Blessed Carlo Acutis truly seems to be the saint for our age. He passed away in 2006 at just 15 years old, but he left an incredible legacy of holiness inspiring millions worldwide. On May 23rd of this year, Pope Francis announced the recognition of a second miracle attributed to Acutis. This means that he is eligible and set for canonization. While we don't know the date of the canonization, it is likely to be in 2025 during the Jubilee year.
Let's take a look at the remarkable life of this computer-programmer teen who Pope Francis called "a model of holiness for the digital age."
Carlo's Early Life
Carlo was born in London in 1991, but his family soon moved to Milan, Italy. Although he was not from an especially devout family, Carlo had an amazing love for God from a young age. He went to Mass every day, received Communion daily, and eventually helped lead many of his relatives to deeper conversion through his faithful witness.
Carlo also played a significant role in the conversion of his caretaker, Rajesh Mohur, who came from a Hindu background. Mohur immigrated to Italy from India to find work to support his family. As caretaker for the Acutis family, he quickly began to notice the love and passion that Carlo had for Jesus. Mohur also noticed Carlo's unique care and concern for others - something he hadn't seen elsewhere. This is just another example of the extreme love and joy that emanated from Carlo.
Carlo stands with Rajesh Mohur on the day of his confirmation
"To always be close to God, that's my life plan."
Carlo had many gifts. He had a special empathy for those who were suffering or marginalized. He loved soccer, video games, and technology - teaching himself coding and computer programming. But Carlo disciplined himself, limiting his screen time to just an hour a week. He recognized the good in it, but also knew it should not be his life. Later, on his deathbed, he would say, “I am happy to die because I have lived my life without wasting a minute on those things which do not please God.” Carlo had one saying that perfectly frames how he lived his life: “To always be close to God, that’s my life plan.”
Most of all, Carlo had an incredible devotion to the Eucharist. Fascinated by Eucharistic miracles as undeniable proof of Jesus' Real Presence, he created a website cataloging all the known Eucharistic miracles to share with the world. He used this platform to create presentations and displays that groups could use at their own Eucharistic events. This website is still up to this day! On the site, he once had written, “The more often we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of Heaven.”
Carlo's Sickness and Death
At just 15, Carlo was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Throughout his suffering, he offered it all up, saying "I offer all for the Lord, the Pope, and the Church." He died on October 12, 2006 and was buried in Assisi at his request. His tomb in Assisi is often opened for veneration for feasts or larger pilgrimages.
Path to Sainthood
Carlo's cause for canonization opened just a few years after his death in 2013. In 2020, the first miracle attributed to him was approved - the healing of a young Brazilian boy with a severe congenital pancreas condition through Carlo's intercession. As you may or may not know, one miracle is required for beatification and another is required after beatification for canonization. Carlo was beatified that October 2020 in Assisi.
Just this May, Pope Francis approved Carlo's second miracle - the miraculous healing of a young Costa Rican woman from severe brain hemorrhaging after a horrible bicycle accident. The miracle occurred the same day that her mother prayed at Carlo's tomb in Assisi. With the recognition of this second miracle, Pope Francis has declared that Carlo is set for canonization as a saint, likely in 2025 during the Jubilee.
Matheus Vianna and Gabriel Terron, both miraculously healed after praying for the intercession of Carlo Acutis, pose with a relic in 2015
Pope Francis on Carlo
In April of 2019, Pope Francis addressed all young people in his exhortation titled “Christus Vicit” or “Christ Lives.” Included in this exhortation is a short piece about Carlo Acutis. He wrote that the teen is a role model for young people today who are often tempted by the traps of "self-absorption, isolation and empty pleasure." He added, “Carlo was well-aware that the whole apparatus of communications, advertising and social networking can be used to lull us, to make us addicted to consumerism and buying the latest thing on the market, obsessed with our free time, caught up in negativity.”
Wisdom from Carlo
Carlo Acutis truly believed in the dangers of the social and digital age. One of his famous quotes is “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.” Carlo saw that young people want to be different and want to chase their unique talents, but in this digital age they so often get sucked into being like everyone else - obsessed and distracted with the world and consumerism.
Carlo had much more wisdom than what has already been shared in his story, so here are just a few more of his most inspirational and thought provoking quotes:
- "Find God and your life will make sense."
- "Our soul is like a hot-air balloon…If by chance there is a mortal sin, the soul falls to the ground. Confession is like the fire underneath the balloon enabling the soul to rise again…It is important to go to Confession often."
- "Sadness is looking at ourselves, happiness is looking towards God."
- "The only thing we have to ask God for, in prayer, is the desire to be holy."
- And fittingly for his early death and soon canonization, “The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven.”
Read More About This Inspiring Teen
- My Son Carlo: This book is one of the most unique books on a blessed or saint that we carry. Written by Carlo's mother, the work contains stories and ideas on Carlo from a perspective rarely seen. This book brings up many of the private moments and stories from Carlo's childhood that only his mother would know or understand. See what it's like to be the mother of a soon-to-be-saint and grab your copy today!
- A Millennial in Paradise: This book is a mix of biographical and spiritual writing on Carlo's life - often tying in spiritual themes to truly make the reader think about and apply what they're reading.
- Carlo Acutis, the First Millennial Saint: The biography of Carlo written by Nicola Gori. Nicola is the postulator, or driving force, behind the cause of canonization for Blessed Carlo Acutis. As the postulator, Nicola has gone through an intense investigation and research into the intricacies of the life of Carlo. He has listened to testimonies from those who knew him, read everything written by Carlo, and much more.
- Carlo Acutis: Holiness for the Third Millennium: The story of Carlo Acutis in a graphic novel/comic style. This book with its beautiful illustrations is great for teens or younger.
