Happy Independence Day!
I love this day. My heart is full of gratitude for those who have and who are willing to lay down their lives in service of our country. Many prayers for those whose loved ones have sacrificed their all to defend our liberty.
You know why else I love this day? It’s the feast day of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. He died on this day in 1925 at the young age of 24.
If you’ve read my About Page, then you are already well aware of my love for this modern saint. This blog’s title comes from him, for cryin’ out loud. So while I go off to run a 5K and celebrate my friend’s nuptials, I’ll leave you with an excerpt from the blog’s about page to fill you in on the man himself, why our marriage and this blog is entrusted to his intercession, and why we just love him so…
“Dave and I have a great love for the modern, young, Italian blessed named Pier Giorgio Frassati. Do yourself a favor and read more about his life here and learn more reasons why we love him by watching this video; but for our purposes here, suffice it to say that he was a man who lived his life to the full. His life was one of Christ-centered adventure. He coined the phrase, “to the heights” (“verso l’alto” in Italian), when he scribbled it on a picture of himself climbing a mountain. It has now become his mantra. Pier Giorgio was a man who sought the heights in everything he did, in everything and everyone he encountered. He spent his whole life reaching for the heights of his potential, the heights of service, the heights of love, the heights of holiness.
This man’s witness has been inexplicably influential in our lives both as individuals and especially as a couple. We see our life as a climb up the mountain of life; it’s a journey toward the heights of hapiness, the heights of holiness, and the heights of Heaven. You can hear us talk more about our married climb here. It’s a tough and unpaved road with many setbacks and many small victories, but it never fails to be an adventure.
Therefore, this blog seeks to bring you along on our journey to the heights. It’s not always a smooth ride; nevertheless, my primary hope is that it will serve as a record of the events, both large and small, of our life for our children to one day review and re-live with us. The adventure of a great life is a long and unpredictable one, but one that is full of joy when you’re making it with the people God has placed in your life to help you get to the top.”
So, happy feast day, Giorgio!
Pray for us. I’m begging the Lord for your canonization. Our young people need your example. My kids fall in love with you so quickly because you are ever-relatable. Thanks for that.
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AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!
We were just learning all about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati in my 8th grade classes today when I stumbled upon your website looking for the Italian version of “To the heights!”. Thanks for providing the answer and for having such a great, thoroughly Catholic site! Woooo!!!
If anyone else reading this page is interested, I have a few more bits of info* on Pier Giorgio Frassati on The Saints page of my website that you can see here: http://catholicreligionteacher.com/the-saints/
*I would suggest checking out the Pier Giorgio Frassati – Group Activity (PDF). It lists about 40 different facts and tidbits that show just how studly this guy was.
Keep up the great work with the site! To the heights, indeed!
In Christ,
Greg Aitchison
Wow, thank you so much for your wisdom and witness! I recently discovered your blog and have absolutely loved every word. It is so inspiring to read about your faith as a woman and as a couple- as a young Catholic, so often I struggle to relate with older mentors. Thank you for your genuineness and your uplifting words that help me to always look to Christ. I look forward to reading more of your climb!
Hey, so I stumbled across this post from a google image search for pictures of Frassati for an art project. You are popping up on google search now! Keep up the good work. If my art project turns out well I will share it with you. By the way, that’s a nice video you have linked there 😉
Love this!