The Gift of St. Catherine of Siena

It is very well known that Pier Giorgio had a great devotion to St. Catherine of Siena.  She fit the mold of his favorite saints to a tee - zealous to a fault in her love for God, the Church and the poor.

What St. Catherine managed to accomplish in her brief 33 years on earth is hard to believe even today. 

She was canonized just 81 years after her death.  Her influence and popularity were so widespread that, in 1866, she became one of the patron saints of Rome and, in 1939, of Italy. She and St. Teresa of Ávila were the first women to be declared doctors of the Church in 1970.  In 1999, Pope John Paul II went all in making her a patron saint of Europe.

Pier Giorgio was reading with great intensity St. Catherine's classic book during the last week of his life.  This is recounted in his sister's book about his death which is also a must read. 

"St. Catherine of Siena's Dialogues of Divine Providence, her letters and her visions were always in his mind, heart and will." - Father Pietro Occelli

Perhaps the clearest evidence of his love for this great Dominican saint was the gift Pier Giorgio chose for Luciana upon her graduation from the university.  He put a lot of thought into his gifts and he had true fraternal concern for his sister.  In light of that, he selected a copy of The Life of St. Catherine, with the handwritten dedication pictured above.  (If you have visited Pollone, you may have seen this book on display there.)

“To my good and dear sister on her graduation day, that this book may be a guide along the way of attaining spiritual perfection.  With affection, your brother, Pier Giorgio”

So, if you're looking for some extra help on your spiritual journey, you might want to take his recommendation, as well, and immerse in the wisdom and spirituality of this powerhouse saint. In her words, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

St. Catherine of Siena and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us!

Verso l'alto!   ///cmw

P.S. If you are reading this on April 29, you still have a few hours left to take advantage of a free online viewing of the excellent film done by Bishop Barron's Word on Fire ministry:  St. Catherine of Siena, the Mystic.  In addition to the thorough commentary, the hour-long film is packed full of wonderful footage of Siena, Florence, Rome and other sites related to her life.