Pope St. John Paul II called Pier Giorgio Frassati a "Man of the Beatitudes" at his beatification in 1990. Pier Giorgio Frassati was an amazing young man. He is now a great young saint. Well, almost - he is a "blessed".
There are a ton of great quotes from Blessed Frassati. Even though Frassati lived only a short life - he died at 24 - many of his letters and other writings have been preserved.
I have curated below some of the best Pier Giorgio Frassati quotes. These Frassati quotes are organized into categories to help you, like the Eucharist, Nature, Happiness, etc. (some quotes fits in multiple categories). Enjoy!
Biography of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
Pier Giorgio Michelangelo Frassati was born in Turin, Italy on April 6, 1901.
Frassati was an avid mountain climber and often went to the theater, to the opera, and to museums. He loved art and music, and could recite whole passages from the poet Dante.
Though he only lived to the age of 24, Frassati packed his short life with great works of charity. In 1922, Frassati joined the Lay Dominicans (Third Order of St. Dominic). He took the name Girolamo after his hero, Renaissance preacher and Catholic reformer Girolamo Savonarola. Frassati loved Savonarola's fiery preaching. He wrote to a friend, "I am a fervent admirer of this friar, who died as a saint at the stake."
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is a favorite among youth groups. Frassati is the patron of youth of all kinds: students, young Catholics, mountaineers, youth groups, Catholic Action, Dominican tertiaries, and World Youth Day.
Pier Giorgio Frassati's feast day is July 4th.
For a full biography of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, check out my book, Blessed Is He Who ...: Models of Catholic Manhood. I collaborated on this book with historian Brian J. Costello.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on CHARITY
God gives us health so that we may serve the sick.
In a world gone astray from God there is no peace, but it also lacks charity, which is true and perfect love.
Nothing is more beautiful than love. Indeed, faith and hope will end when we die, whereas love, that is, charity, will last for eternity; if anything, I think it will be even more alive in the next life!
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on the EUCHARIST
I urge you with all the strength of my soul to approach the Eucharistic Table as often as possible. Feed on this Bread of the Angels from which you will draw the strength to fight inner struggles.
Jesus who, because of infinite love for humanity, wanted to be in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, as our Consoler and as Bread of the Soul.
When you are totally consumed by the Eucharistic fire, then you will be able more consciously to thank God, who has called you to become part of His family.
Jesus is with me. I have nothing to fear.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on CHURCH & HOLINESS
The times we are going through are difficult because cruel persecution of the Church is raging. But you bold and good young people should not be afraid of this small thing; remember that the Church is a divine institution and cannot come to an end. She will last till the end of the world. Not even the gates of hell can prevail against her.
I hope that by the grace of God I will continue to follow these Catholic ideals so that one day, in the way God wishes, I will be able to preserve and promote these truths.
It is a difficult battle, but we must strive to win it and to rediscover our small road to Damascus in order to walk toward the destination to which we all must arrive.
Extended quote from above:
It is a difficult battle, but we must strive to win it and to rediscover our small road to Damascus in order to walk toward the destination to which we all must arrive… What is clear is that faith is the only anchor of salvation and we must hold tightly to it: without it, what would our lives be? Nothing, or rather, wasted, because in life there is only suffering, and suffering without faith is unbearable. But suffering that is nourished by the flame of faith becomes something beautiful, because it tempers the soul to deal with suffering.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on LIFE
We should never just get by; we should live!
A Catholic cannot help but be happy; sadness should be banished from their souls. Suffering is not sadness, which is the worst disease. This disease is almost always caused by atheism, but the end for which we are created guides us along life’s pathway, which may be strewn with thorns, but is not sad. It is happy even through suffering.
We who, by the grace of God, are Catholics, must not squander the best years of our lives as so many unhappy young people do, who worry about enjoying the good things in life, things that do not in fact bring any good, but rather the fruit of immorality in today’s world.
May peace reign in your soul… any other gift we possess in this life is vanity, just as all the things of this world are vain.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on NATURE & MOUNTAINS
Every day, my love for the mountains grows more and more. If my studies permitted, I’d spend whole days in the mountains contemplating the Creator’s greatness in that pure air.
Every day that passes, I fall more desperately in love with the mountains… I am ever more determined to climb the mountains, to scale the mighty peaks, to feel that pure joy which can only be felt in the mountains.
Every day, my love for the mountains grows more and more. If my studies permitted, I’d spend whole days in the mountains contemplating the Creator’s greatness in that pure air.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on TRUTH
There is no need to pay attention to gossip, much less get ill by giving in to those who perhaps have never known what truth is.
To live without faith, without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for truth, is not to live but to 'get along'; we must never just 'get along'.
I hope that by the grace of God I will continue to follow these Catholic ideals so that one day, in the way God wishes, I will be able to preserve and promote these truths.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on JOY & SORROW
True happiness does not consist in the pleasures of this world, or in earthly things, but in peace of conscience, which we only have if we are pure of heart and mind.
Foolish is he who follows the pleasures of this world, because these are always fleeting and bring much pain. The only true pleasure is that which comes to us through faith.
A Catholic cannot help but be happy; sadness should be banished from their souls. Suffering is not sadness, which is the worst disease. This disease is almost always caused by atheism, but the end for which we are created guides us along life’s pathway, which may be strewn with thorns, but is not sad. It is happy even through suffering.
Alternate translation of above quote:
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, it is illuminated by joy.
We who, by the grace of God, are Catholics, must not squander the best years of our lives as so many unhappy young people do, who worry about enjoying the good things in life, things that do not in fact bring any good, but rather the fruit of immorality in today’s world.
Modern society is drowning in the sorrows of human passions and it is distancing itself from every ideal of love and peace. Catholics, we and you, must bring the breath of goodness that can only spring from faith in Christ.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on FAITH
The faith given to me in baptism suggests to me surely: by yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the center of all your action, then you will reach the goal.
We must sacrifice everything for everything: our ambitions, indeed our entire selves, for the cause of the Faith.
In God’s marvelous plan, Divine Providence often uses the tiniest twigs to do good works.
All around the sick and all around the poor I see a special light which we do not have.
What wealth it is to be in good health, as we are! We have the duty of putting our health at the service of those who do not have it.
Learn to be stronger in spirit than in your muscles. If you are, you will be real apostles of faith in God.
To live without faith, without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for truth, is not to live but to ‘get along’; we must never just ‘get along’.
May peace reign in your soul… any other gift we possess in this life is vanity, just as all the things of this world are vain.
What is clear is that faith is the only anchor of salvation and we must hold tightly to it: without it, what would our lives be? Nothing, or rather, wasted, because in life there is only suffering, and suffering without faith is unbearable. But suffering that is nourished by the flame of faith becomes something beautiful, because it tempers the soul to deal with suffering.
Faith enables us to bear the thorns with which our life is woven.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on HOPE & FEAR
When God is with us, we don’t have to be afraid of anything.
I think peace will be a long time coming. But our faith teaches us that we must always keep on hoping we shall enjoy it one day.
With every day that passes, I grow more and more convinced how ugly the world is, of how much suffering there is, and, unfortunately, of how it is the good who suffer the most. Meanwhile, we who have been given so many of God’s blessings have repaid Him poorly. This is an awful reality that racks my brain; while I’m studying, every so often I ask myself: will I continue on the right path? Will I have the strength to persevere all the way? In the face of this pang of doubt, the faith given to me in Baptism reassures me of this: by yourself, you will accomplish nothing, but if you place God at the center of all your actions, then you will reach the goal.
To live without faith, without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for truth, is not to live but to ‘get along’; we must never just ‘get along’.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on PRAYER
In prayer the soul rises above life’s sadnesses.
I beg you to pray for me a little, so that God may give me an iron will that does not bend and does not fail in his projects.
Prayer is the noble supplication which we lift up to the throne of the Most High. It is the most efficient means to obtain from God the graces which we need.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Quotes on SUFFERING & SACRIFICE
What is clear is that faith is the only anchor of salvation and we must hold tightly to it: without it, what would our lives be? Nothing, or rather, wasted, because in life there is only suffering, and suffering without faith is unbearable. But suffering that is nourished by the flame of faith becomes something beautiful, because it tempers the soul to deal with suffering.
Our life, in order to be Christian, has to be a continual renunciation, a continual sacrifice. But this is not difficult, if one thinks what these few years passed in suffering are, compared with eternal happiness where joy will have no measure or end, and where we shall have unimaginable peace.
Faith enables us to bear the thorns with which our life is woven.
More Biographies of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was born in Turin, Italy, to a wealthy and prominent family. He was a vibrant, joyful, and athletic youth with an adventurous spirit and a strong zest for life. He loved mountain climbing, the theater, opera, and literature.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati also had a deep spiritual life and a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary, even while his piety provoked criticism from his parents. He challenged his friends to a life of virtue, leading them in spiritual exercises such as daily Mass and the rosary.
Blessed Frassati joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1918 and became a Lay Dominican in 1922. He was also politically active in resisting fascism and communism; he took part in public demonstrations and joined religious-political organizations such as the Catholic Students Federation and Catholic Action.
Frassati also spent much time caring for the sick and poor to a heroic degree, yet his parents punished him when they caught him giving away his money and possessions. While ministering to the sick he contracted polio and died just six days later at the age of 24. His family, thinking he suffered from a mild sickness, did not realize the seriousness of his condition until it was too late. At his funeral his parents were shocked to find thousands of the city's poor, whom their son had helped in some way, arrive to pay their respects.
For a full biography of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, check out my book, Blessed Is He Who ...: Models of Catholic Manhood. I collaborated on this book with historian Brian J. Costello.
Here is a link to another Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati biography.
1 Comments
Thanks for posting this. I became acquainted with Frassati after my grandchildren began attending an elementary academy named after him in the Denver metro area.
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