Just an Ordinary Guy –
Maybe Like You?
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was from a well-to-do family. His parents were not religious and didn’t understand Pier Giorgio’s attraction and devotion to his faith. His parents had problems in their marriage, and he had a difficult relationship with his father who wanted his son to have a worldly and successful life.
Pier Giorgio was humble and always chose to ride in the lowest class and to give away his belongings to the poor. He stood in solidarity with those who had nothing through his own sacrifices, by eating with them and by spending time with them. He went to Mass every day, knowing that the day would unfold with God using him in the ways he was needed that day.
Pier Giorgio wasn’t a great student. He loved sports – especially hiking and climbing, running, canoeing, fencing, horseback riding, and skiing. He found “verso l’alto” – going to the top – was where he could feel closest to God.
Pier surrounded himself with a tight-knit group of friends who shared adventures, as well as going to Mass together and praying. One important commitment each made to the group was to pray for each other. It was a friendship that was something more – they never felt alone and shared the presence of Jesus among them.
Pier Giorgio was a completely normal and ordinary guy…but because he chose to keep God at the center of his every day, extraordinary things happened. He lived his life for others – even in the final moments of his own life. When he was dying of sickness, he sent word for medicine to be sent to a family in need. At his funeral, to the surprise of his family, 4,000-5,000 of the poor and needy gathered outside the church in gratitude for the life he lived and shared.
God certainly used Pier Giorgio’s ordinary life to serve the poor and to lead others to Him! How will God use your life?