Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

He will be canonized on September 7, along with Blessed Carlo Acutis, both of them young Italian people who are admired around the world, not just by Catholics. Pier Giorgio died on July 4, 1925, exactly 100 years ago yesterday. He was a devout young man, who loved friends, mountaineering, and as a member of the Catholic Action spoke often against Fascism, which was getting stronger in the early years of the 20th century. He was born April 6, 1901 and had a sister Luciana who lived until her 105th year and died in 2007. He was a member of the Third Order Dominicans, lay people who follow the order founded by St Dominic. He developed polio suddenly and died within a few weeks of his diagnosis. He was beatified on May 20, 1990 by Pope John Paul II. He loved all kinds of sports, especially swimming, hiking, skiing but especially mountaineering. His motto was ‘Verso l’Alto’ (Towards High) which referred not only towards the peaks he conquered but also looking heavenward, anticipating reaching heaven.