Reflection for the First Sunday of Advent and Preparatory Catechesis for the Jubilee Year 2025 with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati by Br. Karlo Cruz, Council Moderator of Frassati Society Philippines

Today marks the beginning of a new liturgical year—a fresh opportunity to align our hearts with God’s promises. As we enter the Advent season, our hearts brim with hope, not only in preparation for the Savior’s birth but also in anticipation of the upcoming Holy Year.

This Sunday, I invite you to reflect on two key themes: Hope in God’s Promise and The Call to Stay Awake.

1. Hope in God’s Promise
   Advent is a season of preparation—a time to joyfully await the birth of Christ and to anticipate His triumphant return at the end of time. It is a sacred moment to cling to God’s promises, which sustain our hope and nurture the hope of those around us. In the Church, we light the Advent candle of HOPE, symbolizing not only that hope has come but also that we must remain vigilant, with eyes fixed firmly on Christ.

Two weeks ago, Pope Francis announced the canonization date of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati — a moment of fulfillment after 100 years of hope. Remarkably, Pier Giorgio died in 1925, the same year the Church celebrated a Holy Year. Despite the challenges of his time, he found hope in God’s promises and shared this hope with others.

In one of his letters to Isidoro Bonini, Pier Giorgio wrote:

“With each passing day, I am increasingly convinced of how harsh the world is, how much misery exists, and how, sadly, good people suffer while we, who have been graced by God with so much, have, alas, responded poorly.”

Pier Giorgio’s words challenge us even today. He reminds us that our blessings mean little if we fail to make God the center of our actions. He hoped to be a living testament of hope for the vulnerable—showing us that true greatness lies in serving others and being a sign of God’s love.

2. The Call to Stay Awake
   The Advent season also calls us to vigilance. The Gospel warns us to “stay awake,” for the Lord’s coming can be sudden and unexpected. Pier Giorgio embodied this spiritual alertness. He recognized Christ in the poor and saw his acts of charity as encounters with Jesus Himself. As he said, “Every day, Jesus visits me after I receive Holy Communion,” referring to his apostolates with the underprivileged.

Pier Giorgio’s life reminds us that Christ is already present—in the faces of the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized. Yet, we often fail to recognize Him because we are consumed by the distractions and anxieties of the world.

As we begin this Advent journey, let us strive for a spiritual renewal. Prepare your heart, clear away the clutter of worldly concerns, and make room for the Messiah. Like Blessed Frassati, may we respond to God’s call with love, holiness, and a deep awareness of Christ’s presence in our daily lives.

Friends, Advent is not merely a countdown to Christmas but a call to action. It is a season to grow in love and holiness, to rekindle hope in our hearts, and to stay vigilant for the coming of Jesus. May we, like Blessed Pier Giorgio, be signs of hope for a weary world.

Let us light the candle of HOPE, with hearts wide open and eyes fixed on Christ.

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