Dominican Sisters Open Mic

Ep. 6: "I'm Not a Nerd – I'm a Dominican" (Sr. Maria Frassati, O.P., Ph.D.)

Host: Sr. Miriam, O.P. | Guest: Sr. Maria Frassati, O.P., Ph.D.
Date: March 4, 2026

Episode Overview

This lively episode centers on the story and spirituality of Sr. Maria Frassati, O.P., a college professor and champion of Dominican life. In conversation with host Sr. Miriam, Sr. Maria shares her vocation journey, the joys and challenges of community living, her path through higher education, and her fervent devotion to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, whose name she took in religious life. The discussion weaves humor, practical advice, and inspiration, offering both a window into Dominican vocation and a deep dive into the faith and life hacks of a modern saint.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sr. Maria’s Vocation Story

• Early Calling (03:43–06:16):

  • At 16, Sr. Maria began attending daily Mass for Lent, inspired by her grandmother and sister’s faith.
  • On retreat, her confession penance was to pray about a religious vocation, which immediately bore fruit:
    • "I realized that a problem with the plan is that I didn't ask the man who made me… Whatever he made me for is the best thing to do." (04:46)
    • When praying, the answer felt clear:
      • "Whatever he made me for is the best thing to do... if it were religious life, I would do that. And it was like, you're doing it." (05:16–05:39)
  • Her family was surprised by her certainty, expecting the idea to pass—but she persevered.

• Influence of Family (06:54–07:38):

  • Faith fostered by her grandmother and later a sibling’s conversion.
  • Ordinary Catholic home; not overly devotional, but open.

• Draw to Teaching and the Dominicans (09:06–10:31):

  • Her father’s teaching career influenced her desire to teach.
  • Discovered the Dominicans through priest mentors, and upon visiting, immediately felt at home:
    • "[The Sisters] just seemed so normal... I had sort of moved to Michigan in my mind." (10:09–10:30)

Community Life: The Joys and the Challenges

• The Best & The Hardest (10:33–12:16):

  • Community is “the best and the worst thing”:
    • "Community living—your sisters see you in ways that other people don't, and they can build you up and call talents out of you." (10:49–11:06)
  • Iron sharpens iron:
    • "I infuriate others, and others infuriate me." (12:52)
    • Illustrates with stories about the daily quirks and compromises—from commuting temperature preferences to kitchen habits.

• Prayer at the Center (14:13–14:48):

  • Mass and adoration are vital supports; students notice when she’s missed Mass:
    • "Sister hasn't had Jesus today, so she's being wretched." (14:48, quoting a perceptive student)

Academic & Teaching Journey (15:02–16:04)

• Ph.D. in English, specialty in Shakespeare (15:13):
  • Studied at Catholic University of America.
  • Her intellectual journey took surprising turns—“[now] my job is to read novels I love for fun!” (17:02)
  • Her religious assignment, through the community’s direction, led her to graduate studies.

Devotion to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

• Initial Encounter & Taking His Name (18:34–20:57):

  • Did not know much of him until entering; learned from fellow Sisters.
  • Was drawn to his youthfulness, Eucharistic love, Marian devotion, and relatability:
    • "He is normal and young... relatable." (19:31)

• Summary of Pier Giorgio’s Life (21:05–24:24):

  • Born in Turin (1901–1925), from an influential yet fractured family.
  • His faith flourished amidst family tensions, especially after attending a Jesuit school.
  • Not academically outstanding but passionate about justice, the poor, and lived an active, athletic life.
  • Family misunderstood him—“fundamentally good for nothing” was a refrain from his parents.

Who are Lay Dominicans? (24:55–26:03)

• Lay Dominicans live out Dominican spirituality in the world, through study, prayer, and service—married or single, they gather in local communities.

Memorable Segment: Pier Giorgio Frassati’s “Life Hacks for Holiness” (26:05–35:37)

Sr. Maria shares her own framework, distilled from Frassati’s life:

1. You Can't Do It Alone (28:13)
   • Holiness is impossible without Eucharist, Mary, saints, friends, and community.
   • "He would say… Christ comes to me every morning in Holy Communion. How can I not go out to others?" (27:28)
2. Stop and Smell the Roses (28:21–29:37)
   • Living present to the moment, attentive to people and beauty around you.
   • Story: Frassati remembers the anniversary of a guard’s deceased son—a year later!
3. Read Good Books (29:38)
   • Study and intellectual formation matter, even for the “not bookish”—Frassati loved Dante, Shakespeare, Goethe.
   • "He had a passage from Dante’s Paradiso… tacked on his bedroom wall." (30:02)
4. Create Green Spaces (30:44–33:55)
   • Reference to Shakespeare: "Green spaces" are creative, communal getaways or experiences that foster deeper encounter with Christ and others.
   • Frassati’s peer group (the “Tipilowski”) was a “culture within a culture.”
5. Do Things Badly (As Opposed To Not at All) (34:04)
   • Don’t let perfectionism paralyze you: jump in, be willing to look foolish in pursuit of love/service.
   • "It’s not like he set out to evangelize all of Italy. He was willing to do what he could do… Move furniture for people, whatever’s on deck." (35:07–35:19)

Sr. Miriam: “There’s a confidence there… that God can make things beautiful, even if we don’t plan it out perfectly.” (35:19–35:34)

Encouragement & Advice from Frassati’s Life (35:37–37:56)

• Focus on Christ as the one thing necessary.
  • "If you focus your life on Christ… everything else will fall into place." (37:42–37:56)
• Frassati’s joy and confidence came from his single-hearted relationship with Jesus, not from circumstances.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “I just need a t-shirt that says, 'I'm not a nerd, I'm a Dominican.'” (19:52)
• On community life: “We didn’t choose each other—Jesus chose them for you. Which can be both awesome and alarming.” (12:17)
• On teaching: “Teaching. I love teaching and I’m so happy while teaching. Grading papers, not so much, but teaching, yes.” (43:38)

The Canonization of Pier Giorgio (37:56–42:13)

• Sr. Maria attended the canonization in Rome—joyful communion, fun Dominican family moments, and a personal encounter with Pope Leo.
  • "Everywhere you go in Rome, it’s Rome, the whole time." (38:31)
  • She describes joyful episodes—reunions, gelato, and Pope Leo’s approving thumbs-up.

Speed Round (42:16–43:47)

• Favorite liturgical season: Christmas—best music. (42:27)
• Hobby: “Hobbies are my hobby. I have so many hobbies.” (42:31)
• Favorite game: Collaborative games (“Ito,” at the Mother House) (42:37)
• Spiritual reading recommendation: He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J. (42:55)
• Favorite Marian title: “Cause of our joy.” (43:08)
• Favorite age group to teach: College students. (43:15)
• Saint for dinner: “Probably Frassati, and we’d just hang out.” (43:23)
• Peaceful activity: Teaching—“I love teaching and I’m so happy while teaching.” (43:38)

Notable Quotes with Attribution & Timestamps

• Sr. Maria: “The best thing and worst thing about our life are the same: Community.” (10:49)
• Sr. Miriam: “I love the community life aspect… being inspired in virtue by the sisters I live with.” (11:27)
• Sr. Maria: “Whatever he made me for is the best thing to do. And I want to do that the most… And it was like, you’re doing it.” (05:16–05:39)
• Sr. Maria (on Frassati’s relevance): “He’s normal and young… I hate the word relatable… but he’s relatable.” (19:31)
• Sr. Miriam: “You didn’t go to Mass this morning, did you?—Yeah, they could tell.” (14:47)
• Sr. Maria (on Frassati’s “Do Things Badly”): “Don’t worry about, is it going to be perfect? Is someone going to be mad? He just jumps in there and does it.” (35:07–35:19)
• Sr. Maria: “If you focus your life on Christ… everything else will fall into place.” (37:42–37:56)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Vocation Story: 03:43–08:47
• Community Life: 10:33–14:48
• Academic Journey: 15:02–18:16
• Devotion to Frassati: 18:34–24:24
• Lay Dominicans: 24:55–26:03
• Frassati’s Life Hacks: 26:05–35:37
• Advice to Listeners: 35:37–37:56
• Canonization Stories: 37:56–42:13
• Speed Round: 42:16–43:47

Takeaways

This episode beautifully integrates personal testimony, humor, and spiritual wisdom, making Dominican life accessible and vibrant. Sr. Maria and Sr. Miriam present religious vocation not as a retreat from the world, but as a joyful, sometimes messy pursuit of Christ at the heart of community. The episode is especially rich for those interested in vocation, Dominican spirituality, modern saints like Pier Giorgio Frassati, and for educators seeking inspiration in integrating faith and study.