"I left my heart on the mountain peaks. I hope to retrieve it this summer when I climb Mount Blanc!" So wrote the handsome, gifted and much-loved friend of the poor, Pier Giorgio Frassati, shortly before his sudden death from polio on July 4th, 1925. He was not yet 25. His tragic death was mourned by thousands, especially by the poor for whom he was counsellor, brother, and most generous friend. As a faithful member of the St Vincent de Paul Society, his motto was: "My masters are the poor!"
He was born in April 1901. His father was founder-editor of the liberal, left-wing paper La Stampa, a senator, and Ambassador of Italy to Germany. He had all the advantages of a wealthy and highly educated family and was popular in the university where he graduated in mining engineering. He hoped to marry and go to South America as a lay missionary. He was an ardent Alpine climber, an expert swimmer and horseman, and prominent in the rowing clubs of his college.
He saw the threat of the fascist movements and of all the Mussolini propaganda which he and other leading students opposed. In 1921 he and several companions were arrested by fascist police in Rome during a convention of Catholic Youth. He could see the terrible dangers ahead and the threat to the peace and stability of Italy.
He also saw the sad divisions between rich and poor and the shameful exploitation of the working class - as widespread in Italy then as in Ireland. When he joined the Dominican Order (in its special branch for lay-folk, women and men) he took as his patron the saintly and courageous Dominican, Jerome Savanarola, who was resented by the powerful and put to death. Pier Giorgio said the Scripture Rosary Prayer in preparation for his daily Eucharist. In prayer and Scripture and Sacrament he learned to listen to Christ, and to the cry of the poor. He realised how sad a mockery it was to praise Christ (with words of mouth) in Church and then ignore them and insult Him by injustice to workers and by neglect of the poor. The Christian message was, he realised, most shamefully betrayed.
He supported several poor families with his own funds and got friends to do likewise. On graduation day his proud father offered him as expensive car or money. He chose the money and promptly gave it to the poor. (He himself always walked or used public transport.) While in Berlin, with his ambassador father, he gave his costly new overcoat to a poor man on a night when the temperature was 12 degrees below zero. "But, dad, that poor man was cold!" was his comment.
He was noted for complete freedom from jealousy, resentment and any form of foolish pride, which he looked on as a form of sickness and folly. Pope John Paul, another man of the mountains, calls to us: "I want to draw attention to his work for the St Vincent de Paul Society and for Catholic Action of which he was a most attractive exponent. His witness was so effective because he was fully committed to Christ. He was faithful to the Church. He was generous in sincere missionary zeal. His example still shines for us today."
On the day he placed Pier Giorgio among the saints (May 20th, 1990) the Pope reminded us: "He shows that holiness is possible for everyone and that only a revolution in charity can enkindle now the hope of a better future in the hearts of all."
We may not climb the Alps. Rather we run our marathon of life on much lower ground. We too listen to our Master: "I was hungry! I was thirsty! I was sick! I was in prison! And where were you?"
Pier Giorgio Frassati, young, gifted and radiant, opens anew for us the Scriptures and invites us to look at our lives and give ear to the call of Christ. The time is now. (For further information apply to the Associazione Pier Giogio Frassati, Via Anicia 12, 00153 Roma.)