In 2017, a simple game of basketball forever changed the life of a seminarian—and contributed to the cause for the canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a beloved Catholic role model for young people.
Father Juan Gutierrez, now 38 and serving as an associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish in Los Angeles County, had no idea that his torn Achilles tendon would become part of a miracle. Then a seminarian at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, he faced the painful reality of his injury and the challenges of a long, expensive recovery.
With a heavy heart, Gutierrez sought solace in the seminary chapel the day after his diagnosis. Inspired by his love for Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati—a man known for his deep faith and vibrant life—he began praying a novena for healing. A few days into his prayers, something extraordinary happened.
A Moment of Grace
Gutierrez recalls kneeling in the chapel one evening when he experienced an unusual sensation.
“I started to feel a sensation of heat around my injured foot,” he said during a press conference. “I even checked under the pews, thinking something might be on fire.”
There was no fire, but the sensation intensified, leaving him in tears before the tabernacle. Reflecting on his experiences with the Charismatic Renewal movement, Gutierrez recognized this as a potential sign of God’s healing power.
What followed was nothing short of miraculous. The pain in his foot subsided, and he found himself able to walk without the brace. When he returned to his orthopedic surgeon, the doctor confirmed what Gutierrez already knew: the injury was completely healed. The tear that had been evident on the MRI was gone.
“His doctors could not explain it,” said Los Angeles Archbishop José Gómez. “This healing reminds us that Jesus continues to work miracles from heaven, often through the intercession of the saints.”
A Miracle Confirmed
The healing marked the start of a Vatican investigation into the miracle. Monsignor Robert Sarno, a retired member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, happened to be teaching a course at St. John’s Seminary and learned of the incident from Gutierrez himself.
“When I heard it, I immediately suspected there might be substance to this case,” Sarno shared. With the Vatican’s approval, an official inquiry began, confirming the miracle’s authenticity.
Now, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is on the cusp of canonization. Only a final consultation with the Holy Father remains, a formality in cases like this.
A Saint for Our Times
Born to a wealthy Italian family, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) was known for his love of the Eucharist, his devotion to the poor, and his zest for life. Whether hiking in the mountains or attending Mass, Frassati embodied the joy of the Gospel.
“He was a young man who loved life and lived it to the full,” Archbishop Gómez said. “He was a man of deep prayer who taught us to find Jesus in the Eucharist and the face of the poor.”
Frassati’s canonization, set for next year on the 100th anniversary of his death, offers a timely message for today’s youth. Sarno called him “a model for young people searching for answers in a confusing world.”
A Personal Connection
For Gutierrez, this journey has been both humbling and transformative.
“There’s a lot of similarities between Pier Giorgio and Father Juan,” Sarno noted. “Both were young, athletic, and deeply connected to their faith.”
Gutierrez shared his gratitude and awe at being part of the process. “I don’t know why God chose me, but I am grateful. This experience reminds me that prayer works and that the saints intercede for us.”
Frassati’s niece, Wanda Gawronska, also expressed her joy at the upcoming canonization, a cause her family has championed since the 1930s. Reading from one of her uncle’s letters, she highlighted his timeless message:
“I hope with the grace of God to continue along the path of Catholic ideas and to defend and propagate these rare and true things,” Frassati wrote in 1924, just months before his death from polio at age 24.
Faith in Action
Gutierrez concluded with a challenge for all Catholics: “Blessed Pier Giorgio invites us to take our faith seriously and bring it into the world. That’s where the love of Christ is most needed.”
As Catholics prepare to celebrate Frassati’s canonization, his life serves as a reminder that holiness is within reach for everyone. Through his intercession, miracles continue to happen, renewing hope and deepening faith in the power of God’s love.
