Jesuit Influence

Many religious communities influenced the spirituality of Blessed Frassati. The Jesuit Fathers can be credited for tremendously impacting his sacramental life.

Because of his struggles with Latin in the state-run school Pier Giorgio attended with his sister Luciana, his parents enrolled him in the private Jesuit-run Istituto Sociale in 1913. This was actually a humiliation for Pier Giorgio because he was separated from his sister and his classmates in an effort to remedy his deficiency in Latin.  He was 12 years old and felt the shame of the situation.

Pollone, October 1913

Dear papa,
            I am confused and miserable and I don’t even know how to write to you; I saw how upset Mama was and I thought about you, so much that I don’t know how to ask for a word of forgiveness.  I am also sorry that I have to stay behind and I am ashamed in front of my classmates and my sister who have gone ahead of me.  I hope you will once again believe in the sincerity of my resolve to study this year and try to make up for everything as much as possible.
            I received your letter: I already wrote you back.  I stayed even more miserable when I read the letter of the professor to whom I am writing a couple of lines on mama’s advice.
            You will see that I’ll try to prove my love for you with facts.

            A kiss from your
Pier Giorgio

This year spent under the guidance of the Jesuit Fathers led to his daily reception of the Eucharist.  The suggestion to do so was made by the school's rector, Father Pietro Lombardi, but was not initially well received by Mrs. Frassati.  Her objection to this practice was founded on a respect for the Eucharist. At the time, Pope Pius X was promoting the early reception of first Holy Communion for children at age seven and was also promoting frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament. But Mrs. Frassati feared that it would become a mere religious habit for her young son rather than a sincere practice.  After several days of persistently asking for permission, Pier Giorgio finally convinced his mother.

Father Lombardi had an enthusiastic knock on his office door and opened it to hear Pier Giorgio share the good news. "I won’t ever forget the joy on his face that day.  It was glowing with his sincerity, that stupendous sincerity that allowed him to fully taste of spiritual delights.  And, in fact, he spoke about Our Lord and the Eucharist with indescribable enthusiasm, completely alive and straightforward."

This daily appointment with the Lord certainly was foundational to Blessed Pier Giorgio's continued growth in virtue for the next 12 years of his life.  It was not the only spiritual practice nurtured by the Jesuit Fathers but certainly the most important one.