Following Frassati up the Mountain: Bobby Angel’s Guide to Heroic Virtue

Following Frassati up the Mountain: Bobby Angel’s Guide to Heroic Virtue

By Marge Hynes, Writer

I was born and raised in sunny Florida, where “fall” means palm fronds hitting the heat-soaked pavement and the seasonal shift is measured in degrees of humidity. It may come as a surprise, then, that despite my lifelong relationship with sunscreen and ceiling fans, I’ve always preferred colder weather and mountain air.

There’s something about the beauty, the stillness, the sense of being closer to the Heavens (and maybe a bit farther from cell service).

So when I picked up The Frassati Field Guide: An 8-Day Ascent to Heroic Virtue by Bobby Angel, it wasn’t because I had a longstanding devotion to Pier Giorgio Frassati. If anything, I was drawn in by the mountain metaphor—in both the literal and the spiritual sense.

What I found, though, was far more than just a clever analogy or an inspiring saint story. This little guide is a challenge, a call to live differently.

Meet Your Travel Guide: St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

You probably already know from the headlines: the recently canonized Frassati was young, joyful, charitable, and died at 24 after a brief illness. In his recent book, Bobby Angel offers something deeper than biography.

Frassati wasn’t a monk or a mystic. He was a university student studying mining engineering, hiking mountains, pulling pranks, attending daily Mass, advocating for the poor, and standing firm in his faith. He didn’t wait for life to be easy to pursue virtue. Rather, he climbed the rugged terrain of real life in the time he was given:

Do now—do now—what you’ll wish you had done when your moment comes to die.
– St. Angela Merici

Angel captures this spirit beautifully through stories of Frassati’s life, reflections, prayers, journaling prompts, and concrete challenges. Angel makes it clear to his readers that this is not a climb toward some abstract or unattainable sainthood, but toward the fortitude that sanctity truly demands.

Mountains, mountains, mountains, I love you.
– Note taped to Frassati’s bedroom door

Every day, my love for the mountains grows more and more, and if my studies would allow me to do it, I would spend entire days on the mountains contemplating the Creator’s greatness in that pure air.
– 1923 letter from Frassati to a friend

By now, with Frassati’s canonization, you’ve most likely seen the wave of articles recounting his life. So instead of rehashing what everyone else is saying, let me share a few lesser-known (and maybe surprising) truths that Angel’s book taught me about him:

• Frasatti was mischievous. Nicknamed “Il Terrore,” Frassati was a prankster who short-sheeted beds, woke friends with trumpets, and once even put a donkey in someone’s bed. His jokes were often a clever way to evangelize those around him.
  
• He was politically active. He protested fascism, confronted police violence, and defended Catholic social teaching. He was bold and he was brave.
  
• He lived holiness in tension. His family struggled, didn’t always support his generosity, and he wrestled with expectations and misunderstandings, yet chose to die unto himself. In fact, he was once in love with a young woman, but sacrificed his love for her for the sake of his parents.
  
• He loved beauty. Art, opera, poetry, and the mountains weren’t escapes for young Frassati, but they were ways to commune with God in His creation.
  
• He gave in secret. Many of his acts of charity, like giving away his shoes or bus fare, only came to light after his death.

God gives us health so that we may serve the sick.
– Pier Giorgio Frassati

What Bobby Angel’s Book Offers

Angel’s guide is organized into eight days of “ascent,” each focused on a specific virtue: courage, excellence and wonder, devotion, generosity, loyalty, surrender, hope, and freedom. Each day includes:

• A reflection grounded in Frassati’s life
• A prayer to help you internalize the virtue of the day
• A journaling prompt to personalize your challenge
• A concrete action step you can take 

Angel ties everything back to your daily life, which means you don’t need to be scaling literal mountains to follow Frassati’s path. You just need to show up. Angel invites us to “climb” out of comfort zones, mediocrity, and spiritual autopilot with Frassati as our companion and intercessor.

Why This Book Works

• It’s short and flexible. Right off the bat, Angel does not demand a huge time commitment from you. He has designed this guide to be VERY doable. You can read it in under two hours or spread it over eight days or even eight weeks. Feel free to tailor the pace to your own life.
  
• It’s honest. Hiking up a mountain isn’t easy work, and Angel writes like a fellow struggler. It’s real talk, not lofty fluff that we can’t relate to.
  
• It’s practical. You’ll walk away with more than inspiration; you’ll have something to do. I think this guide would work beautifully for small groups or book clubs! There’s power in climbing together, where you share in the journey and support one another.
  
• It’s invitational. The tone isn’t guilt-driven or pressure-filled. It’s encouraging. Frassati was imperfect, and so are we. But holiness is still possible, and God delights in our efforts.

Who Should Read This

• Young adults wondering if sainthood is even possible in times such as these
• Small groups seeking an 8-week or 8-day spiritual guide
• Anyone craving more than spiritual self-help clichés
• Catholics hungry for concrete, down-to-earth direction

Whether you’re feeling stuck in your faith or simply looking for a spark, this book is for you.

For those who want to dive deeper, check out Bobby Angel’s website, where he and his wife, Jackie, offer faith-based talks, podcast conversations, and resources.

The higher we go, the better we shall hear the voice of Christ.
– Pier Giorgio Frassati

St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us!

For more on St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, read our recent blog here. For another faithful, outdoorsy piece, find our review of Fr. John Nepil’s latest book here.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episode of A Resounding Yes! with author Bobby Angel! Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Catholic streaming app Fio. 

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With over eight years of experience and a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing, Marge Hynes is a dynamic writer whose portfolio spans SEO-driven copywriting, journalism, and marketing—a versatile skill set that allows her to craft compelling content for Paloma & Fig’s projects.

Marge’s Catholic faith serves as the cornerstone of her work. She approaches storytelling with thoughtfulness and a deep appreciation for the Lord’s own creative power. Her love of the written word shines through in every project, helping clients articulate their message with clarity, heart, and purpose.

When she’s not writing, Marge can be found leading praise and worship, diving into theological books, or exploring the great outdoors with her loyal dog, Augustine (Auggie for short).