Every year at the Festival of Life, the relics of a Saint are present to unite Earth and Heaven in a single prayer of praise and intercession to the God of Life.
This year, we have the honor of welcoming a young Blessed from the Piedmont region, Pier Giorgio Frassati (April 6, 1901 – July 4, 1925), a figure of ardent and captivating holiness, proclaimed Blessed by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1990 and, as announced by Pope Francis, to be canonized in the Jubilee Year of 2025.
Born in Turin to one of the city’s most prominent families (his father, Alfredo Frassati, was among the founders of the newspaper “La Stampa”), he dedicated his entire life to the less fortunate. A steadfast Christian, devoted to the Rosary and the Eucharist, firm in his deep convictions, a friend of the poor, an ever-relevant role model for young people, a lover of the mountains and nature, a lively young man, and a student who enjoyed jokes and laughter with friends. In his short life, he intensely experienced the encounter with Christ and the beauty of a happy, radiant, and resurrected life!
He died at the age of only twenty-four, struck down by polio, but his life left a precious legacy. His liturgical feast is celebrated on July 4th.
Morì a soli ventiquattro anni, stroncato da una poliomielite, ma la sua vita ha lasciato un’eredità preziosa. La sua ricorrenza liturgica si celebra il 4 luglio.
We will have the honor of having the ice axe that belonged to Blessed Frassati, who had a particular love for the mountains with us during the Festival of Life.
He used to say, “With each passing day, I fall more and more in love with the mountains; their charm attracts me. I understand this desire for sunshine, climbing higher, and finding God at the summit. Oh, how great and wonderful are the works of God! I would love to spend entire days in the mountains, contemplating the greatness of the Creator in that pure air.” And with his friends, he would often use the phrase: “To The Heights…” indicating to them the true direction of life!
We invoke his intercession now for all Festival of Life 2024 participants.
You can send us your thanksgiving and/or prayer requests here. Every day, we will pray intensely for them and place them in the chapel, at the feet of Jesus in the Eucharist, next to the relic of this saint.
