Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin, Italy in 1901. By the time he was 17, he was very devoted to his Catholic faith. He joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society in order to minister to the poor, the orphaned, and the injured veterans who had served in World War I.
Saint Pier went to college to study mining and as he said, “to bring Christ to the miners.” He joined Catholic political organizations and worked tirelessly against fascism. When he was 20 years old, he organized a world wide convention of Catholic students working for universal peace.
Saint Pier loved mountain climbing. His personal motto was “Verso L’Alto,” which means “To the Heights.” “To the Heights” is an expression not only for mountain climbing but also an expression of Saint Pier Giorgio’s faith life. He was always striving to become closer to Jesus and to live his faith more fully by receiving the sacraments, bringing his friends to church, praying the Rosary, and caring for the poor.
Just before Saint Pier was to graduate from college, he became ill with poliomyelitis. He died in 1925, at the age of 24. In 1981, Saint Pier Giorgio’s body was found to be completely incorrupt, that means without any decay or decomposition. His remains were then moved to the cathedral in Turin.
In 1990, Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II. Unofficially, Saint Pier Giorgio is considered to be a patron saint for Catholic youth, mountain climbers, skiers, and more. Let us ask Saint Pier Giorgio to help us turn our hobbies and passions into tools that will help us get closer to Jesus and help us to live lives of holiness.