YOUTH HOLINESS

by Pascual Chávez Villanueva

PREVENTIVE SYSTEM

PIERGIORGIO AND

RODERICK

It is time for Piergiorgio Frassati an Italian from Turin, and Roderick Flores a Philippino, the one helped in his studies by a Salesian, the other, a scout, a pupil in our technical school in Mandaluyong.

Piergiorgio, the son of the founder of the newspaper La Stampa of Turin, a Liberal Senator and Ambassador to Berlin and of a noted painter, spent his youth quite peacefully in spite of the not easy relationship between his parents. At a certain point the Salesian Fr Cojezzi came into his life, entrusted by the father with giving him a hand with his studies in which the young man was not doing too well. It was precisely at this time that Piergiorgio came into contact with social problems: rapid and chaotic industrialisation, internal immigration, the economic instability and poverty of so many families. After high school he began to attend the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to which he devoted a lot of his free time. He still also found time for his friends and trips to the mountains. Sixth Form studies with the Jesuits developed his character and improved his behaviour: he became more diligent in his studies, in his piety, the effort to become a good Christian, his work for charity, in reading authors such as St Paul and St Augustine. On the occasion of the March on Rome in 1922 he wrote: “At this serious time for the Fatherland, we Catholics, and especially students have a serious task to carry out: our own formation… We mustn’t spoil the best years of our lives, as unfortunately many unhappy young people do being concerned with enjoying those things that don’t really help them but lead to immorality... We need to toughen ourselves so that we shall be ready for the struggles that surely await us.” He enrolled in the Polytechnic in Industrial Engineering so as to be able to work with the workers. Piergiorgio had to sweat over his books at university also because of his many charitable and group commitments. In 1923, Laura Idalgo came into his life, and because of the difference in social class she was not well received in the Frassati household. Piergiorgio began to experience the first pangs of love but continued with his activities and remained content. With his closest friends he founded a “society” that was called “The Shady Customers”: young people intent on helping each other in their interior life and in caring for the poor and marginalised. They developed the idea that their professional skills should be put at the service of others. 1925 was his last year. In his writings and in his conversations the thought of death begins to make an appearance. He was struck down by fulminating pneumonia on 4 July. In his short life Piergiorgio showed unlimited trust in God and his Providence. He gave himself totally to carrying out God’s plan. The recollections of his friends emphasise his great calm and trust in Divine Providence. Very well known is a photograph of him on an excursion on which he had written a dedication for a friend “Towards the heights,” a motto that sums up the goal of his whole life. He was beatified on 20 May 1990.

Roderick, Erick to his friends, was 15, but like Dominic Savio, he was a spiritually mature person. He perfectly personified Don Bosco’s idea: “Show me a boy who goes to confession and communion and he won’t cause you any problems …”. The scouts from the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong, Philippines, were having a three day camp. On the first afternoon of 18 August 1984 the seniors Roderick and Benedict noticed that two juniors were in trouble suffering from cramp while they were swimming. They immediately jumped in and reached them but a strong current carried them further out. At this point Erick also got cramp. Benedict then got him and one of the others to the bank and turned back for the other, who desperately grabbed hold of him taking them both under. Erick saw what was happening and with a spirit of great generosity plunged into the rough waters again to help them. He reached them, and saved them just as a huge wave dragged him away for ever. His body was finally found on 25 August a week after that fatal day. While the cause of so much sorrow, his death highlighted the best aspects of the educative and pastoral community: everyone understood that Don Bosco had produced a hero! How had it been possible for a “normal” boy to behave like that: putting his own life at risk to save that of another? Monsignor Panfilo, rector, confessor and friend of Erick said: “Flores isn’t a hero because last Saturday he generously dived in to help someone in danger. That action was the culmination of a long series of countless gestures of selfless concern for others during the 15 years of his life. He is a hero because he practised the discipline of serving, loving, of being generous. I would hazard a guess that he was destined to die a hero….From 1977 until his death Erick came to Mass here in our chapel at 5.30 or 6.00 in the afternoon. And every Sunday he went to confession … He made use of the sacrament not only as a means of purification but to grow, to love the Lord always better, and to improve himself.” He enjoyed sport, dancing, going for walks with his friends. At school he was regularly rewarded for good conduct. One habit of his was to visit the Blessed Sacrament in the small chapel of the Institute before the start of lessons. He is remembered as a serious boy, well turned out, handsome, intelligent. He belonged to the electronics department…and to a group who called themselves “430 SLC”, like the super Mercedes Benz automobile, a way of describing themselves as boys who aimed at quality and excellence. ◄