Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
To the Heights
An original Indweller sculpture depicting Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati climbing toward the heights, the three bas-reliefs of prayer, action and sacrifice marking the ascent of his short, radiant life.
The story
Story Behind the Sculpture
Pier Giorgio Frassati loved the mountains. He climbed with friends, reveled in the outdoors, and famously embraced the expression “Verso l’alto” — “To the heights.” In this sculpture, that physical ascent becomes an image of the spiritual ascent that defined his life.
Frassati is captured in motion, pulling himself upward with climbing rope in hand. He is young, strong and joyful—not removed from the world, but fully alive within it. Yet beside him, the mountain reveals what was carrying him toward a far greater summit.
Three bas-reliefs are carved directly into the rock face: Prayer. Action. Sacrifice. They form a progression through Frassati’s spiritual life. At its foundation was prayer, particularly his devotion to daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.
Prayer moved him to action. Frassati quietly sought out Turin’s poor, bringing food and assistance to families in need and serving them without seeking recognition. His Catholic faith was something to be lived.
At the highest point is sacrifice, represented by Frassati giving his own shoes to a young man who needed them. The three reliefs become the very mountain he climbs: Prayer leads to Action. Action leads to Sacrifice. And through them, Frassati rises—to the heights.
What the details mean
Symbolism
The Mountain
Frassati's passion for climbing becomes a metaphor for the pursuit of holiness. The upward movement of the sculpture reflects his determination to continually draw closer to Christ.
Prayer
The lowest bas-relief establishes the foundation of the ascent. Frassati’s devotion to daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration reminds us that his remarkable works of charity began with an interior life centered on Christ.
Action
The middle relief depicts Frassati serving those in need. It represents a faith that refuses to remain abstract: prayer sends the Christian outward in service to others.
Sacrifice
Near the summit, Frassati gives away his own shoes. The scene captures the radical generosity for which he became known—a willingness to give not simply what was spare, but what was his.
The Upward Progression
The placement of the three reliefs is itself symbolic. Prayer → Action → Sacrifice. Each becomes another step upward, visually telling the story of how Frassati scaled the heights spiritually.
The Climbing Rope
Held firmly in Frassati's hands, the rope suggests perseverance, effort and trust. The Christian ascent requires commitment: holiness is something pursued one faithful step at a time.
Options
Available in a Variety of Sizes and Materials
To the Heights can be created in a variety of sizes and materials to suit Catholic schools, universities, parishes, retreat centers and other sacred spaces.
Available options include bronze, white fiberglass and resin stone, with sizing and installation adapted to the intended location.
Materials
- Bronze
- Fiberglass
- Resin Stone
Sizes
- Miniature
- Half-Life Size
- Life-Size
- Monumental
About the saint
About Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Born in Turin, Italy, in 1901, Pier Giorgio Frassati was a young Catholic layman whose deep spiritual life existed alongside his love of friendship, sports and mountain climbing.
He attended Mass regularly, was devoted to Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary, and quietly dedicated himself to serving the poor. He frequently gave away his own money and possessions and visited families in need throughout Turin.
Frassati died of polio in 1925 at only 24 years old. At his funeral, his family was astonished by the crowds of poor people who came to mourn him—many of whom they had never known he had helped.
His life continues to offer young Catholics a compelling vision of holiness: joyful, active, courageous and rooted deeply in Christ.
From the studio
The reliefs, the miniatures, and the saint himself
Seen in place
Reading about Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Looking for Something Unique?
Every community has its own story to tell. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for in the Indweller Collection, our artists can work with you to create an original sculpture designed specifically for your church, school, cemetery, hospital, or campus.