Happy Feast Day!

 

Today, 97 years ago, a young man, aged only twenty four, lay on his deathbed. He was dying from polio, which he had contracted while helping the poor of Turin. 

His family did not realize he was seriously ill until only a couple days before his death. This was because his grandmother had just died, and also because he did not complain of pain and was reluctant to draw attention to his own sufferings. 

Finally, after enduring excruciating pain while paralyzed, Pier Giorgio Frassati died on the fourth of July 1925. 

I cannot possibly describe how beautiful and holy his death was, I strongly advice reading the last chapter in Man of the Beatitudes by Pier Giorgio's sister, Luciana. You can borrow it for free on internet archive. 

Americans will associate the fourth of July, with freedom and liberty. Well, I think it was an appropriate day for him to die on, because then, on the day of his death, he became truly free. Free from the sufferings he had borne, his own and others. For Pier Giorgio never let a person go by without helping them if he could, and helping comes with costs. At last he was free. 

There were thousands at his funeral. His parents were shocked by the sheer number. They never realized how many lives their son had touched until it was too late. Thousands of people had their lives changed for the better by this twenty four year old. Who, although he died young, lived life to its fullest. 

Heavenly Father, grant us the courage to strive for the highest goals. To flee every temptation to be mediocre. Enable us to aspire to greatness like Pier Giorgio did and to open our hearts with joy to Thy call to holiness. Free us from the fear of failure. We ask the grace through the intercession of Bl Pier Giorgio, by the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pray For Us!