July 7, 2024 - "Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati"

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born on April 6, 1901 (which was Holy Saturday that year) to Alfredo Frassati, an agnostic who owned the noted liberal newspaper La Stampa) and Adélaide Ametis, a noted painter.  His only sister was his sister Luciana Gawronska.  As a young man he was nicknamed the “Terror” because of his fondness for practical jokes. He was an average student in school, but he was known among his peers for his intelligence (and even more so for his devotion.  He was dedicated to works of social action that would unite people together in fellowship as a way to combat inequalities.  He was opposed to fascism and did not support the regime of Benito Mussolini.  He was once arrested while protesting alongside the 1921 Young Catholic Workers Congress.

 

In May 1922, he became a professed member of Third Order Dominicans (Lay Dominicans) and devoted himself to the writings of Saints Thomas Aquinas and Catherine of Siena.  He also was inspired by the teachings of Saint Paul, whom he would mention in his writings.

 

Pier Giorgio often remarked that “Charity was not enough; we need social reform.” He helped to establish a newspaper entitled Momento whose guiding principles were based on Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum.  He became a member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in 1918 and spent a lot of time helping the poor and less fortunate.  That same year he began his studies in engineering so that he could become a mining engineer.  He chose this career path as a way he could “serve Christ better among the miners.”  Upon graduation his father offered him a car or a sizeable sum of money.  He chose the sum of money, which he chose to give to the poor rather than keep it for himself.  He provided a bed tuberculosis patient, supported the three children of a widow who was ill, and found a place for a woman who was homeless. During the course of his studies, he became attracted to a girl owing to her candor and goodness.  He did not date her because he was apprehensive his parents would not approve of her because of her social status.

 

He was an avid mountaineer and athlete who could swim well.  He could recite passages from Dante’s Divine Comedy. He frequented theatres and museums with friends whenever he had the opportunity to do so.

 

On June 30, 1925, he began to complain of sharp pains in his back muscles.  On July 1, 1925, he returned home with a severe headache and a fever.  On that same day, his maternal grandmother died.  He did not complain of his condition because his mother was consumed with grief over the death of her mother and the necessary arrangements for her funeral.  On July 2, a doctor was summoned to examine him.  When the doctor asked Pier Giorgio if he could get up, he replied that he couldn’t move.  After the doctor examined him, the doctor determined Pier Giorgio had contracted polio.  His conditioned worsened and at 7:00 p.m. on July 4, 1925, he died.

 

His parents had expected the elite and politicians of Turin to offer their condolences as well as many of his friends.  His parents were very surprised that the streets were lined with thousands of mourners because of his kindness toward so many.  

 

His parents had no idea of the good their son had done in his short life.  He was buried in the Frassati plot at the Pollone Cimitero.  His remains were later transferred to the Turin Cathedral in 1981.  When they were inspected at the time of transfer to the Cathedral, they were found to be corrupt.

 

The poor of Turin began to petition the Archbishop of Turin to begin the cause for his canonization.  The archbishop undertook a thorough examination of his life and concluded the informative process in October 1935 after collecting a range of documentation and witness testimonies.  Next, theologians examined his writings to make sure there were no doctrinal errors contained in them.  The theologians cleared them in December 1938. A setback to the cause came in 1941 when Pius XII suspended the cause when allegations were made questioning his morals and claiming he went to the mountains in mixed questionable company. Sometime later his sister went to Rome to discuss this with Vatican officials to rehabilitate his good name.  The allegations were proven false and the cause was resumed.

 

The formal cause was introduced under Pope Saint Paul VI in 1978.  Pope Saint John Paul II beatified him in St. Peter’s Square on May 20, 1990. On April 26, 2024, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect for the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, announced at the National Assembly of Catholic Action in Italy that he expected Blessed Pier Giorgio to be canonized in 2025.  In recent days Pope Francis has said the same thing.  We are waiting for word as to when the canonization will take place.

 

Until next week…….Fr. John