassati family.

On May 20, 1990, in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II beatified Pier Giorgio Frassati, "the man of the eight Beatitudes.” His mortal remains were transferred from the family tomb to the cathedral of Turin.

REFERENCES
Frassati, Luciana Man Of The Beatitudes (1990) St. Paul Publication, England.
"Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati" (2000) Associazione Pier Giorgio Frassati, Rome.
Harvest Pilgrimages World Youth Day Handbook (2000) Harvest Travel, Sydney.

Source: Catholic Vocations: GK Newsletter