A group of young men from Brisbane have experienced a glimpse of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s life before he is formally declared a saint this weekend. Source: The Catholic Leader.
The Frassati Fraternity of the Brisbane Oratory in Formation, established 15 years ago, made the recent pilgrimage to Italy.
Frassati Brisbane chaplain Oratory Father Conor Power joined 16 young men on the three-week trip.
The pilgrims spent a few days at the Shrine of Our Lady of Oropa in northern Italy, which was a “significant part” of Blessed Pier Giorgio’s life.
“His family’s holiday house was about 12km away. Another day we went to Turin and visited the churches and shrines that he would frequent,” Fr Power said.
Their time there had a big impact on the men.
“It’s a very peaceful, peaceful place, clearly given over to prayer, and it’s surrounded by natural beauty. You can see why Pier Giorgio, who loved the outdoors so much, was a fan of it,” Fr Power said.
Blessed Pier Giorgio has shaped the lives of the young men and how they are involved in the parish.
“We take Pier Giorgio as our example and guide to being more Christ-like (and) virtuous Christian men,” Fr Power said.
The group also visited Lanciano – the site of the first recorded Eucharistic miracle from the 8th century.
The host transformed into human flesh and the wine into human, and “that clearly had a profound impact upon the men as well”.
“Which makes sense, because the two pillars of Pier Giorgio’s own personal spirituality were the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Fr Power said.
“And through those two devotions, he was able to live a life where he wasn’t fearful because he knew his dignity came from God.”
Blessed Pier Giorgio was born in 1901 into a prominent family in Turin and was admired for his deep spirituality, love for the poor and enthusiasm for life.
He died at age 24 after contracting polio, possibly from one of the people he assisted.
FULL STORY
Brisbane men trace Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s footsteps in Italy before canonisation (By Kymberlee Gomes, The Catholic Leader)
