Introduction

Anyone is inspired by Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati because he was a young lay person, belonging to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the patron saint of all Vincentian youth and St. John Paul II called him as ‘the man of beatitudes’¹. Since St. John Paul II declared him a patron for World Youth Days, he has been a significant global patron for youth and young adults. Pope Francis listed him² among the twelve exemplary saints “who devoted their lives to Christ…”.³ for all young people in his apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit. In his attempt to become perfect, he lived his baptismal commitment to its fulness. He was influenced by St. Vincent de Paul, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and many more to see the face of Jesus in the poor and commit his life for the integral welfare of the poor and formation of a just society. In this short essay, I have tried to see the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati from the perspective of Vincentian holiness. In this attempt, I have depended on many online articles written about him to understand the way he lived his Vincentian holiness.

1  Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Rich Man Who Accepted the Challenge of Jesus

Once a young man came to Jesus asking him what he must do to have eternal life or to attain holiness. When he heard the answer of Jesus, “his face fell, and he went away sad” (Matthew 19:16–30, Mark 10:17–31 and Luke 18:18–30). Pier Giorgio was another young rich man who took up the challenge of Jesus in his life and gave away everything to the poor without making it known to anyone (Matthew 6,3). Thus, he attained holiness within short period of 24 years (April 6, 1901 to July 4, 1925) of his life in this world. He was proclaimed Venerable on 23 October 1987 confirming that he had lived a model Christian life of heroic virtue. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 20 May 1990. Now, he is a model of holiness and a source of inspiration for living a life of faith, compassion, and service.

1.1  Childhood Attempt to Grow in Holiness

The self-formation of Pier Giorgio in his childhood helped him to leave everything for the poor and seek holiness in his life. He was born on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy in a noble and influential family. Though his parents were indifferent to religion, misunderstood and disapproved of his piety and intense interest in Catholicism, Pier Giorgio placed Christ first in all that he did and attempted to grow in holiness from his childhood onwards.

1.2  Ordinary Life Made Extraordinary

Pier Giorgio’s lifestyle was like any ordinary youth of his time⁴, He loved sports. He was a passionate mountaineer and loved to hike, ski and ride horses with friends. He also loved practical jokes, all played in good taste and humour. From the outside, he looked like any other young man: there are photos showing him laughing, drinking and playing with his friends. While doing all these light-hearted and active things, he often shared his spiritual life with his friends, spreading joy to them through the ordinary moments of life. He advised the youth telling that, “True happiness, young people, does not consist in the pleasures of the world and in earthly things, but in peace of conscience which we can have only if we are pure in heart and in mind”.⁵ Thus he followed the words of St. Vincent that “Perfection doesn’t consist in ecstasies but in doing the Will of God.”⁶

1.3  Prayer and Sacramental Life

Pier Giorgio’s prayer and sacramental life were central to his spiritual journey and helped him to seek holiness in his family’s affluent lifestyle. At an early age, he joined the Marian Sodality and the Apostleship of Prayer, and obtained permission to receive daily Communion, which was rare at the time. He was devoted to prayer and the sacraments. According to him “Prayer is the noble supplication which we lift up to the throne of God. It is the most efficient means to obtain from God the graces which we need, and especially the strength of persevering in these times, in which the hatred of the sons of the devil is breaking out violently against the sheep who are faithful to the fold.”⁷ He often woke up early to attend Mass before school or work, and he would spend his lunch breaks in prayer and reflection. He had a deep love for the Eucharist and regularly participated in Eucharistic adoration. He once said to the youth:

“I urge you with all the strength of my soul to approach the Eucharistic Table as often as possible. Feed on this Bread of the Angels from which you will draw the strength to fight inner struggles, the struggles against passions and against all adversities, because Jesus Christ has promised to those who feed themselves with the most Holy Eucharist, eternal life and the necessary graces to obtain it.”⁸

As in the life of St. Vincent and other great saints, the Holy Eucharist which Pier Giorgio received in the morning helped him to visit houses of the sick and poor. “Jesus comes to me every morning in Communion, and I return the visit by going to serve the poor.”⁹ All his service flowed from an inner closeness to Christ. For him a day without receiving Christ was a day lost in the shadows of despair.

Pier Giorgio was a regular participant in the sacrament of confession, which he saw as a means of spiritual growth and renewal. He wrote to a friend, “Confession is like a kiss from Jesus.”¹⁰ He had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary and often prayed the Rosary. On his bedroom door he attached the prayer Memorare, a prayer to Our Lady. He recognized the importance of spiritual practices in nurturing his relationship with God and strengthening his faith.

2.  Jesus in the Poor

Pier Giorgio’s life was marked by his deep love of God and his commitment to serving others. As a true Vincentian, he saw the face of Christ in the poor and marginalized, and worked tirelessly to alleviate their suffering.¹¹ He was notable for giving literally everything he had to the poor from his childhood onwards.¹²

2.1  Visit to the Sick and the Poor

At the age of 17, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to caring for the poor, the homeless, the sick and the disabled servicemen returning from World War I. As per the rules of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, he loved to visit the poor at home. Once he made an observation to his friend that “I see a special light surrounding the poor and unfortunate; a light that we do not have.”¹³ Even when Pier Giorgio was studying for exams and not taking time to visit his friends, he kept up his visits to the poor whom he was caring for through the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul.¹⁴ His love for the poor is well expressed in one of his answers to his friend who asked him why he travelled on trains in third-class when he could easily afford better, he replied: “I travel third because there isn’t a fourth.”¹⁵

2.2  Humility and Simplicity

The virtues of simplicity and humility helped Pier Giorgio to perceive the face of Christ in the poor and visit them. Simplicity and humility were hallmarks of his life and his approach to the poor and the world. Despite his privileged upbringing, he lived a simple and humble life, giving away much of his wealth to help the poor. He rejected the ideologies of materialism and sought to live a life of detachment from worldly possessions. He lived the life of an ordinary youth of his time rather than engaging in more expensive or luxurious activities. Pier Giorgio was known for his humility and his willingness to serve others without seeking recognition or praise. He believed that if everyone tried to help others in whatever way one can, then the world would be a better place. His practice of simplicity and humility became public only when the news of his death reached the neighbourhood and city. People, including his parents, who were unaware of his activities were astonished by the sight of thousands of crowded people which included the poor and the lonely gathered outside their house on the day of his funeral Mass and burial.

2.3  Person of Beatitudes

Blessed Pier Giorgio exemplified the teachings of the Beatitudes in his life. He showed great humility and meekness, as well as a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness. He was dedicated to peace making. He was deeply committed to his Catholic faith and worked tirelessly to serve others and promote social justice. He had a heart full of compassion for those who were suffering, and he spent much of his free time visiting the sick and the poor. He worked to promote peace and reconciliation in all areas of his life, and he was known for his kindness and gentle spirit.

2.4  Courage and joy

Pier Giorgio faced many challenges and obstacles in his life, including opposition from his family to his involvement in Catholic activism. Nevertheless, he remained steadfast in his convictions and approached life with a joyful spirit, finding joy in his love for God and in his relationships with others. According to him “A Catholic cannot help but be happy; sadness should be banished from their souls. Suffering is not sadness, which is the worst disease. This disease is almost always caused by atheism, but the end for which we are created guides us along life’s pathway, which may be strewn with thorns, but is not sad. It is happy even through suffering.”¹⁶

2.5  Spirit of Sacrifices

In his love for the poor, Pier Giorgio often sacrificed vacations at the summer home in Pollone (outside of Turin). Once he said that “If everybody leaves Turin, who will take care of the poor?”¹⁷ On another occasion he stated that “We must sacrifice everything for everything: our ambitions, indeed our entire selves, for the cause of faith.”¹⁸ He brought medicines, school supplies, food, clothing, anything that was needed, by sacrificing his own comfort. On a particular trip to Vienna, he saw first-hand the poverty-stricken condition of students there. Without hesitation, he gave his travel money to them, saying he could do very well by eating just one meal a day and having just a cup of coffee or milk late in the afternoon.¹⁹

3.  Fight Against Injustice

Pier Giorgio was willing to fight and die, if necessary, to defend Christ and the poor. According to him war was the result of the Christian spirit disappearing from the culture. Hence, he considered his involvement in politics and fighting against injustice as an act of, or extension of, his faith.²⁰

3.1  A Man of Systemic Change

As a Vincentian, Pier Giorgio worked to address the root causes of poverty and injustice using the method of systemic change, though not systematically. He spoke out against the exploitation of workers and the mistreatment of the poor, and he advocated for reforms to improve their lives. He started a newspaper that took seriously the principles in Pope Leo XIII’s famous encyclical Rerum Novarum which speaks about the dignity of human labour and the rights of workers.²¹ He never hesitated to take part in public processions and was arrested on more than one occasion. Physically strong and courageous, he hated violence but was always first in line to defend human dignity.

3.2  Love for Social Justice

Pier Giorgio’s work for justice was a natural extension of his love for God and his neighbour. In 1919, he volunteered regularly with a number of Catholic social justice organizations like the Catholic Student Foundation and the Popular Party, whose principles were based in the Social Doctrine of the Church. He helped to organize strikes and protests to advocate for workers’ rights. He strongly opposed the rise of Fascist leader Mussolini and was jailed in Rome after joining the protest of the Catholic Workers’ Association. He set his faith concretely into action through spirited political activism. As Luciana, sister of Pier Giorgio points out, “Catholic social teaching could never remain simply a theory with him.”²² He often gave away his own possessions to help those in need, and he refused to live a life of privilege while others suffered. He once said, “Charity is not enough; we need social reform.” ²³

4.  Commitment to Evangelization

Pier Giorgio saw his role as a Catholic to be not only to help those in need but also to share the message of the Gospel with others. As he was handsome, vibrant, and natural, many were attracted to him. To them all he shared his faith with ease and openness.²⁴ He sought to bring others to Christ through his words and actions, and saw his involvement in Catholic movements as a way of spreading the Good News. He advised his young friends to share their faith with their friends.²⁵ In the spirit of evangelization, in one of his speeches to his fellow college students he exhorted to get involved in the conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in order to visit the sick and share their faith with them.²⁶

Conclusion

As a matter of fact, Pier Giorgio was a young man who devoted his life to God, while serving those most in need. He combined in a remarkable way political activism and social justice, piety and devotion, humanity and goodness, holiness and daily life.²⁷ According to Luciana, his sister, he gave his whole self, both in prayer and in action, in service to Christ. He was engaged with the poor and had unconditional love for them. In his love for the Eucharist, service to the poor and thirst for social justice, he followed the path of St. Vincent and Blessed Frederic Ozanam. He testifies that holiness is possible for everyone, and that only the revolution of charity can enkindle the hope of a better future in the hearts of people.

Shajan P Joseph CM

Footnotes

¹ John Paul II, Homily on the Beatification Mass of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Rome, May 20, 1990 [https://frassatiusa.org/beatification-homily]

² Pope Francis, Christus Vivit: Post Apostolic Exhortation (2019), # 60.

³ Pope Francis, Christus Vivit: Post Apostolic Exhortation (2019), # 49.

⁴ John Paul II, Homily on the Beatification Mass of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Rome, May 20, 1990 [https://frassatiusa.org/beatification-homily]

⁵ Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s speech to, the members of “Catholic Youth” (meaning young adults) of Pollone, Italy on July 29, 1923. [https://www.usccb.org/topics/youth-and-young-adult-ministries/blessed-pier-giorgio-Pier Giorgio]

⁶ Saint Vincent de Paul: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents; Volumes I to XIV, translated by Pierre Coste, CM, published in the United States by New City Press in 2014. XI, 285.

⁷ Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s speech to, the members of “Catholic Youth” on July 29, 1923.

⁸ Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s speech to, the members of “Catholic Youth” on July 29, 1923.

⁹ Brandon Vogt, “Charity and Faith: Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s Option for the Poor”.

¹⁰ David C. Bellusci, Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio: Truth, Love and Sacrifice (2020) Eugene: Wipf & Stock. P. 57.

¹¹ When his sister, Luciana, got married, she shared with him 1,000 liras from her wedding gifts. Pier Giorgio gave 500 liras to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the other 500 to his club, Cesare Balbo, which was part of the Italian Catholic Student Federation. Later, his father gave him 5,000 liras instead of a car, and Pier Giorgio donated all of it to the new St. Vincent de Paul group in his parish. In other acts of charity, for an old woman evicted from a tenement he found a place to stay, he provided a bed for a tuberculosis sufferer, and he supported three children of a widow who was ill. https://wiki.famvin.org/en/Pier_Giorgio_Pier Giorgio

¹² Once as a child, he answered the door to find a mother begging with her son who was shoeless. He took off his own shoes and gave them to the child.¹² He would even use his bus fare for charity and then run home to be on time for meals. Brandon Vogt, “Charity and Faith: Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s Option for the Poor” Word on Fire, 4 July 2016. [https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/charity-and-faith-pier-giorgio-Pier Giorgios-option-for-the- poor/]

¹³ Brandon Vogt, “Charity and Faith: Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s Option for the Poor”.

¹⁴ https://www.ssvpglobal.org/blessed-pier-giorgio-Pier Giorgio/

¹⁵ Brandon Vogt, “Charity and Faith: Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s Option for the Poor”.

¹⁶ Diocese of Westminster Youth Ministry, “32 Inspiring Quotes by Blessed Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio”

¹⁷ https://Pier Giorgiousa.org/Pier Giorgio-biography

¹⁸ Diocese of Westminster Youth Ministry, “32 Inspiring Quotes by Blessed Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio” https://dowym.com/voices/pier-giorgio-Pier Giorgio-quotes/.

¹⁹ Christine M. Wohar, “Blessed Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio, the Truly Rich Young Man” in Catholic Exchange, 6 April 2022. [https://catholicexchange.com/pier-giorgio-Pier Giorgio-the-rich-young-man/]

²⁰ https://Pier Giorgiousa.org/his-political-involvement

²¹ https://wiki.famvin.org/en/Pier_Giorgio_Pier Giorgio

²² Renae Kranz, “Blessed Pier Giorgio: the man of the beatitudes” in The Bishop’s Bulletin: Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, November 2, 2021 [https://www.sfcatholic.org/bishopsbulletin/blessed-pier-giorgio-the-man-of-the- beatitudes-2/]

²³ Brandon Vogt, “Charity and Faith: Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s Option for the Poor”.

²⁴ https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/pier-giorgio-frassati-410

²⁵ “Young people, approach your colleagues at work who live their lives away from the Church and spend their free time not in healthy pastimes, but in vices. Persuade those unfortunate people to follow the ways of God, strewn with many thorns, but also many roses.” Pier Giorgio Pier Giorgio’s speech to, the members of “Catholic Youth” on July 29, 1923.

²⁶ “I don’t know if you are all aware what these institutions are that were so marvellously conceived […]. It is a simple institution suitable for students because it does not involve commitment apart from being in a particular place one day a week and then visiting two or three families every week. You will see, in just a little time, how much good we can do to those we visit and how much good we can do to ourselves”. https://www.ssvpglobal.org/blessed-pier-giorgio-Pier Giorgio/

²⁷ https://www.ssvpglobal.org/blessed-pier-giorgio-frassati/