Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) was born into a wealthy and influential family in Turin, Italy. His father owned one of the nation’s leading newspapers, and his mother was a gifted artist. By every measure, Pier Giorgio could have chosen a comfortable life. Instead, he gave himself completely to God and to others. With mountain boots always by the door and a rosary always in his pocket, he lived each day with a rare mix of energy, laughter, and selfless devotion.

From an early age, Pier Giorgio’s generosity stood out. He gave away his shoes to a barefoot child without hesitation, visited the sick in overcrowded tenements, and carried food, medicine, and coal to families in desperate need. Yet he was no gloomy ascetic. He was known for his practical jokes, his love of climbing, his long hikes with friends, and his cheer that lifted every room he entered.

In the summer of 1925, while serving among Turin’s poor, Pier Giorgio contracted poliomyelitis. The disease spread rapidly in the unhygienic slums where he spent so much of his time. Within days, he was paralyzed, and on July 4th, at just twenty–four years old, he died. Even in his final hours, he thought of others, scribbling instructions to make sure that the poor he served would still receive food and medicine. At his funeral, thousands of Turin’s forgotten poor appeared in the streets, astonishing the city and revealing the hidden saint in their midst.

This deeply researched and engaging biography takes you on a journey through:

• His beginnings in a family that blended politics, journalism, and art.
• His childhood and studies, where prayer and generosity became daily habits.
• His friendships, full of laughter, mountain adventures, and shared faith.
• His acts of charity, often done in secret, to care for the sick and the poor.
• His illness and sacrifice, which revealed the depth of his love.
• The funeral that shocked Turin, as thousands bore witness to his holiness.
• The miracles and canonization process, culminating in his beatification by Pope John Paul II, who called him the “Man of the Beatitudes.”

Today, Pier Giorgio is celebrated around the world as a model for young people, students, and all those seeking to live their faith authentically. His life proves that holiness is not reserved for the extraordinary few but is possible for anyone willing to take the Gospel seriously with joy and courage.

If you long for a saint who feels close to daily life, someone who loved friends, the mountains, and laughter as much as he loved Christ, this book will take you by the hand and lead you with Pier Giorgio up the path toward the heights.