Living “to the heights:” Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to be canonized

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy. At a young age, he joined a Marian Sodality group, and even obtained permission to receive daily Communion, even though it was uncommon at the time. He had two pillars in his spiritual life: devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin. These would go on to shape his life’s mission. From a young age, he was very vocal about his spiritual life and joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society at 17. He would spend much of his time serving the sick and needy, caring for orphans, and assisting servicemen returning from World War I. 

While his family owned a newspaper business, and he was in line to inherit the family fortune, Pier Giorgio decided to become a mining engineer at the Royal Polytechnic University of Turin, where he said he could “serve Christ better among the miners.” Additionally, in the summer of 1921, he helped organize the first meeting of Pax Romana, an international union of Catholic students, and here he advocated to raise awareness about unemployment and labor issues of the time. 

While much of his time was spent selflessly, Pier Giorgio had a great love of theater, going to museums, and even the opera. He had a great passion for music, art, and poetry. One of his favorite activities, and what he may be most known for, was mountain climbing. He would commonly invite his friends to hike with him, and would use it as a means to evangelize by praying the rosary with them, reading the Scriptures, and engaging in conversations. He even would help his friends get to Mass more regularly. 

Pier Giorgio’s friends described him as an “explosion of joy.” He had a great zeal for fraternal charity, which came from his devotion of reading the epistles of St. Paul. This can be seen in his immense outreach to the poor and apostolic drive to his peers. The writings of St. Catherine of Siena also inspired him to join the Lay Dominicans, or the Third Order of St. Dominic. 

Shortly before finishing his degree, Pier Giorgio contracted poliomyelitis, a viral illness that affects the nerves of the spinal cord or brain stem that can lead to paralysis and difficulty breathing, and even death. He most likely contracted the illness while caring for the sick. After six days of suffering, Pier Giorgio died at 24 years old on July 4, 1925. 

At his funeral, the sick and needy people of Turin lined the streets to pay their respects. Due to his humble lifestyle, very few people knew that he was the heir to his influential family. As of March 31, 1981, his remains were completely intact and incorrupt. His remains were transferred from his family tomb in Pollone to the cathedral of Turin. Cardinal Marcello Semerato, the prefect of the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints, recently said that Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati’s canonization is “now clearing on the horizon and is in sight for the coming Jubilee Year.” 

Many describe Pier Giorgio as a saint for all young people. The National Catholic Register recently wrote an article on how he is an example of true manhood, a model for every layperson, and of true friendship, and he is even a “quintessential guide to heaven.” 

His motto – “verso l’alto” – has also recently become popularized, meaning “toward the top” or “to the heights.” This expression took off shortly after his death, when a photograph was found of him climbing the side of a mountain, gazing up, and he had hand-written this phrase on the picture himself. The photo was taken by a friend and fellow climber in June of 1925, about a month before his death; it would turn out to be his last climb. This motto, although only discovered after his death, would come to reflect his earthly life and inspire others to constantly strive for the summits of beatitude and eternal life. 

May Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati be an inspiration to all young people, and to the future of CatholicTech, as we aim “to the heights” for the great glory of God!