CBB Review – To The Heights

Last updated on: October 15, 2014 at 5:30 pm by Pete Socks

CBB Review – To The Heights 2014-10-14T18:47:28-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Beyond seeing his pictures I knew very little about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. After reading To the Heights: A Novel Based on the Life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati by Brian Kennelly I can no longer say that. In this historical fiction novel Brian brings Blessed Pier to life. When finished with this book you will feel as if you had just spent time with a brother.

Brian vividly tells the life story of Blessed Pier from childhood to his final days. You will experience his many trips to the slums of his hometown of Turin and later in Germany. As you read the book you get a real sense of why Pier was so loved. He loved his God and he loved his neighbor. Coming from a well off family (his father owned the Italian newspaper La Stampa) Pier chose to share his good fortune with the poor and sick. There were many trips where after distributing food or money he would return home barefooted. His concern for the poor leading him to give away his shoes and socks.

What pained Pier the most was his family’s indifference to his Catholic faith. One heart wrenching illustration of this was when Pier went to Mass expecting his parents and sister to attend as they had promised. Mass came and went and no family members arrived. They chose instead to attend the annual Shrove Carnival. Being seen in social circles was of more importance to the Frassati’s than worshipping their God. This was a struggle Pier lived with until he died.

Piers concern for the poor and the sick ultimately was a contributing factor in his early death. He contracted polio and hid his ailment until It was too late to treat. In what was typical of his nature, Pier was more concerned with the fact that his grandmother had just died. He did not want to burden his grieving family with his symptoms and another concern.

Upon his death his parents suddenly realized how loved Pier was. The day of his funeral the streets were lined in honor of this young man who touched so many lives. His patents were at a loss as to why. There were multiple scenes in the book where his parents scoffed at the lengthy time Pier spent in prayer, attending Mass or the long hours he spent helping others. Pier tried desperately to show his family how important faith in Christ was. His death would be his final mountain to climb in the conversion of his immediate family. Though Brian took some literary license to portray this in the books final chapter, it is a fact that both his parents were led back to the Church and the Sacraments as a result of his death.

This is a wonderfully written novel about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. As you immerse yourself in the pages of this captivating novel you get a real sense of who this young man was and what he stood for. Throughout his life Pier touched many people’s lives and his story still does to this day. Brian has done a great service to Pier himself and the readers of this book. He has given us a book that opens the window on the life of Blessed Pier affording us all an opportunity to get to know and appreciate this young man from Turin.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I received a copy of the book for this review from the publisher, Saint Benedict Press.

Review

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Brian Kennelly

Saint Benedict Press

To The Heights

Previous Post

October 15, 2014

Church Fathers, Day Eighty-Six: St. Augustine advises us to distinguish what’s important to be right about

Next Post

October 16, 2014 Church Fathers, Day Eighty-Seven: Athenagoras says see the truth in the works it produces

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz