The Letters of Pier Giorgio Frassati - 1901-1925

The Letters of Pier Giorgio Frassati – 1901-1925

To Members of “Catholic Youth of Pollone” Italy: Sunday, July 29, 1923. Pier Giorgio gave this speech on the occasion of the blessing of the flag of which he was the godfather. [Here are excerpts of letters from Pier G. Frassati, “Letters to His Friends and Family”, St. Paul, Staten Island, New York, 2009] - - Young people of Pollone,

“Because this flag, young people, represents in a symbolic way a divine doctrine, given by Jesus Christ for our redemption: Young people, I see on your flag the motto “Prayer, Action and Sacrifice.” These are three words which summarize a very vast program whose implementation requires our energies and those of generations to come.

Prayer is the noble supplication which we lift up to the throne of God. It is the most efficient means to obtain from God the graces which we need, and especially the strength of preserving in these times, in which the hatred of the sons of the devil is breaking out violently against the sheep who are faithful to the fold. In recommending heartfelt pray to you, I am including all the practices of piety, first of all the most Holy Eucharist..

After having fortified our spirit by applying ourselves with great diligence to works of mercy, and after having intensely studied the questions which are troubling us, then we can throw ourselves into the apostolate. And there are 3 distinct apostolates.

First of all there is the apostolate of good example. We Catholics must strive to have our whole life guided by Christian moral law. Then there is the apostolate of charity by going among those who suffer and comforting them … because the Catholic religion is based on charity which is nothing other than the most perfect Love. Finally there is the apostolate of persuasion. This is the one of the most beautiful and necessary. Young people, approach your colleagues at work who live their lives away from the Church … Persuade those unfortunate people to follow the ways of God, strewn with many thorns, but also many roses.”

To Antonio Villani, Pollone, August 20, 31, 1923 “ I believe that life should be a continual preparation for the next life, because one doesn’t know the day or the hour of our passing.

“I’m very glad that you want to become a member of the great family of St. Dominic, where, as Dante says, “You grow fat if you don’t rant and rave.” The obligations are very small otherwise you must know that I wouldn’t be able to belong to and order that required a lot.

When the Saint started the third order he instituted it as an army to do battle against heretics and thus it has very strict rules closely following the ancient rule of the first order, but now that it has been modernized there are no traces left of the strict obligations. We need to recite the Dominican Office of Our Lady of the Rosary every day. But if you deliberately omit this for one day, or for a few days you don’t commit a mortal sin.

I would be very pleased if you take the name of Fra Girolamo, not because it is the name I have as the son of St. Dominic, but because it recalls a figure who is dear to me and certainly to you as well, since you share my feelings against corrupt morals, Girolamo Savonarola, whose name I most unworthily bear… Think about and then write to me with your ideas regarding this…”

To Costantino Guardia Riva, Turin, October 24, 1923 –“I am really upset that you hung the Flag – which so many times, as unworthy as I am, I have carried in religious procession – from the balcony in honor of a man [Mussolini] who undoes works of mercy, who doesn’t keep the fascists under control but even allows them to kill Ministers of God like Father Minzoni etc.. allows them to do other filthy things and then tries to cover up their misdeeds by putting the Crucifix in the Schools, etc…” George H. Kubeck OP, Friday, November 19, 2010