<![CDATA[DAVID BELLUSCI - Reflections]]>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:41:57 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[The Man of the Eight Beatitudes]]>Wed, 13 Sep 2023 21:56:57 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/the-man-of-the-eight-beatitudesOFF THE PULPIT- CATHOLIC RADIO - JULY 2023
In this episode, Fr David Bellusci, OP speaks about the 2023 World Youth Day held at Lisbon, Portugal, and one of its patrons, in particular, a 20th century Lay Dominican who is on his way to Sainthood – Blessed Pier-Giorgio Frassati, also known as The Man of the Eight Beatitudes.
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]]><![CDATA[Signs of truth; Source of love]]>Sat, 03 Jul 2021 18:14:04 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/signs-of-truth-source-of-lovePicture
When a 24-year-old has many worldly opportunities because of a family’s social status, quality of education, excellent health, but instead, is motivated entirely by Christian principles, and resists sin by living a life of virtue, such a person we call a “saint.”

Pier Giorgio Frassati’s upper middle-class family, his father a Senator and founder of an Italian newspaper, his mother a professional artist, along with Pier Giorgio’s success in Mining Engineering, his circle of friends and athletic pursuits, he could have pursued a reckless life of self-focussed pleasure. But he did not.

Pier Giorgio led his friends to deepened awareness of their Catholic faith by ensuring their social activities provided an experience of friendship, joy, and Catholic values. And Mass was always included if social activities occurred on a Sunday or solemnity of obligation. Pier Giorgio was also actively engaged in reaching out to the poor which extended to helping disadvantaged students both in Turin and Berlin. Pier Giorgio wanted his friends along with Catholic youth groups to be properly catechised so they developed a love for the Church inspired by the truth of the Gospel.

​Pier Giorgio consistently put others before himself and this also meant his own family. He bid a painful farewell to his closest friend, Marco Beltramo, who left for the Air Force, to his sister who left Turin once she was married, and to a young woman knowing their relationship “was not approved.” 
His phrase, Verso l'Alto, "To the Summit," expresses Pier Giorgio's journey with his friends ascending towards God, the source of love, and the focus that is need on such an ascent. Pier Giorgio lived a life of virtue. For this reason, St. John Paul II referred to Blessed Pier Giorgio as the “man of the eight beatitudes.”

In the last days of his life Pier Giorgio experienced increasing paralysis. The family could not have known that such a healthy and athletic young man could be dying. With his last attempts at moving his arms Pier Giorgio managed to scribble a note on the Friday when he normally went to visit the poor and sick but could not. And so, Pier Giorgio’s last message was directed to his friend, Giuseppe Grimaldi written on the Friday, July 3rd; his very last note among his letters. Not even when dying was Pier Giorgio thinking of his discomfort and pain but rather those who were expecting his visit.

On Saturday, July 4th, 1925, Pier Giorgio passed away having just written his note to ensure those who relied on him were not forgotten. Pier Giorgio was led by love; he was anchored in truth. Pier Giorgio died at 24 years old.

For complete biography see, David C. Bellusci, Pier Giorgio Frassati: Truth, Love, and Sacrifice, Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2020. 
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]]><![CDATA[Chapter 4 - studies]]>Wed, 10 Feb 2021 03:58:04 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/chapter-4-studiesGetting to know Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati with Fr. David Bellusci, OP; author of Pier Giorgio Frassati Truth, Love and Sacrifice. Here is chapter 4 - Studies
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]]><![CDATA[Chapter 3 - Sacramental Life]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2021 04:17:04 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/chapter-3-sacramental-lifeGetting to know Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati with Fr. David Bellusci, OP; author of Pier Giorgio Frassati Truth, Love and Sacrifice. Here is chapter 3 - Sacramental Life.
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]]><![CDATA[Chapter 2 - Luciana and the extended family]]>Tue, 24 Nov 2020 17:54:22 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/chapter-2-luciana-and-the-extended-familyGetting to know Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati with Fr. David Bellusci, OP; author of Pier Giorgio Frassati Truth, Love and Sacrifice. Here is chapter 2 - Luciana and the Extended Family.
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]]><![CDATA[chapter 1 - father and mother]]>Thu, 24 Sep 2020 04:59:16 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/chapter-1-father-and-motherGetting to know Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati through his letters with Fr. David Bellusci, OP author of Pier Giorgio Frassati Truth, Love and Sacrifice, here is chapter 1 - Father and Mother.
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]]><![CDATA[Pier Giorgio Frassati]]>Tue, 23 Jun 2020 22:53:55 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/pier-giorgio-frassatiPier Giorgio Frassati Memorial Day -- July 4th

In 2011 I went to Venice to present a philosophy paper on spiritual movements in the sixteenth century. I made use of the occasion to take the train across northern Italy to Turin. Then, I bought tickets for the regional train to San Paolo, followed by a short drive to Pollone where I stayed at Pier Giorgio’s summer residence. His gracious niece gave me a copy of Blessed Pier Giorgio’s letters in Italian; and so, began my journey with Pier Giorgio: reading his letters, and translating them into English -- to know him.

​After nine years of reading original sources, repeated writing and revising my book, Pier Giorgio Frassati: Truth, Love, and Sacrifice was published. The intention of the book is to discover Blessed Pier Giorgio through his letters. I realised I needed to put together the missing pieces, namely through testimonies on his life. What Pier Giorgio teaches us: as disciples of Christ holiness is built on truth, love, and sacrifice.
]]><![CDATA[Stations of the Cross with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati]]>Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:11:19 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/stations-of-the-cross-with-blessed-pier-giorgio-frassati​Pier Giorgio Frassati was born on Holy Saturday, April 6th in Turin.

We can unite ourselves with Blessed Pier Giorgio and ask for his intercession as we pray the Stations of the Cross. 

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]]><![CDATA[A letter dated October 22, 1909]]>Tue, 01 Oct 2019 07:09:38 GMThttps://www.davidbellusci.com/reflections/a-letter-dated-october-22-1909​In his letter, October 22, 1909, Pier Giorgio tells his mother about his grades on his homework and his lessons. Pier Giorgio went to school with his sister, Luciana, and as children they sat at the same desk. Throughout his life, Pier Giorgio worked hard at school, not because he like studying, but because he was an obedient son.
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