Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati - The Man of the Beatitudes The life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati begins, appropriately, or should I say divinely, as the bells in the church, across the street from the Frassati home, peel out new Hope, the new Light cutting through the dark, sounding the Easter Vigil of the One Who has Risen, in the cold city of Turin. Amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, a cry would ring out, and one day reach the four corners of the world. Little did Alfredo Frassati and his wife Adelaide Ametis expect, or recognize, for one moment, the young man God sent to them on Holy Saturday, April 6th in the year 1901, would become a powerful role model of the 20th century. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati - health Because Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was a frail and sickly baby, they were afraid he would not survive, so his parents had him hurriedly baptized at birth, by their friend Monsignor Rocati in the Church of La Crocetta, across from their home. Five months later, they would have a more ceremonious baptism for their new born baby on the 3rd anniversary of their wedding, September 5th in the parish church of Pollone, il Cangio Church, or as it was known, St. Fabian and Sebastian Church. From the very beginning of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's life, the signs were all there! When the Light cut through the darkness, bringing Hope to the world, a little flicker of that Light would come to Earth, for a little while, but to touch the world for generations to come. Always ahead of us, planning ahead, God knew we would need a Pier Giorgio to be a sign, a beacon which all, but especially the young could follow to cut through the darkness that threatens humanity today! Although never sacrificing his love and duty toward his family, this young man grew up to become a staunch defender of the poor, the sick and those lacking the opportunity to earn a fair living. His way was not through revolution and chaos; he felt called to do all he could do to make life a little easier for his fellow man. And it was important then as it is now! Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati - Salvation of Souls The Battle is on for souls! Families are waking up, taking notice of the world’s influences on their children’s lives and they are horrified! And rightly so! They’ve lost control. We get call after call commending us on our television programs on the Super Saints. And they are from Catholics and non-Catholics, lay people – like parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles; Religious, Nuns and Pastors – thanking us for bringing heroes their young people can use as role models. The cry is always the same! The false heroes they see on secular television are not the kind of people they want their young to emulate or grow up to become. And so, the Lord placed on our hearts – Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati! Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's work was not confined to mere political struggle and revolt. He was against violence, but was prepared to fight and die, if necessary, to defend Christ. He repeatedly wrote and advocated the following: "When all accept Christ’ voice and teaching, we will be able to say we are all equal, and every difference between human beings will be annulled.’
The Beatitudes have come alive.! 2000 years have passed since the Savior gave us this how-to-live in the world if we would grab onto the rope and scale the mountain of life to God’s goal for us – eternal life with Him in Heaven. His words, Verso l’alto, Upward!, ring forth over the continents and will live on touching all, helping all! This story is ageless, and timeless, as those, Pier Giorgio, even now, is calling us to love - our neighbors, as Jesus loves them and us. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati will not be silenced. If you stop and listen, you can hear him even now. |
