Friend of the Friendless

In the Litany in honor of Blessed Frassati, one of the ways he is described is "Friend of the Friendless."  And in an age when people are finding so little to live for and are turning to suicide in alarming numbers, I think this particular title is an especially meaningful one.  Nobody needs to ever feel completely alone because everybody can find a friend in Pier Giorgio. 

I realize, of course, that having a heavenly friend doesn't solve all of the problems of someone who feels alone on this earth. But it can be the start of feeling less alone.  Ever since I made a connection with Blessed Frassati, he has led me to make connections with others, sometimes in marvelous and almost miraculous ways.  So I like to think of him as a patron saint of friendship. I really believe he desires to lead us to godly relationships like the ones he enjoyed.

"...one of the most beautiful affections is that of friendship; and every day I ought to thank God because he has given me men and lady friends of such goodness who form for me a precious guide for my whole life." - Pier Giorgio Frassati.

This is one of the reasons I like to see the various organizations springing up under the patronage of Blessed Frassati.  Although these are groups that form organically and are not in any way under the direction of FrassatiUSA, we are happy to promote them on the website and with our social media.  We like to see people find good opportunities for wholesome fellowship that is Frassati-based. 

This was my own original introduction to Pier Giorgio.  When my associate pastor asked me to help start a group for young adults, I could not have imagined that those friendships would be so important to me now more than two decades later.  What a gift!

So I was very happy and amused to receive a short note with a photo from the Frassati Society of Minnesota earlier this month. They decided to have a celebration of Pier Giorgio's "half birthday" - including "Italian dinner, paper hats, a camping race, Frassati trivia and prizes, food shelf donations, and good conversation."

Those of you who have a good bit of knowledge about Blessed Frassati will immediately recognize the scene their photo is recreating.  Pier Giorgio wrote about it to one of his friends in a letter from August 1924. He detailed how he had invited certain friends to lunch.  "I acted as cook and for the occasion I wore a white apron and on my head I wore a paper hat I made with the 'Becco Giallo.'"  Take a look at the picture from this occasion.  You should be able to pretty easily figure out which one is Pier Giorgio. :)

(Some trivia: Those of you who have been lucky to visit the Frassati home in Pollone may or may not realize that the table in this picture now is located in the main hall beneath the great chandelier.  Everyone who goes in and out of the house passes it but not everyone knows the connection. )

The name of the newspaper Pier Giorgio made a hat from is translated as "the Yellow Beak."  It was a paper that wrote satire often making fun of the Fascists.  Pier Giorgio enjoyed reading it which gives you an idea of his sense of humor - if the paper hat on his head wasn't a big enough clue.  Being able to laugh is something we need a lot more of in today's culture.  We need friends like Pier Giorgio!

Social media simply cannot replace real relationships.  If you are in need of a few good friends, why not start praying the Litany of Blessed Pier Giorgio just for this intention?  If you're in a good group, look around for people who seem to be in need of friendship and invite them to join.  Let's try to make the world a little less lonely for the people around us.  My guess is that would put an even wider smile on Pier Giorgio's face.

Blessed Frassati, friend of the friendless...pray for us!

Verso l'alto!  ///cmw