July 4: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
O Father, you gave to the young Pier Giorgio Frassati the joy of meeting Christ
and of living his faith in the service of the poor and the sick; through his intercession may we, too, walk the path of the beatitudes and follow the example of his generosity, spreading the spirit of the Gospel in society.
Heavenly Father, help me better understand and believe I can do what you ask me to do.
Forgive me for the times, even now, when I question your judgment.
As I go about the many daily tasks of caregiving, give me energy.
As I watch my loved one oh-so-slowly walk across the room, give me strength.
As I answer his/her repeated question just one more time, give me patience.
As I look for solutions to whatever is the most recent concern, give me wisdom.
As I reminisce with him/her about the “good old days,” give me a moment of laughter.
As I get to know my loved one in a new way, seeing both his/her strength and frailty, give me joy.
As I sit beside my loved one’s bed waiting for his/her pain medication to take effect,
give me comfort.
Lighten my burden, answer my prayer, and give me the strength to do what
so often seems impossible.
Give me a quiet place to rest when I need it and a quieting of my anxieties when I’m there.
Change my attitude from a tired, frustrated and angry caregiver
to the loving and compassionate one I want to be.
Remain my constant companion as I face the challenges of caregiving and when my job is through and it’s time for me to let go, help me remember he/she is leaving my loving arms
to enter your eternal embrace.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.”
Pier Giorgio Frassati
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (6 April 1901 – 4 July 1925) was an Italian Roman Catholic social activist and a member from the Third Order of Saint Dominic.
Frassati was dedicated to social justice issues and joined several charitable organizations to better aid the poor and less fortunate living in his hometown of Turin; he put his own pious beliefs into practice to cater to their needs and was best known for his devotedness and his amiable character.
Frassati was an avid mountaineer who often climbed with his friends; he was an able swimmer and athlete best known for engaging in such social activities with a range of like-minded friends.
His charitable outreach towards others knew no bounds for he identified with and aided the poor and ill from his childhood. His social status granted him greater freedom in aiding others who needed it most.
His cause for canonization opened in 1932 after the Turin poor made several pleas for such a cause to open.
But Pope Pius XII suspended the cause in 1941 due to a range of allegations later proven to be false which allowed for the cause to resume.
Pope John Paul II beatified Frassati in mid-1990 and dubbed him the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes
