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Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati has been saint stalking* me recently. It feels kind of funny because he played a significant role in my life several years ago, but fell away in significance since some life changes took place. Back when he played a significant role in my life, I was living in the mountains, hiking several times a week, and working as a high school campus minister. If you know anything about the mountain-loving, patron saint of youth, you would recognize I was in his domain. But now? Now I don't live in the mountains; I live eight minutes from the beach (bless). Now my life does not revolve 24/7 around teenagers' walks with Christ (although truthfully I kind of miss that); I'm settling into and figuring out married life, expanding my art ministry, and teaching part-time. So, what have you to do with me, Pier Giorgio?
If you know anything about the mountain-loving, patron saint of youth, you would recognize I was in his domain. But now?
The more I pulled out the classic image of Pier Giorgio mountain climbing with the words "Verso L'Alto" scribbled on the bottom corner, the more I realized that his infamous motto "to the heights" can also be a motto for pregnancy. And BIG NEWS: I'm pregnant! In this nine month period of pregnancy, I have a season of time to prepare for labor and delivery of our first child. There is an obvious comparison between his motto and the "heights" of labor contractions. Many women choose to refer to contractions as "waves" or "surges" because those words sound more positive and stir up less fear than the word "contraction." Personally, I am doing a lot of preparation to minimize fear of the "heights" or "waves" that await me in labor. To do so, I am working to change my mindset from one that fears and tenses in response to labor contractions to a mindset that welcomes and embraces the labor contractions when they come. In this way, I am preparing to go "to the heights." Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto provides me with a reminder of that positive mindset so I can enter labor from a place of freedom.
Additionally, I need to ask myself if I am going "to the heights" of the wonderful opportunity pregnancy gives me by letting these nine months transform me. Obviously, pregnancy transforms my body (hello baby bump, muscle aches, and changes to my exercise routine). But how am I letting pregnancy transform my soul? After all, God created us body and soul. Neither can be separated from the other. Some ways I am responding to that question include spending more time in prayer so Jesus can tell me who I am, doing more personal things to take care of my mental health, journaling affirmations daily, and going after some dreams Jesus gave me that I've delayed for a while (like going to grad school). These tasks and more help me to prepare for motherhood so I can make a "sincere gift of self," as Pope St. John Paul II would say, to my little baby.
After all, God created us body and soul. Neither can be separated from the other.
Right now, Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto challenges me to embrace pregnancy and motherhood, but the more I spend time with Pier Giorgio Frassati, the more I see many other areas of my life where Jesus calls me to go "to the heights." The saints' lives are not dead stories for museums. Their stories are alive, offering challenges and opportunities for each of us. Personally, this saint's life reminds me that the more I embrace the beautiful opportunities that welcoming our baby into the world presents, the more fully alive I will be. In this way, I will glorify God, as St. Irenaeus says, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Going "to the heights" of my new vocation will make me happier, holier, and more of the woman God created me to be. Now that sounds like a good deal to me. What area of your life is Jesus asking you to go "to the heights"?
The saints' lives are not dead stories for museums. Their stories are alive, offering challenges and opportunities for each of us.
God's peace be with you.
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If you would like to purchase my watercolor painting of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pictured above, or any of my other paintings, please visit the link below to Etsy.
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*"Saint stalking" is a funny term that refers to random interior nudges to spend more time with or get to know more about a saint. It also refers to repeatedly running into reminders or images of the saint in unexpected situations.
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