A Global Patron and Companion for Youth and Young Adults

For years, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) has been a significant global patron for youth and young adults – and has a special place in the hearts of young people across the United States as well. St. John Paul II declared him a patron for World Youth Days and deemed him “the man of the beatitudes” as he exemplified those blessings in his everyday life. Pope Francis listed him (CV 60) among the twelve exemplary saints for all young people in his apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit, “who devoted their lives to Christ… precious reflections of the young Christ; their radiant witness encourages us and awakens us from our lethargy.” (CV 49)

Frassati was considered extraordinary in his “ordinariness.” Watch his story here.

Pier Giorgio was engaged in the life of the Church through regular worship and adoration, service to the poor and marginalized, advocacy for social justice for the disenfranchised and for religious liberty, regular participation in student activities, devotion to his family, and joyful companionship with his friends and fellow Catholics in his community. He saw many parallels between Catholic life and his favorite pastime, mountain-climbing. He would regularly organize trips into the mountains with his close friends with occasions for prayer, liturgies, and conversations about faith on the way up to or down from the summit.

After what would become his final climb he wrote a simple note on a photograph: “Verso L’Alto”, which means “to the heights.” This phrase has since come to encapsulate his philosophy of mountaineering and his Catholic outlook on life and adventure. You can learn more about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati at Frassati Society Philippines Facebook Page.

In naming Frassati as one of their primary patrons, the Church has given youth and young adults an excellent role model for their own journey. Just like Frassati, young people continually set out on a voyage in their everyday lives “to the heights” to encounter Christ in all things, and in a particular way, through the community of the Church and the Holy Eucharist.

On this page are a few words of inspiration from Pier Giorgio for those across the United States who are young or young again: