Illuminated By Joy

  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...

Hello everyone!  So, you all have probably guessed by now that Bl Pier Giorgio is a favourite of mine, considering how many of his quotes I've dropped in posts. Well, I thought that maybe a good place to introduce you all a bit more to him is to tell you how I came to know him.  On Goodreads once a book was recommended to me called To The Heights by Brian Kennelly. I clicked on it. On the cover was a young man on top of a mountain. I read the summary and was intrigued.  Enter the heart of a passionate young man, who in his brief life reached the heights of adventure, friendship—and sanctity.   Born to a wealthy family in Turin at the dawn of the 20th century, Pier Giorgio Frassati was good-looking, popular and athletic. He spent much of his youth climbing the rugged Italian Alps, disappearing into the clouds for days at a time. He was quick with a joke or a prank and enjoyed a good time. It seemed he was blessed with everything a young man could ask for. ...

 Sometimes it's easy to become complacent. In our own spiritual lives yes, but also in regards to the world.  We can become complacent about the world in two ways: 1. "The world is evil, it always has been, and there's nothing I can do about it." 2. "The world's not so bad, people do wicked things yes, but they are hurting and are right in their hearts." They are both dangerous in their own way, and sometimes we need a jolt to start us out of them. The first is wrong because, although the world as a whole is evil, every single person was created to be a saint by God, and it is never too late until they draw their last breathq. We must have hope for the world.  The second is wrong because, actually, a lot of people aren't right on their hearts. Despite all the 'be nice' talk going around, the world is getting crueler and crueler. Violence, abortion, sexual immorality, revenge, gossip, and selfishness are all increasing.  I was unconsciously in...

 Hello everyone and welcome to Illuminated By Joy!  I hope you find that this blog will be an informative and fun resource for Catholic teenagers.  I started this blog to help Catholic teens . Grow in their faith . Navigate an increasingly anti-Catholic world . Find resources aimed at Catholic teenagers . Create a space where they can meet others like them and have fun together.  But most of all this blog was started to help teens be good and heroic Catholics while they are in their teen years.  So what kinds of posts will there be? I plan on a good mix of serious and fun discussions. There will be theological rambles, book and movie reviews, tips, encouragement, commentary on recent events, and whatever else you can think of! This blog is called Illuminated by Joy from a wonderful quote by Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati: The end for which we are created invites us to walk a road that is surely sown with a lot of thorns, but it is not sad; through even the sorrow...