Dear beloved sisters and brothers in Christ,

The disciples, after the terrible events in Jerusalem where Jesus had been arrested by a mob, falsely accused in a kangaroo court, tortured, lynched, buried in the tomb; after the amazing news that Jesus had risen from the dead, returned home to Galilee to a certain mountaintop, a favorite place for them to gather in prayer. Jesus appeared to them. Resurrected from the dead and moments before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave his final words to his disciples. Like a graduation speech, he sent his followers into the world with a final command.

“All power in heaven and on earth has been given over to me,” he began. What did say next? He did not say, “Go and do whatever makes you happy.” He did not say, “Go and follow your bliss.” He did not even raise the bar to “try to be kinder.” Jesus commanded, “Go and make disciples.”

The purpose of Nativity parish is to live out Jesus’ command, “Go and make disciples.” Everything we do—Mass, music, coffee and donuts, the buildings and classrooms—is to make disciples. To make disciples, we must first be disciples.

The opening prayer at Mass has a long doxology. “Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.” The phrase “who lives and reigns” refers to the Resurrection and the Ascension of the Lord.

Disciples are those who believe that the Lord Jesus Christ lives. He was dead in the tomb. On the third day, Easter Sunday, he rose from the dead. Christ saves us from sin and death. He is our Savior. Christ is risen, alleluia!

But wait, there’s more! The Lord Jesus Christ not only lives. He reigns! God the Father, we read in the letter to the Ephesians, seated the risen Lord “at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion.” 

In other words, Jesus is not just Savior. He is Lord. He has power over the things that have power over us. He has power over pride, jealousy, anger, lust, greed, gluttony, and sloth. He rules over addictions and afflictions. Racism, sexual abuse, corruption, abortion, pollution, and gun violence are subject to the Lord. He reigns over the powers of the world—economies, politics, sports, and entertainment.

Being all-loving, he uses his power not to dominate us but to transform us. Just as bread and wine are transformed into his body and blood, his power frees us from sin and frees us to follow him. He is Savior AND Lord.

Disciples are those who deny themselves, take up their cross and follow the Savior AND Lord. Like Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. FrassatiUSA, Inc. | Nashville, TN

Pier Giorgio Michelangelo Frassati was born in Turin, Italy on April 6, 1901. He developed a deep spiritual life.  He decided to become a mining engineer, studying at the Royal Polytechnic University of Turin, so he could “serve Christ better among the miners,” as he told a friend.

When news of World War I ending came on November 4, 1918, Pier Giorgio raced to the bell tower of the parish church to sound the good news. The sight of so many soldiers returning from the war wounded and unemployed moved him. At the age of 17, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to serving the sick and the needy, caring for orphans, and assisting the demobilized servicemen returning from World War I.

His work with the poor led Pier Giorgio to believe strongly that charity was not enough to help the poor and working classes.  Although he considered his studies his first duty, he joined the organization known as Catholic Action. 

Like his father, he was strongly anti-Fascist. At one demonstration, he stood up to police violence and rallied the other young people by grabbing the group’s banner, which the royal guards had knocked out of another student’s hands. Pier Giorgio held it even higher, while using the banner’s pole to fend off the blows of the guards.

In 1921, he helped organize the first convention of Pax Romana, an association which had as its purpose the unification of all Catholic students throughout the world to work together for peace.

He knew how to have fun. Mountain climbing was one of his favorite sports. Outings in the mountains, which he organized with his friends, also served as opportunities for his apostolic work. He never lost the chance to lead his friends to Mass, to read Scripture, and to pray the rosary.

Just before receiving his university degree, Pier Giorgio contracted poliomyelitis, which doctors later speculated he caught from the sick whom he tended. Neglecting his own health because his grandmother was dying, after six days of terrible suffering Pier Giorgio died at the age of 24 on July 4, 1925.

Pope John Paul II, after visiting his original tomb in the family plot in Pollone, said in 1989: “I wanted to pay homage to a young man who was able to witness to Christ with singular effectiveness in this century of ours. When I was a young man, I, too, felt the beneficial influence of his example and, as a student, I was impressed by the force of his testimony.”

His mortal remains, found completely intact and incorrupt upon their exhumation on March 31, 1981, were transferred from the family tomb in Pollone to the cathedral in Turin. Many pilgrims, especially students and the young, come to the tomb of Blessed Frassati to seek favors and the courage to follow his example.

The final words of every Mass echo Jesus on the mountaintop in Galilee. The priest or deacon gives a command to us who believe Jesus is Savior and Lord. He commands, “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” Go in peace, glorifying the Lord like Pier Giorgio. Be a disciple, and like Pier Giorgio, go and make disciples.

Can I get an Amen? When we hear those familiar words, “Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever,” our “Amen” should lift the roof. He lives and reigns. He is Savior and Lord. Amen!

Blessed Ascension,

Father David