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| Frassati in his father's office – c. 1920 |
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati lived between 1901 to 1925 and was born in Turin, Italy and his family was wealthy and prominent. He was known to be athletic, joyful and adventurous and he loved to climb mountains, watch theatre, opera and read literature. He had a deep spiritual life and a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. He led his friends in spiritual exercises like the daily Mass and the Rosary. In 1918 he joined the St Vincent de Paul Society and in 1922 he became a Lay Dominican. He had a political interest and resisted fascism and communism, he also took part in public demonstrations and joined religious political organisations (Catholic Students Federation and Catholic Action). He spent time caring for the sick and poor though his parents would punish him when they caught him donating his money and possessions. At the age of 24, he contracted polio and died six days later. At his funeral, his parents were shocked to find thousands of the city's poor arriving to pay respect. Pope St John Paul II called him a man of the beatitudes during his beatification in 1990.
