Carlo Acutis

Carlo Acutis was devoted to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and Our Lady.  During his life he said, “The Madonna is the only Lady in my life,” and “the Eucharist is my highway to heaven.”  Throughout his life, Carlo displayed three saintly characteristics: Jesus as the center of his life, connection to others in love, and knowledge of suffering.  Young Carlo has clearly become good friends with Jesus by what he says in the two quotes above, but also in this third quote: “To always be close to Christ, that is my life plan.”  Carlo often went to Eucharistic adoration and wanted to share his love of this sacrament with others.

It was through the internet that Carlo Acutis chose to display the second characteristic.  He enjoyed computer programming, and he wanted to use his abilities as a programmer to share his love of Christ with the world.  Thus, he built websites and gathered all of the information he could on Eucharistic miracles, Marian apparitions, angelic apparitions, and Saints’ writings on Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.  Carlo separated each section into its own site where everyone can access the information.

At the end of his life, this young soon-to-be Blessed soul knew pain.  Carlo Acutis was diagnosed with leukemia.  And through the pain of this disease, he was still not afraid to die.  “Death is the start of a new life.”  “There is no need to escape.”  “In eternal life, something extraordinary awaits us.”

Young Carlo died at the age of 15, on October 12, 2006.  He was given the title Servant of God on May 13, 2013, and was given the name of Venerable by Pope Francis on June 5, 2018.  In about a week, Venerable Carlo Acutis will be given the title of Blessed.  This event will take place October 10, 2020 in Assisi, Italy.

 

Resources: our Saint of the Week Virtual Pilgrimage on Carlo Acutis (watch on YouTube here)