Feast Day: July 4
Patron Saint of the Beatitudes, Young Adults, World Youth Day
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin, Italy, on April 6, 1901, to a wealthy family. His father owned a political newspaper and his mother was an artist. Frassati had an early inclination to help others as a child. Although he was an average student, his peers knew him for his devotion to others and social action. He would lead a young life full of charity, prayer, and building community. He was involved in several Catholic youth groups and student groups. He was constantly reminding others to look beyond charity and put that work into action and reform as well. Frassati often lived by example by giving his allowance money to others that needed it more, like providing train fare for the poor.
Frassati belonged to many organizations and remained an active member in each one. He was always willing to stand up for what he believed in, including fighting against early fascist governments in the 1920s. A member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, Frassati also studied the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Paul the Apostle. In 1918, he joined the Saint Vincent de Paul group and devoted his life to helping the poor. He began studying mining engineering in hopes of using this work “to serve Christ better among miners.” His father gave him a big monetary gift at graduation, and he donated the money to serve the poor.
Frassati would continue living his life to serve others. He was a man of many talents including mountain-climbing and swimming. After a boating outing in 1925, Frassati began complaining of sharp pains in his back, and would later be diagnosed with polio. His condition worsened very quickly and he passed away on July 4, 1925. Frassati’s mother told many friends and family about his funeral. She was shocked to find thousands of people lining the streets to pay their respects. These were all the people Frassati had helped over the years.
He was buried in the Frassati burial plot and later transferred to the Turin Cathedral in 1981. It was then that officials discovered his remains were incorrupt. He would later be beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990. He called Frassati the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes" and invited young people to follow his example, saying that it is worth committing oneself for God. Many schools and youth organizations have been named after Frassati and he is considered the patron saint of young Catholics and World Youth Day.
