Faith Filled Friday: Blessed Pier Giorgio’s Letter to a Friend

This is a letter written almost exactly one hundred years ago from Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to a friend.  We know that it was written early in the year 1925 since the letter in the opening paragraph refers to the year of Jubilee, and 1925 is the only year Frassati lived that had a Jubilee year.  From the reference to Advent, which seems to have just passed, the letter must have been written early in the year, possibly January or February.  Later this year, Blessed Pier Giorgio will be fully canonized into a saint. 

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was a young man from Turin, Italy who came from a prominent family but spent his spare time and money secretly helping the poor. He was a devout young Catholic, a mining engineer, a Lay Dominican, a social activist, a jokester, a mountain climber, a pipe and cigar smoker, and a friend to all.  He died at the tender age of 24, but after his death his life of charity became public, even surprising his parents.  He was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1990 and is slated to be canonized this summer by Pope Francis.  There is a website devoted to his memory where you can find a lot more information about his wonderful life.  

 

As a Lay Dominican I hold a special bond with Blessed Pier Giorgio.  Not only was he a Lay Dominican, but also like me he was an engineering student and a person who studied literature and theology.  We have a lot in common.  You will see references to all that in this excerpt of one of his letters, a letter to a friend.  Another thing you could notice in the letter is how affectionate a friend he was.  He starts the letter with some reference to a possible bit of friction with the friend, all of which seems nothing to him. 

 

Dearest friend, no ill feelings, as they are not worthy of the Holy Year; since the Vicar of Christ has indeed opened the Holy Doors I offer you the olive branch which is the sign of peace….In fact, during Advent I prepared for the Holy Year by reading Saint Augustine, reading which I haven’t yet finished, but from which I have received immense happiness, a profound joy, which until now unfortunately had not penetrated my soul.  I’m also doing some literary studies…and then I’ll move to studies of philosophy, if I find a good translation of the works of Thomas Aquinas.  You see that my plans for the Holy Year are grand.  I believe that I had thus found a better way to alternate my boring study of mechanical technology with delightful readings.

 

And what are you doing?  When will you be coming?  Turin is anxious to hear from you….When will you return?

 

The year has begun well, after toasting it with my family I went to Holy Martyrs Church; there in the church, crowded with people, we prayed that there would be peace in Italy and peace among us.  And this peace, which is the burning desire of us all, we hope will come this year in which the graces of the Lord are multiplied….

 

I am delighted to close my student career in such a beautiful year.  And now I should bid you farewell, because study is calling me back to work and meanwhile all the best for a good prosecution, best wishes above all that you will always possess the True Peace, which is the best gift that one can possess on this earth.

The excerpt comes from the magazine Magnificat, January 2025 (Vol. 26, No. 11) edition, pages 130-31.

I love this excerpt.  We see so much into his personality.  He was studious like a good Dominican should be, and he was very gregarious and very humble.  When I pray for the well being of my friends, I appeal to the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.  I don’t know if he will have this patronage, but I consider him the patron saint of friendship.  If I had realized at the time, I might have taken the name Pier Giorgio as my Lay Dominican name.  If you are a friend of mine, I have put you in my prayers through the intercession of Pier Giorgio.

I had the good fortune last year to come across a rosary with the centerpiece comprising of a picture of Pier Giorgio and a relic (third class I think) of his.  I have been using it at my Lay Dominican chapter meetings for the praying of our rosary.  Here is a picture of it.  First with the front of his centerpiece, and second of the flip side.

The relic side states “Ex Indumentis” which is Latin for “from the clothes.”  Apparently it’s from a piece from his clothing.

Sadly, Pier Giorgio would pass away later in the year of 1925, on the fourth of July, I think. 

Blessed Pier Giorgio, soon to be saint, pray for us and pray for my friends.