The path of every believer is not solitary, but is accompanied by the community, and can enjoy the closeness of brothers in faith.
Along the way, Pier Giorgio thus meets other guides, among the pastors and consecrated people of God. In his childhood, his first confessor, Canon Grosso, and his Latin tutor, Father Antonio Cojazzi: contacts that seem unable to satisfy his ever-present desire to learn the Gospel. His entry into the Social Institute of the Jesuit Fathers, prompted in 1913 by a failure, is a decisive moment. He is encouraged by his spiritual director, Father Lombardi, to approach communion every day. After some discussions with his mother, who fears that Pier Giorgio will become a bigot, he obtains permission: from that moment, the daily encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist will be the center of his spiritual life.
In the Social Institute his religiosity can open up to dimensions that had been ignored until then. He enters some associations (among the first, the Apostolate of Prayer) of a spiritual nature; at seventeen he enters the Conferences of Saint Vincent, thus assuming a constant commitment to charity.
Here he probably learns the beauty and importance of a relationship of spiritual companionship with priests. Pier Giorgio will meet many priests and religious men, and many of them will form friendships with him. Several will be his confessors, some will become a point of reference. Among them are well-known names: Father Sonnenschein, a priest he met in Berlin, engaged in incessant apostolic work in the desolation of the first post-war period; Father Filippo Robotti, a Dominican, preacher and lecturer, a popularizer of advanced Catholic social and political thought, with whom Pier Giorgio shares several risky activities; Cardinal Giuseppe Gamba, who meets him in Novara at a Catholic Youth congress before becoming archbishop of Turin, and who has a great and paternal affection for him.
But also parish priests, from the city and the countryside, young and old. Religious men and women. All approached with love and respect, with the disposition of those who seek and accept advice, a word, an opinion, guidance. Even when, and sometimes it happens, with some there are differences of opinion, and discussions arise.
Pier Giorgio came to Terza Ginnasio al Sociale in Terza Ginnasio and immediately agreed to my proposal to receive Holy Communion every day. [The mother] feared that it might become a habit for Pier Giorgio and not a true practice of faith; something done haphazardly and without intensity, in short. She obviously didn't know her son and I limited myself to assuring her that I would have him take communion once a week, saying to myself, however: "Take your time and you'll live." In fact, only four days later I heard a knock at my door: it was Pier Giorgio who, jumping for joy, said to me: "Father, I won." "And what on earth did you win that you are so happy? A lottery?", I replied. And he immediately said: "Eh, Father... you know very well: I can take communion every day. I insisted so much!". [...] I will never forget the joy on his face that day. [...] He spoke of Our Lord and the Eucharist with indescribable enthusiasm. [...] He, who was so cheerful, when he spoke of spiritual things, became another person. So much so that when he came into my room, it was as if the sun was coming in!
Father Pietro Lombardi SJ from L. Frassati, My brother Pier Giorgio. Faith