Abp. Listecki on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Frassati Day is named after Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, whose life spanned a mere 24 short years (April 6, 1901 to July 4, 1925) but who had an amazing impact on his city of Turin, Italy, and his contemporaries. He fought the fascists and struggled to provide for the needy by advocating social reforms. He was beatified by Blessed John Paul II on May 20, 1990. Pope John Paul II knew the importance of presenting examples for the young individuals who made a difference despite their age.

It is the power of the Gospel that changes our lives and affects the lives of others. Pier Giorgio knew the importance of living the faith:

“Each of you knows that the foundation of our faith is charity. Without it, our religion would crumble. We will never be truly Catholic, unless we conform our entire lives to the two commandments that are the essence of the Catholic faith: to love the Lord, our God, with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.”  

“With charity, we sow the seeds of that true peace which only our faith in Jesus Christ can give us by making us all brothers and sisters. I know that this way is steep, and difficult, and strewn with thorns, while at first glance the other path seems easier, more pleasant, and more satisfying. But the fact is, if we could look into the hearts of those who follow the perverse paths of this world, we would see that they lack the serenity that comes to those who have faced a thousand difficulties and who have renounced material pleasure to follow God’s law.
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