Getting to know Pier Giorgio was one of the most rewarding journeys. He is such an example for young people, and I believe more young people should know him. He showed me what a young person could be, no matter how young you are, you can make a difference and bring people to God.
-Laura Jean
Our Maronite Youth in Sydney created a Frassati Group. It organises events that allow our youth to go on adventures and find God in nature etc. We lost a friend last Year who was part of this group. He showed the same amazing qualities of Bl. Pier Giorgio. He lived life to the full and touched so many people he met.
-Constance
I looked to Pier Giorgio at a difficult point in my life. I was in college and trying to find my identity and find my way in life. I mean that figuratively and literally. One day, I found myself lost in the woods by myself (in the rain, of course). While considering giving up or turning back, I heard the words "Verso l'Alto" come into my head. With Pier Giorgio's encouragement, I didn't give up. I climbed the hill in front of me, wandered through woods and deserted roads, and eventually found my way to the next town. Ever since, I continued looking to Pier Giorgio for guidance and support, and he has been such all inspiration to me. My wife is now pregnant with our first child and, if God gives us a boy, we will name him Giorgio!
-Jimmy
Our family came to know Blessed Pier Giorgio through the many inspirational books about his life. He has also influenced the lives of the young people I have traveled with to WYD in Germany, and Poland. His witness to our beautiful Catholic faith in such a vigorous, youthful, and powerful way, touches the heart of the youth in particular and in turn their families. His selflessness and profound love for Christ is so evident, that I have seen many young people's hearts turn to Christ when they hear his life story.
-Ellen
When I was a Seminarian I learned about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. I have had a devotion to him since. As a seminarian I served as Vice President of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Confraternity. As a priest I helped to found Frassati Heights. Frassati is a great role model for young people. If he were to be made a Saint many more young people would get to know him and through his intercession they will get to know Jesus.
-Adaly
St. Pope JPII said he was "a man of the beatitudes." Pier Giorgio was a young man, who loved hiking and having fun. His virtue inspires me to keep close to Jesus. And his example gives me hope to know that I can become virtuous too, if I stay close to Jesus just like Pier Giorgio did!
-Claire
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati has been such a great intercession for our relationship!!
-Danika
I went on pilgrimage to Pollone Spring of 2017 and I loved it. We went to morning mass and then hiked from his home up to the top of the mountains. It was the best mix of prayer and normalcy I think I have ever experienced. I had so much fun! So many young people see that they need the Love of the Lord and His healing, but I tend to forget how much fun we can have with Him. I haven't had any big struggle where I've turned to Bl. Pier Giorgio, but I have in a lot of little things. When I'm unsure of the future, when I would rather do something else than pray, when my family is really struggling, then I turn to Bl. Pier Giorgio as a friend. I long to share in his intense love for the Eucharist and his trust in the Lord to live day by day.
-Emily
Last year my sister and I both went to world youth day, but with separate groups. Before the trip she had rad the biography in Blessed Pier Giorgio and had shared it with our young adult group. We had been in Poland for about four to five days and still hadn't seen each other, when on the day of kick off both of our groups decided to visit the church where Bl.Pier Giorgio's relics were. As my group was walking in her group was walking out. This was truly a blessing for us and while we were standing there talking we even said hey thank you Pier!
-Mary
My family has known Pier Giorgio for years! Our 8th child, out of 11, is Pier Giorgio. My husband and a group of father and sons traveled to Italy, met Wanda, and participated in Mass in his bedroom! His example of Holiness is what all young men/women should stive for. We love Pier Giorgio and hope to always follow in his footsteps: play hard, pray hard! Amen
-Karen
I first came to know Pier Giorgio through some good Catholic friends I met at college. Last month I finished reading "A Man of the Beatitudes", which was written by his sister Luciana and it was thought-provoking to say the least! He was seeking holiness with every ounce of his being and trying to take as many people with him as he could! He could of allowed his station in life, as a heir in rich and prominent family, to turn him into an arrogant and spoiled young man. But, he had the rare strength of character to deny himself the pleasures of this world so that he could give all--not just some, not just pocket change, but ALL --of what he had to others. I wish I could say that after praying, I have some great miraculous moment to attribute to Bl. Pier Giorgio, but I don't. What I do have is greater desire to go to mass, to serve God, to sacrifice my will for the good of others, and to use my gifts and talents in secular society as a cultural missionary of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, he touched my life in that way that he has touched so many others -- by inspiring us to use whatever God has given us, be it time, talent, inheritance, opportunity, etc. and use it to further God's kingdom here on Earth.
-Cecilia
I read about Georgio about 20 years ago and I feel he has been guiding to God for many years now.
-Chris
How many of us - if given his prestige, wealth, influence, charm, intelligence, athleticism - would radically use these to give glory to God and to serve others? What an incredible life.
-Eric
Bl. Pier Giorgio has been my companion since I was 18 or 19. The chaplain of my Knights of columbus council stopped me one night and said, "Hey, I've got an extr copy of this book. You might like it."
As I grew older it wasn't an extra copy, he bought it for me the young catholic man. I've tried my best to continue that and have handed books out to others in hopes that Bl. Pier Giorgio will have the same impact.
Even today, he is the background of my phone, a reminder for To pray for "...an iron will..."
Verso L'alto!!
-Timothy
Pier Giorgio has been an amazing role model in my life, his faith and youth is so inspiring and gives me hope. He has shown me that it doesn't take great things to be a saint, I just takes great love. Blessed Pier Giorgio, Pray for Us!
-Andrew
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati has had a significant impact on my faith journey as a young man. His example shows me that I can strive for holiness in my day to day life and bring others with me along the way. A few years ago I was blessed to have an opportunity to visit Pollone, Italy. During my visit I was able to stay at his house and hike in the mountains that he used to hike. This trip had a tremendous impact on my faith and encouraged me to continually strive for holiness. For me and many of my friends I believe that Frassati exemplifies an otherwise ordinary life lived for others in an extraordinary way!
Verso l'alto
-Austin
I recently made a pilgrimage to the sites connected with Bl. Pier Giorgio, especially Turin, Pollone, and the Oropa Shrine. Before this trip, I knew little about Bl. Pier Giorgio except for what looked to me like the "patron saint of having a good time" in his photographs. During the pilgrimage, though, I got to know a saint who was truly moved by God's grace to give witness to the life of grace before us. Learning the story of his family, it became clear that the impetus to prayer, evangelization, and works of charity came directly from God. We need his intercession now, more than ever, to bring God's grace into the life of our young people.
-Rev. Peter
When I was 16, I was about to be confirmed and had to choose a saint to take as my patron. I was reading about several different holy men and women, but out of everyone, it was Pier Giorgio that stood out to me as someone I could relate to and aspire to be like. I wanted something to confirm that this was the right choice. So I prayed for some kind of sign. As I read more about his story, an article mentioned that his father owned the La Stampa news paper company. This name sounded incredibly familiar to me but I couldn't figure out why. Later, I went into my parents bedroom, and there it was. A La Stampa news paper resting inside a suitcase on the floor. The paper had Pope Benedicts picture on the cover and read "Habemus papem". It was from our trip to Rome from the previous year when the new Pope had been elected. The number of events that had to happen just for that moment makes for one heck of a coincidence if you ask me. Needless to say, this was all the confirmation I needed and I chose Bl. Pier Giorgio as my patron for confirmation. He's been a constant reminder of the importance of working with and building up the youth and is part of the reason why I became a college missionary.
-Garrett
Pier Giorgio has been an inspiration to me since I came to know him a decade ago (thanks to my bishop), and as a lay pastoral leader in the Church in the United States (on the parish, diocesan, and national levels), Pier Giorgio has been my patron for the work that I do with young adults. His intercession has done marvelous things for me, for my ministry work, and for the young people that I have served over the years. His wonderful ability to balance his spiritual life with his social life, his service to God and his service to the poor, his holy ambition to keep going higher ("to the heights") and his still presence in the company of the impoverished, his friends and family, and the Lord in adoration, is something I strive for in my life. His "holy balance" is something so necessary in my life and in today's world, which can often feel unbalanced. His ability to be extraordinary in ordinary things gives me hope for my own sanctity and journey towards holiness. As a lay Church leader, as a young person, and as a fellow Catholic on pilgrimage to the Kingdom of God, Pier Giorgio Frassati has been my constant companion, inspiration, and guide.
-Paul
Even though I am no longer consider a "young" person, I I feel that Bl. Pier Giorgio is an inspirational role model for all people, especially Lay Dominicans. He showed us how we can assist the poor and marginalized around us. The more I read about his life the more I become inspired to be more active in areas of social justice.
As a Lay Dominican, I hoped that during 2014 celebration of the Lay Dominicans during the 9 Year Novena leading to the 2016 800th Jubilee Celebration of the Founding of the Order of Preachers that Bl. Pier Giorgio would be canonized as a tribute to his being a Lay Dominican. I had the same hope during the 2016 Jubilee year.
It is essential that the young people have a saint who resembles them, lived like they do, and had same modern day struggles they have. He went to school like they do. He socialized with his friends. He always found time for God even with his busy social life. His life can inspire to spread their love God to all those around them, especially the poor and marginalized.
He is an example of the Catholic which Pope Francis asks us to be in EVANGELII GAUDIUM, his homilies, his General Audiences, and his example of how to live as a Catholic in this world. At the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, the announcement of his canonization would be blessed proclamation for all the young people, the young at heart, and Lay Dominicans. May the Holy Spirit inspire encourage the canonization of Bl. Pier Giorgio's canonization.
-Jo Ann
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