Episode Twenty: Pier Giorgio Frassati

0:00Lend with the Saints from the Merry Beggars Episode 20 Peer George O'Frasati Welcome back to Lend with the Saints. I'm your host, Kylie, and today I want to tell you about a hiker and rock climber who is a great example of fasting during Lend. His name is Pier George O'Frasati. But first, let's talk about what fasting means again. We started talking about fasting on Monday with Carlo Acudis. If you remember, we said fasting is going without a good thing as a kind of penance, something we can do to show Jesus we're sorry for a sin we committed. Fasting also helps us become better friends with Jesus. But how does that work? Fasting from candy or screen time is a way to quiet our hearts. It's like turning down the noise of the world so we can hear Jesus speaking to us.

1:15Carlo set a timer on his video game so he could show Jesus who is sorry for missing his adoration, but also so he could make room for Jesus in his heart. When our hearts are cleared of distractions, we can hear the voice of Jesus loud and clear. Pier George O'Frasati was very close to Jesus. He fasted from foods he liked and made small sacrifices like walking instead of getting a ride home to make sure his heart was always clear of distractions and open for Jesus. Pier George O'Frasati grew up in a wealthy Italian family, but he cared most about loving Jesus and helping his friends get to know Jesus too. Pier George O'Frasati loved to have fun. He enjoyed climbing mountains, hiking with friends, laughing and telling jokes. He also loved to pray and to receive Holy Communion. Let's listen to a scene from one of Pier George O'Frasati's hiking trips. This scene happened when Pier George O'Frasati was at the end of one of his favorite hikes, just a few minutes from the fantastic view at the top of the mountain.

2:28The others are pretty far down. It looks like they've stopped. How are they doing? Not so well. Ernesto's complaining. Tomaso is hungry and Valeria. She looks a bit cold and worried. Is she alright? It's Valeria's first time hiking with us. She'll get used to it. Let's go. I want to get to the top. Why don't you go up without me? I'll go down and check on them. Oh, come on, George O'Frasati. Let's get to the top. They'll be okay. We can't go back for the slow pokes or we'll never reach the top. I've already been to the top many times. You haven't been there yet. Go up without me and enjoy the view. You'll love it. I'll meet you up there with the others soon. Okay. Bravo. You have more patience than I have. Tell those lagers to hurry up. It's almost time for lunch. I will. And Markov. Yes? When you get to the top, say a prayer for me because it's like heaven up there.

3:29Okay, dodo. Whatever you say. Give her of immortal grateness. Feel us with the light of day. Don't fall off the mountain. Come on, Valeria. Have you more steps? I'm tired, Ernesto. I can't. Then what do we do? We can't wait here forever. Ernesto, Thomas of Valeria. Venita, Amici, come. Come off. I can see your house from here. The view is amazing. It's Piergio. How are we doing? Valeria is tired. She wants to go back. Thomas who is hungry. I have blisters on my feet. I wore the wrong shoes. Let's take a look. Oh, that's nasty Ernesto. Your feet must be killing you. Here. Take my hiking boots. Wait about the same size.

4:34Let's wrap your feet and put some balm on them. I have it here in my pack. And I have an extra pair of heavy socks for you. No, you keep your shoes. You'll need them. My feet are like leather. I'm half mountain goat. I'll be fine. And I want you to enjoy the day so you can come back next week when we climb a really tough mountain. Okay. Thanks, Piergio. Thank you, Piergio. What a good friend Piergio was. He gave up his own hiking boots so his friend could continue up the mountain. And even though he was so close to the top, Piergio chose to turn back around to take care of his friend. He sacrificed making it to the top of the mountain with his good friend Marco. Piergio often gave up things he liked as an offering to Jesus. These little sacrifices emptied his heart and made space for Jesus. Remaining close to Jesus, it was easy for Piergio to give away his own boots to take care of a friend. Piergio was such a good friend to so many people that when he died at the young age of 24,

5:39hundreds and hundreds of people filled the streets outside the church where his funeral was held. His parents and sister had no idea he'd helped so many people. How can we practice the kind of fasting that Piergio practiced? Well, you might decide to let your friend go first in a board game or invite your sister to have the bigger piece of cake, even though you'd really like it. If we make these little sacrifices with a smile and with love, we not only help others, we show them Jesus's love for them. Can you think of someone you can make a sacrifice for today? Maybe someone in your family or someone at school? When you make your sacrifice, do it with a smile and tell Jesus who it's for. We'll talk about this more tomorrow in our next episode of Lent with the Saints. Until then, Saint Piergio Frisadi, pray for us.

6:39To listen to all of Lent with the Saints and to get a free coloring saints book, go to LentwiththeSaints.com