A Saint for our time.

PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

Pier Giorgio Frassati was put forward during World Youth Day in 2000 and 2008 as a saint and role model for today’s young people.  He was said to be a friend of the poor, in whom he saw Christ.  He combined his love of mountain climbing, music and friends as well as political activism with fervent work for social justice. He lived his short live “to the full”

Pier Giorgio was interested in charity, society and politics, but his sharpest characteristic was that he was a man of prayer.  He developed a deep spiritual live which he never hesitated to share with his friends.  Beneath the smiling and lively exterior of the restless university student was concealed the amazing life of a mystic.  Love for Jesus motivated his actions.  So evident were the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit in Pier Giorgio’s life, that he has come to be known as the man of the eight Beatitudes.  The late Pope John Paul 11 remarked of Pier Giorgio,

“Behold the Man of the eight Beatitudes who bears in himself the grace of the Gospel, the Good News, the joy of salvation offered to us by Christ.”

Pier Giorgio Frassati died on July 4 in the Holy Year of 1925 when he was about to receive his degree in Engineering.  In The Great Jubilee Holy Year 2000, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of his birth into Heaven.  As young people from all over the world gathered in Rome and in Sydney for the World Youth Day Celebrations, the figure of Pier Giorgio was held up as an example and as a special patron for these events.  His body, which is normally kept in his own town of Turin, was specially brought to Rome, and placed in a central church.

In 1981 a remarkable thing happened. His tomb was opened for investigation into his cause for sainthood.  The discovery was that his body had remained incorruptible. 

  Pope John Paul 11 said in Rome in May 1990:

“ He left this world rather young, but he made a mark upon our entire century, and not only on our century, his life, enlivened by the Spirit of God, is transformed into a wonderful adventure”.  He continued

“Have models from whom you are inspired.  I think for instance of Pier Giorgio Frassati, who was a modern young man, open to the value of athletics (he was a valiant mountain climber and skier), but he knew how to give at the same time a courageous testimony of generosity in the faith and in the exercise of charity toward his neighbour, especially toward the poorest and those who suffered.  The Lord called him to Himself at only 24 years of age, but he is still living well in our midst with his smile and his goodness to invite his contemporaries to the love of Christ and the virtuous life.”

The Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin were the two poles of his world of prayer.  He assisted at Mass and communion daily, often serving Mass and making a lengthy thanksgiving afterward.  He felt a strong, mysterious urge to be near the Blessed Sacrament and would often spend hours at night on his knees in profound prayer.  He always encouraged his friends to pray and influenced other students to make the annual university retreat given by the Jesuits.

Throughout the world, the Frasati Society has been established.  I know that in my own parish after WYD in 2008, the Frasati Circle was formed and has continued since that time.

How am I known to others?  Would I be known as a person of the 8 beatitudes?  Do I know what are  the spiritual poles of my life?  God is always ready to assist us in the way we need most. 

May God strengthen your spiritual poles of your life and may you continue to be an example to others.