Many of us are familiar with the strapping young figure of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man who had the whole world ahead of him.
Yet God called him back to himself much earlier than most people.
Pier Giorgio loved his athletic ventures in the mountains but he also had a passion for the poor. This meant he spent much time with poor and homeless people, tending to their needs as much as he could.
He was simply imitating Jesus Christ and the Gospel call to "feed the hungry" and "clothe the naked."
What he didn't know is that this close bond he shared with the poor would have consequences.
Death sentence
On June 29, 1925, Pier Giorgio experienced great pain and initially he tried to hide it, as his grandmother passed away around the same time. Nobody knew he was sick until a few days later when a doctor was summoned and it was discovered that he had contracted polio.
Doctors at the time believed that he may have contracted polio from visits with the poor.
When Pier Giorgio realized that he was nearing the end, his concern was still for those he served. He scribbled a note for his siste: "Here are the injections for Converso. The pawn ticket is Sappa's. I had forgotten it; renew it on my behalf."
Everything happened rather quickly, and with the grandmother's death in the forefront of everyone's mind, since Pier Giorgio was so young and fit it seemed he couldn't be seriously ill. Yet, thankfully, his family was at his side during his final days on this earth.
After having received the Last Rites, his health continued to decline until the evening of July 4th. At that moment he turned to his mother and said, "May I breathe forth my soul in peace with you."
He died while being embraced by his mother.
Pier Giorgio's funeral was a grand affair, attracting the whole city, including crowds of poor and homeless people who wanted to pay tribute to their friend. Many of those close to him had not known of his quiet works of mercy while he lived.
While it certainly is difficult to lose a child or a dear loved one, it is consoling to know when they are so united to Christ that their parting is really a going home.
