By Natalie Romano
Maria Valadez buzzed an intercom at the monastery door, not sure if anyone would answer…not sure if any of the Italian nuns inside spoke English, and not sure she would get what she came for…a relic of the newly canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.
But her fears were put to rest when the Dominicans welcomed her inside and gifted the diocese with a piece of burial cloth from St. Pier Giorgio’s coffin.
“It was an incredible feeling having something that touched him,” said Valadez, Associate Director of the Diocesan Office of Respect Life and Pastoral Care Programs. “I definitely hope it inspires a lot of young people to really become in love with their faith.”
The relic-seeking mission was part of Valadez’s pilgrimage to Rome for the September 7th canonization of Saints Pier Giorgio and Carlo Acutis. Prompted by her devotion to the former, she approached Bishop Alberto Rojas about obtaining a relic so all could venerate the new saint. Prior to her trip, the bishop wrote a formal request to Monastero Domenicano, but received no reply. On faith alone, Valadez made her impromptu visit to the monastery and was “shocked” when the Mother Superior had a second-class relic waiting for her. Bishop Rojas says he’s excited about what this means for the diocese.
“What a blessing it is for our diocese to have a relic of this new saint, who resonates so strongly with young people,” Bishop Rojas said of Valadez receiving the relic. “St. Pier Giorgio showed us with his life how to be courageous and how to put God first. I invite the faithful of our diocese to come and venerate his relic when the opportunity comes.”
St. Pier Giorgio was known for his reverence for the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother, his relentless work with the poor as well as his firm belief in Catholic Social Teaching. Pope St. John Paul II once dubbed him the “Man of The Beatitudes” because he was dedicated to living out the Gospel.
Yet Valadez had never heard of the young Italian until Claire Couche, a Catholic Instagram influencer, sang his praises. Valadez, feeling her spirituality was not where it should be, was intrigued. The more she read about St. Pier Giorgio, the more she related to him and ultimately to her faith. The young mother of two even gave her son, born prematurely, the middle name of “Giorgio.” She asked his namesake for intercession then and continues to do so to this day. By the time the canonization was scheduled, Valadez says she had to be present for the saint that reinvigorated her Catholicism.
“He was that pathway,” described Valadez. “St. Pier and St. Francis [of Assisi] also, are good examples of keeping the faith simple and striving for greatness with humility. You don’t have to overcomplicate faith. It’s really just living the way Jesus taught.”
She’s not alone in her devotion. Some 80,000 people filled St. Peter’s Square to witness Pope Leo XIV canonize the men, a first in his papacy. Valadez says the faithful were bursting with excitement, taking photos and sharing testimonies about the pair who made sainthood seem possible.
“These young men had really ordinary lives but they made it extraordinary with the choices that they made everyday,” noted Valadez. “I believe St. Pier also had a spirit of joyfulness. He’s known for having wonderful friendships. He was always trying to serve the poor. These are things I can try to achieve.”
St. Pier Giorgio was born April 6, 1901 in Turin, Italy. Despite his family’s wealth, he lived modestly, preferring to give his money away. He was quoted as saying “Every one of you knows that the foundation of our religion is charity.” He was a member of Catholic Action, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Third Order of St. Dominic, a lay organization. He also spoke out against fascism and was once jailed for protesting. Valadez hopes St. Pier Giorgio inspires us to “authentic” versus “performative” activism.
“I came to the conclusion that there’s no better time to raise up the life of St. Pier because of the political climate we live in,” said Valadez. “I think it’s important for young people to look at his life and see that he wasn’t afraid to stand up for what was right.”
In 1925, the life of St. Pier Giorgio was cut short by polio. It’s believed he contracted the disease through his work with the poor. The avid outdoorsman was just 24 years old. In light of his legacy of holiness, service and zest for life, he is the patron saint of youth, young adults and athletes. His motto “Verso l’Alto!” (“To the heights!”) is a rallying cry to his devotees.
That phrase kept running through Valadez’s mind as she flew home with her precious cargo. The cloth is considered a second-class relic because it was something the saint was wrapped in. First-class relics, which are actual remains such as bone fragments or teeth, are not available since St. Pier Giorgio’s body was incorrupt when exhumed and continues to be preserved. The relic is the diocese’s 14th overall and the third obtained this year following St. Jose Sanchez del Rio and St. Bernardine of Siena. There’s been a recent uptick in acquisitions says diocesan Archivist Arlene Gutierrez.
“I think the trend happened because we had St. Carlo Acutis making a tour last year and we saw a big influx of people being curious about relics,” explained Gutierrez, Director of the Office of Archives. “Now we have people going on pilgrimage and saying ‘Why not try and ask for one?’...We want to bring them a little closer to home.”
Currently, the relic is stored in the diocesan archives but will be available for parishes or ministries to borrow for veneration. The Diocesan Pastoral Center displayed the relic on September 15th giving some employees an introduction to St. Pier Giorgio. Deacon David Okonkwo admits he didn’t know much about him but wanted to learn.
“I went to ask ‘Who are you?’ and it became obvious to me through sitting and meditating, that he was bold and courageous,” said Deacon Okonkwo, Director of the Diocesan Ministry to Catholics of African Descent. “Veneration is a different way of gaining wisdom and drawing strength from the saints. It is a very important Catholic tradition.”
Valadez jokes that it was a little hard to hand over the relic of her beloved saint, but says she is happy for her part in bringing him here.
“I definitely have much love for this diocese because I work here, I live here and I think St. Pier’s relic is going to be a huge blessing, especially for the young people.”
Natalie Romano is an award-winning freelance writer based in Southern California.