Blessed Frassati Is Present to a New Generation

(July 11, 2008) Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who lived a life of charity and generosity 100 years ago, will be touching the lives of a new generation, says the World Youth Day coordinator. Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney said this July 4 at St. Benedict's Church on the feast of Blessed Frassati in the presence of his relics. Cardinal George Pell, the archbishop of Sydney, presided at the Mass. The body of the blessed, one of the 10 patrons of World Youth Day was moved from Turin to Sydney for the youth event. The relics had not left Turin since Frassati's death in 1925. The body, which was found incorrupt 60 years after it was buried, will be available for veneration at St. Mary's Cathedral through July 22. "Pier Giorgio was one who in a short time made extraordinary progress in faith, in hope, and in charity," said Bishop Fisher. He recalled that when Pope John Paul II beatified Frassati in 1990, he called him “the man of our century, the modern man, the man who loved much, the man of the beatitudes.” "The photographs around our church show a handsome, robust youth with piercing eyes and an infectious smile," continued the bishop. "Full of fun and energy, full of God and a passion for sharing God with others: On the face of it, his death at the age of 24 was a tragic waste. "Yet here we are, at the other side of the world, celebrating him because of what he still says to us. So far he has lived for 107 years and counting.