Blog - June 2014 RSS Feed

THINK BIG! Pope Francis quoted Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati as he urged the young people of the Netherlands "not to waste their lives" but to "think big!"  "The Beatitudes are revolutionary," he told them.

Five days before his death, Pier Giorgio celebrated his last feast of Saints Peter and Paul. And he really did celebrate -- joking with the maid saying, “Two cigars. Today you have to give me two cigars: one for St. Peter and one for St. Paul; it’s a double feast day today!”

A LITTLE HEART TO HEART It was often said of Pier Giorgio that the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin were the two poles of his world of prayer.

"MIRACLE MAKERS" Sometimes I get teased about being in the "saint making" business.  Of course, it is only God who "makes miracles" and it is the Church that "makes saints."

"IT'S A MIRACLE!" Growing up in southwestern Pennsylvania with five brothers, it was impossible to not become a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. So when friends invited me to a wildcard playoff game here in Nashville between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills, I went along as a disinterested observer.

"DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? YES!"   Many young fans of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati may not remember the famous 1980 hockey miracle on ice, the exciting game-ending cry of the announcer Al Michaels and the explosive applause of the fans in attendance.