The Joyful Witness of a Saint Who Chose Holiness in the Ordinary.
Who is this newest Saint of the Catholic Church? The man who is remembered for scaling mountains to the heights and his love for adventure. There is more to him than these simple things he is remembered by, and these things are the least of his inspiring qualities. Although the things he is remembered by are simple, that is the key. Holiness lived with joy in simple ordinary life.
Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in the year 1901, in Italy, to his agnostic father and artist mother. His father was the owner a liberal newspaper and was heavily active in national politics which later led to his position on the Italian senate, and the Italian ambassador to Germany after that. Growing up in a household shaped by public life and social engagement, Pier Giorgio was naturally exposed to the concerns of society, an influence that would later inspire his own life of social action, rooted in faith and love for the poor.
As a child, after his fathers refusal to help a drunk man, the sobbing Frassati was instructed by his mother to find the man and bring him back to their home for a meal. This is where his social action began. As he made his way through school he worked to unite people in fellowship as a way to work at combating inequalities. He was involved in the Apostleship of Prayer, Catholic action and became a professed member of the Third Order of St. Dominic. He often spoke, “Charity is not enough; we need social reform.” When Frassati wasn’t occupied with helping the poor, he was pursuing his degree in Mining Engineering. It’s with this degree that he hoped "to serve Christ better among the miners."
Frassati’s athleticism and love for the mountains is no secret. He was a member of a climbing club and often spent time with his friends doing these athletic feats. In the Summer of 1925, while boating with friends he started experiencing sharp back pains. Upon returning home his symptoms had progressed to a severe headache and fever, but as it so happened his maternal grandmother had also passed on this day. In his extreme humility, he deflected any attention from himself in order for the proper mourning of his grandmother. The next day a doctor was summoned and he was given a diagnosis: Polio. July 4, 1925 Pier Giorgio Frassati passed away after uttering his final words, “May I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.”
After his death his parents had expected their circle of elite political figures to attend the funeral, but were shocked to be met with the streets lined with thousands of mourners. Many of which were individuals Frassati had helped during his life. His remains are now located in the Turin Cathedral and were found to be incorrupt.
Pier Giorgio Frassati is a Saint whose ordinary life was anything but. His devotion to his Faith, fighting social injustices, even his love for the outdoors, was all rooted in his deep love for Christ and the desire to serve others by serving Christ. He has been a significant global patron for the youth, young adults, athletes and “ordinary people”
Vero L’alto! To the Heights!