by Maddalena Pagliarino - "A night of tears and prayers, mathematics will never be my profession." For forty years, many young Italians have chosen it as their soundtrack. Night before exams To accompany one of the most beautiful, feared, and important moments in life. A necessary transition, made of choices and courage, dreams and hopes, to find one's place in the world. Another young man, a hundred years ago, made the same choices, unafraid, however, to seek answers within a higher horizon, unafraid to direct his life toward love: Pier Giorgio Frassati.
The True Meaning of Life: A Show About Frassati
Christian DiDomenico, actor and pedagogue qualified in the development and teaching of theatrical methodology, has created a theatrical reading on Frassati, focusing on the testimony of a young man who, helped by the Word, was able to direct his life by following his vocation. "On the occasion of the centenary of Pier Giorgio Frassati's death and his canonization," the Lombard actor stated, "I felt an urgent need to make this witness known. In particular, I was fascinated by the idea of a young man speaking to other young people about how to find deeper meaning in their lives."
Vocation
In a mix of biographical documents on Frassati and elements linked to the actor's life, Di Domenico has given substance to the work Vocation, a precious opportunity to help the viewer find a friend to accompany them on their journey. The author, in fact, interprets his own life, the important choices that have accompanied him on his path, in light of Frassati's life. Pier Giorgio, says the author, is a symbol of presence, of connection, and of prayer. He is a witness to a choice that does not follow the logic of the world, of family, or of personal financial gain, but rather a young man who, following his own questions of meaning, finds his own way to love.
It's no coincidence that one of the episodes that most fascinated Christian Di Domenico concerns the way Pier Giorgio reached out to the most vulnerable. He recalls: "When Pier Giorgio brought food to the poor, he didn't limit himself to simply delivering a package, as we often do today, but felt the need to meet them, to talk to them, to give them hope. Therefore," the actor continues, "he is a person who acts through words and deeds, who provokes and influences people's lives."
The word, the key to transformation
Words are another central theme for Di Domenico, a living instrument of the theatrical profession but also a key to transformation. After numerous successful shows such as U Parrinu, In the sea there are crocodiles e My brother chases the dinosaurs, the artist continues to question the true meaning of his craft. The author's goal, he confesses in the interview, is to create a narrative theater capable of contributing to society, to raise issues that can impact the lives of spectators.
Pier Giorgio lived a full life because he asked himself questions. And today, young people especially, must ask theirs. The show Vocation (presented in excerpts at the Jubilee of Youth) is not just a theatrical act, but an educational and spiritual gesture. It is an invitation, addressed to each of us, not to settle for a comfortable and superficial life, but to have the courage to choose and question ourselves.
The theater becomes a sacred space
Through the luminous figure of Pier Giorgio Frassati, and the sincere and compassionate gaze of Christian Di Domenico, the theater becomes a sacred space where the Word resonates and challenges us. Christian Di Domenico, through the engaging language of theater, takes us on a journey not only into the story of a saint, but also into the concrete possibility for every man and woman today to rediscover the value of their own existence, the beauty of responsibility, and the joy of a life given.
Vocation Thus, it becomes much more than a title: it is a call to consciousness, a spark that ignites questions, a glimmer of light for those who are searching. It is the living echo of a simple and crucial question: who am I living for? And above all: how can I truly love? In a world that has often lost the profound meaning of words like gift, service, listening, faith, the show reminds us that each of us is called to write our own story fully. Like Pier Giorgio, we too can learn to “to live, not to just get by”And perhaps, this is where change can begin.