Pier Giorgio and "His Poor"

"Go to the poor: you will find God." - St. Vincent de Paul

It has been 359 years since the death of St. Vincent de Paul but he still inspires countless daily acts of charity.  Several parishes nearby have very active conferences of St. Vincent that meet regularly and provide resources to those in need.  In fact, according to the Annual Report of the national office, members in the 4500 American conferences helped 5.4 million people in 2018 alone.

Pier Giorgio Frassati's dedication to the poor in his hometown of Torino began when he was a young boy but took on a more systematic nature when he was introduced to the conference of St. Vincent de Paul at the Istituto Sociale.  He was now 16 and back at the Jesuit-run school for a second one-year stint because of his troubles with Latin.  At age 12, the Jesuit fathers inspired him to begin receiving Holy Communion daily.  Now, they would ground him even more in the regular service of the poor with weekly conference meetings and a steady source of names and addresses of those in need. 

It really can't be said enough that today's setbacks are often tomorrow's successes. Twice failing Latin led Pier Giorgio to two intense opportunities for meeting Christ: in the Eucharist and in the poor.  The connection between the two was summed up by him rather simply, "Jesus comes to me every day in Holy Communion. I repay Him in my miserable way by visiting the poor." 

Pier Giorgio was so committed to his work within the conference of St. Vincent that he would often forego family vacation time and remain in the city to care for "his poor."  When his sister gave him a share of some money she received as a wedding gift, she told him specifically to use it for himself and not for "his poor."  But you probably know what he did.  He divided the sum in two and gave it to two organizations that helped the poor.  He even made the donations in his sister's name so as not to get the credit.  On his deathbed, he scribbled a note to be taken to a conference member with instructions for caring for "his poor." And, at his funeral, it was "his poor" whose presence by the thousands led to the start of his canonization cause. 

What would Pier Giorgio's life been like if he had excelled in Latin?  Or, what if the work of St. Vincent de Paul had not inspired a French university student two centuries later to establish the first Conference of Charity?  That student, Frederic Ozanam, was admired many decades later by the young Pier Giorgio Frassati.  For both, the Eucharist provided daily nourishment for their outreach to the poor.

"The best way to economize time is to 'lose' half an hour each day attending Holy Mass."
- Blessed Frederic Ozanam

Just weeks before Frassati's death in 1925, Ozanam's canonization cause was opened.  Interestingly, both were beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II - Frassati in 1990, Ozanam in 1997. 

Blessed Ozanam's feast day was celebrated on the ninth of this month most likely without much fanfare outside of Vincentian circles.  However, the universal Church calendar recognizes the memorial of St. Vincent de Paul on the 27th.  What a great opportunity to do some special act of charity this weekend for someone in need.  After all, Frassati's poor are ours now.

"Jesus Christ has promised that all we do for the poor for Love of Him He will consider it as having been done to Himself." - Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

St. Vincent de Paul, Blessed Ozanam and Blessed Frassati, pray for us.

Verso l'alto! ///cmw