Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati – A Short Biography

Despite coming from a privileged background, Frassati was deeply concerned with social justice and helping the poor. He was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which worked to provide assistance to the poor and disadvantaged, and he would often visit slums and hospitals to bring food, clothing, and other necessities to those in need.

Frassati was also a devout Catholic and deeply committed to his faith. He was a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic and had a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was known to pray the Rosary daily and was deeply involved in the life of his local parish.

Frassati was also an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hiking, climbing, and skiing in the Alps. He was a member of the Alpini, a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, and spent much of his free time exploring the mountains of Italy.

Tragically, Frassati died at the young age of 24 from polio. Despite his short life, his strong faith and commitment to social justice have inspired many people, and he was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1990. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is the patron saint of students and his feast day is July 4th.

Popular Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Medal and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Rosary

Detailed Biography of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: A Saint on Skis

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was a young Italian man who lived in the early 20th century. He was a devout Catholic, a passionate social activist, a mountain lover, and a joyful friend. He died at the age of 24 from polio, which he contracted while serving the poor. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990, who called him the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes”.

His Life

Pier Giorgio was born on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy. He was the second of four children of Alfredo Frassati, a wealthy and influential politician and journalist, and Adelaide Ametis, a painter and artist. Pier Giorgio grew up in a privileged but cold and secular environment. He attended a Jesuit school, where he developed a strong faith and a love for the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. He also joined the Marian Sodality and the Apostleship of Prayer.

Pier Giorgio was not interested in his father’s career or wealth. He preferred to spend his time with his friends, whom he called the “Tipi Loschi” (the Shady Characters), and with the poor, whom he served through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other Catholic organizations. He was also an avid mountain climber and skier, who enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation. He often said “Verso l’alto” (To the heights) to express his desire for holiness and adventure.

Pier Giorgio studied mining engineering at the Royal Polytechnic University of Turin, hoping to work for social justice in that field. He was also involved in politics, as a member of the People’s Party, which promoted the social teaching of the Church. He participated in demonstrations and rallies, and was arrested once by the Fascist regime.

Pier Giorgio had a deep friendship with a young woman named Laura Hidalgo, whom he met in 1921. They shared their faith, their love for the mountains, and their commitment to the poor. Pier Giorgio wanted to marry Laura, but his parents opposed their relationship because of her lower social status.

In June 1925, Pier Giorgio contracted poliomyelitis, most likely from the sick people he visited. He suffered in silence, not wanting to trouble his family, who were unaware of his condition. He died on July 4, 1925, after receiving the last sacraments. His funeral was a surprise for his parents, who saw thousands of people coming to pay their respects: not only his relatives and friends, but also the poor, the homeless, and the marginalized whom he had served so generously.

His Legacy

Pier Giorgio’s family and friends soon began to spread his story and his writings, which revealed his deep spirituality and his devotion to Christ. In 1932, his body was moved to the family tomb in Pollone, near Turin. In 1981, his body was found to be incorrupt, and was transferred to the Cathedral of Turin.

In 1983, Pope John Paul II visited his tomb and prayed for his beatification. In 1989, he visited Turin again and met with his sister Luciana, who had become a Dominican nun. On May 20, 1990, he beatified Pier Giorgio in St. Peter’s Square, in front of a large crowd of young people. He said: “I wanted to pay homage to a young man who was able to witness to Christ with singular effectiveness in this century of ours. […] I urge you to look at him as an example of how faith can be lived in daily life.”

Pier Giorgio is now venerated as a patron saint of youth, students, Catholic action, mountaineers, skiers, and World Youth Day. His feast day is July 4th. His relics have traveled around the world, inspiring many people to follow his example of holiness and charity.

• Brief Biography of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati | FrassatiUSA
• Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati | USCCB
• Pier Giorgio Frassati – Wikipedia

Prayers to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Prayer of Intercession to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Lord, we pray to you through the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, that you may grant us the grace to follow his example of charitable service to the poor and to live our lives with joy and faith. May we strive to be a light in the world, just as he was, and may we always seek to bring your love and mercy to those in need. Amen.

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Prayer to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, you were a shining example of love and compassion for the poor and disadvantaged. We ask for your intercession that we may follow your lead and be moved to serve others in need. Help us to see the value and worth of every person, just as you did, and to live our lives with kindness and generosity. You inspired Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to live a life of faith, charity, and joy. Through his intercession, grant us the strength to follow his example and to always seek to do your will. May we strive to be instruments of your peace and love in the world, and may we bring hope and comfort to those who are in need. Amen.

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Prayer to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Dear Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, you were a true servant of the Lord and an inspiration to all who knew you. Please pray for us that we may be filled with the same love and compassion that you had for the poor and that we may follow in your footsteps in serving others. May your example guide us on our journey of faith and may we always strive to bring the light of Christ to the world. Amen.

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Quotes by Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

• “The Christian life is not a life of ease, but a life of effort and struggle.”

• “Be what you want to be. If you want to be a saint, be one, and don’t be afraid.”

• “One does not become a saint by being good, but rather by doing good.”

• “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”

• “I have always been convinced that the only way to make life bearable is to be completely absorbed in something outside ourselves.”

• “To live life to the full, one must always be open to new experiences and challenges.”

• “We must not be content with mediocrity in our lives or in our work, but always strive for excellence.”

• “The Christian life is a journey, and we must be willing to take risks and to step out of our comfort zone in order to grow in faith and to serve others.”

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Children’s Story about the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Once upon a time, in the beautiful city of Turin, Italy, there was a boy named Pier Giorgio Frassati. Pier Giorgio was a kind and generous boy, always thinking of others and how he could help them.

One of the things Pier Giorgio loved most was spending time in nature, especially in the mountains. He would often go hiking and skiing with his friends, exploring the beautiful Alps that surrounded Turin.

But Pier Giorgio was not just a fan of sports and the outdoors. He was also deeply devoted to his Catholic faith and spent a lot of time volunteering at his local parish. He helped out with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which worked to provide assistance to the poor and disadvantaged. Pier Giorgio would often visit hospitals and slums to bring food, clothing, and other necessities to those in need.

Pier Giorgio was a true friend to all he met, always ready with a kind word or a helping hand. Despite coming from a wealthy and influential family, he never forgot about those who were less fortunate and did everything he could to help them.

Sadly, Pier Giorgio died at the young age of 24 from polio. But his kindness, generosity, and strong faith have inspired many people, and he was eventually beatified by the Catholic Church.

So the next time you go for a hike or spend time in nature, remember the example of Pier Giorgio Frassati and always try to be kind and help those in need. The end.

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Papal Writings and Sermons about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

There have been several papal writings and sermons about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who is considered a role model and inspiration by many within the Catholic Church.

One notable papal writing on Frassati is a letter written by Pope John Paul II in 1981, shortly after Frassati was beatified. In the letter, Pope John Paul II praised Frassati for his strong faith, his love of nature and sports, and his commitment to social justice and helping the poor. The Pope wrote that Frassati’s example of “joyful and authentic Christianity” was a source of inspiration for all Catholics, and he encouraged others to follow in Frassati’s footsteps.

Pope Francis has also spoken about Frassati on several occasions. In a homily given in 2016, Pope Francis praised Frassati for his “ardent and generous” love of God and for his commitment to living out his faith through acts of charity and service to others. Pope Francis said that Frassati’s example showed that it was possible to be “a man of faith and a man of the world” and to live a life of joy and purpose.

In addition to these writings, there have been numerous sermons and homilies given by other bishops and clergy on the life and example of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Frassati’s strong faith, charitable spirit, and love of life are often held up as a model for Catholics to follow, and his life and witness continue to inspire many people around the world.

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Reflection on the Feast of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati on July 4th. Today, we celebrate the feast day of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man who dedicated his life to living out his faith with joy and compassion.

Frassati was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid reader and enjoyed learning about a wide range of subjects. He was also an outdoorsman, who loved nothing more than spending time in the mountains, hiking and skiing with his friends. But above all, Frassati was a man of deep faith, who lived his life in service to others, especially the poor and disadvantaged.

As we reflect on the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, we are reminded that it is not enough to simply believe in God, but rather we must actively seek to live out our faith in the world. Frassati’s example teaches us that living a life of joy and charity is essential to being a true follower of Christ.

But Frassati’s life was not always easy. He faced many challenges and hardships, including the tragic loss of his mother at a young age and his own premature death from polio. But even in the face of these challenges, Frassati never lost his faith or his commitment to helping others.

So today, let us take inspiration from the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and strive to follow his example of faith, charity, and joy. May we seek to live our lives in service to others and to always be a light in the world, just as Frassati was. Amen.

Saints Similar to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. John Bosco. Both Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. John Bosco were known for their dedication to youth and their efforts to promote the welfare and education of young people. St. John Bosco was the founder of the Salesians, a religious order focused on education and youth ministry. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was a young Italian who was actively involved in Catholic youth associations and social outreach. Next up: Biography of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

 

Also check out our handmade Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Medal and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Rosary Bracelet and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Medal.