Home parish: Holy Cross Parish, St. Croix, Indiana
Education: Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary, Indianapolis; Class of 2032
Saint: Pier Giorgio
There is hope for virtue
By Eli Steckler, Special to The Message
Editor’s note: This year, Diocesan seminarians focused their annual seminarian profiles on a saint or someone on the road to sainthood who gives them hope in honor of the Jubilee Year of Hope.
On April 26, 1901, in Turin Italy, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati was born. He grew up in a wealthy family and was expected to take over his father’s newspaper. While St. Pier felt a different calling, he never disrespected his parents’ wishes. As he followed the footsteps his father desired for him to take, he also followed what God put on his heart, which was to serve the poor with his time, resources and prayers.
St. Pier’s life gives me hope that we can live a life for God without shirking any of the worldly responsibilities that we have been given. St. Pier has set the example for me that when we are doing the work of Christ without hesitation, we will receive the energy to perform our worldly responsibilities as well. St. Pier gives me hope that putting God at the forefront of my life, without exception, will allow everything else to fall in place.
We can all find hope in the example that St. Pier has left us. He lived his strongly Catholic lifestyle, where God put him, even though it was very difficult in his family environment. St. Pier gives us an example of courageously living virtue with the responsibilities of the world. He also leaves no room for the excuse of youth getting in the way. St. Pier started serving the poor, sneaking out to go to Mass and giving away tons of possessions before he graduated high school. It is possible to live courageous virtue right now, so go ahead and live for Christ, and he will give you strength and mental capacity to fulfill your other responsibilities as well.