ST. LOUISE DE MARILLAC COLLEGE OF SORSOGON, INC.

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

Roseann A. Maraña
MAEd – Educational Management

BL. PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

April 6, 1901 – July 4, 1925

Feast Day: July 4

Bl. Pier Giorgio was known for

his joy and jokes, his athleticism,

his care for the poor, his political

activism, his selflessness, and for

challenging his friends to virtue.

His life illustrates that the words

faithful, virtuous, joyful, zealous,

athletic, studious, and servant can

all be used to describe a person who is animated by the Gospel message of

Jesus Christ.

A Brief Chronology of Bl. Pier Giorgio’s Life

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati was born on April 6, 1901 in Turing, Italy.

He was the son of Alfred and Adelaide Frassati. He made his first Holy

Communion in 1911 and received permission to receive Holy Communion

daily in 1913. He was enrolled in the Faculty of Industrial Mechanical

Engineering at the Royal Polytechnic of Turin declaring a specialization in

mining engineering in year 1918.

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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

During year 1919, he was enrolled in the Italian Catholic Students

Federation and in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He attended the Young

Catholic Workers Congress in Rome in 1921 and is arrested during a

demonstration. 1922, he became a Dominican Tertiary taking for his patron

the Dominican Priest Girolamo Savanarola.

July 4, 1925, his birth into eternal life, he had contracted

poliomyelitis while serving the sick and poor in Turin. He was beatified by

Blessed John Paul II on May 20, 1990.

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.

A. Childhood Attempt to Grow in Holiness

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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

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.

B. Ordinary Life Made Extraordinary

Pier Giorgio’s lifestyle was like any ordinary youth of his time, 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”. Thus,

he followed the words of St. Vincent that “Perfection doesn’t consist in

ecstasies but in doing the Will of God.”

C. 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
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Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

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.” 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.”

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.” 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.

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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

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.” 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.

D. 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.

He was notable for giving literally everything he had to the poor from his

childhood onwards.

E. 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.”1Even 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.
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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

Vincent de Paul. 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.”

F. 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 neighborhood 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.

G. Person of Beatitudes
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GRADUATE SCHOOL
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S.Y. 2023-2024

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.

H. 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.”

I. 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
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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

that “We must sacrifice everything for everything: our ambitions, indeed our

entire selves, for the cause of faith.” 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.

J. 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.

K. 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

labor and the rights of workers. He never hesitated to take part in public

processions and was arrested on more than one occasion. Physically strong
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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

and courageous, he hated violence but was always first in line to defend

human dignity.

L. 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.” 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.”

M. 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. 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

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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

friends to share their faith with their friends. 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.

Roseann A. Maraña
MAEd – Educational Management

REFLECTION:

As a student studying Vincentian Heritage, I made a research on the

life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati as one of the requirements in my subject.

I made a comprehensive reading on his life and dig into the details on his

commitment in serving God. Bl. Pier Giorgio 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.

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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
S.Y. 2023-2024

As I read the life of Bl. Pier Giorgio, it made me reflect on my life,

both in the past and in present. I am 26 and living my life to the fullest, in

contrary to his life, at age of 24, he rested in eternal peace. Despite of his short

existence, he made sure to live his purpose, both for man and for God and this

fact about him made me realized that we should not be afraid to stand for

others and open ourselves, extending help and sharing blessing to those in

need.

I remember myself as I started in early age as well, serving my

community and chapel. I have been engaged in various activities for the kids,

youth and even in elderly at age of 12. It is really fulfilling to do things for

others and doing things that I love. I had the opportunity to share my talent

and story to touch someone’s life.

Bl. Pier Giorgio opened my eyes that giving is the best and it will

always be better to do something, either it be small or big, than doing nothing

at all.

Furthermore, after my sincere reflection, I know that I should continue

the things that I already started, I should not doubt the plans that God ready for

me, I will continue to help in any way possible however, not compromising

my health as it is what I need to continue. I will continue to seek for God’s

guidance and protection so that I can be the child He wants me to be. From

this day forward, I will be more open to social issues and be able to be the

voice for those who cannot speak, allowing God to use my voice to inspire and

influence others.
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GRADUATE SCHOOL
Burgos St. Talisay, Sorsogon City
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Lastly, as a living individual I should not be afraid to help others, as

God blesses more those who offer themselves to others. I should serve my

purpose during my presence on earth and I should not hesitate to believe in the

goodness of people as what Christ did for me, offering his life to save me,

believing in me.