An Update on Blessed Carlo Acutis

In his brief fifteen years upon this Earth, Carlo Acutis lived an extraordinary life of faith and devotion to the Holy Eucharist and Our Blessed Mother.  Recognizing his extraordinary holiness, the Vatican beatified him on 10 October 2020. Just a few weeks ago, the Vatica recognized a second miracle attributable to his intercession. 

Carlo Acutis was born in London, England on 3 May 1991 to Italian parents.  Soon after, his parents returned with him to Italy.  His parents were not practicing Catholics, but Carlo was exceptionally pious from an early age.  He made his First Communion at age seven and began attending Daily Mass.  Exceptionally gifted with computer technology, Carlo taught himself computer programming. He was particularly fascinated with Eucharistic Miracles.  Blending his amazing computer skills with his love of the Eucharist, he created a website detailing Eucharistic Miracles.  (See http://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html   ). In the summer of 2006, Carlo was diagnosed with childhood leukemia.  He offered his sufferings for Jesus, the Church and Pope Benedict XVI. On 12 October 2006, he died from leukemia at the age of fifteen.

Pope Francis I in particular promotes him as an inspiration for young people. "His witness shows today's young people that true happiness is found by putting God first and serving Him in our brothers, especially the least,” said the Pope after Carlo’s beatification.  (See https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/46170/pope-francis-says-blessed-carlo-acutis-is-a-model-for-young-people-to-put-god-first  ) 

In July 2022, a young university student named Valeria Valverde suffered severe head trauma after falling from her bike.  Despite the best efforts by doctors, she was not expected to live.  As the Vatican has now recognized, Valeria made a miraculous recovery through the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis.  At Pope Francis’s direction, the process to canonize Blessed Carlo will move forward.  (See https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-saints-decrees-miracle-acutis-allamano.html  and  https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257780/carlo-acutis-to-be-first-millennial-saint-pope-francis-recognizes-miracle-for-canonization  ) 

Blessed Carlo’s tomb is within the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione (Renunciation) in the Church of St. Mary Major in Asissi.  The Sanctuary commemorates when St. Francis renounced his patrimony and inheritance in the local bishop’s residence before his father and embarked upon a life of service to God, the Church and the poor. Here the faithful may venerate his mortal remains and seek a greater spiritual connection to the Almighty. 

Closer to home, I recently visited the Shrine of Blessed Carlo Acutis in the Church of St. Dominic, Brick, New Jersey.  This shrine was dedicated by Bishop David O’Connell of the Diocese of Trenton in a Mass on 1 October 2023 attended by Blessed Carlo’s mother, Antonia Salzano. “Carlo is one of their own. I’m counting on him to help me evangelize the young people of the Diocese of Trenton,” said Bishop O’Connell.   (See https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255552/carlo-acutis-mother-places-his-first-class-relic-in-new-diocesan-shrine-in-new-jersey  ).  

The Shrine includes a Reliquary with a First-Class relic of Blessed Carlo, and a painting of Blessed Carlo with the Divine Mercy Image, a Monstrance and a statue of Our Lady of Fatima.  That the new Blessed Carlo Shrine is located at the Church of St. Dominic is most appropriate.  The parish also hosts a parochial school with programs for pre-school and grades kindergarten to 8th grade.  (See https://stdominicsparish.com/shrine-of-bl-carlo-acutis/  )

In just a few months, the Vatican and the Universal Catholic Church will recognize what Heaven has known all along:  that Carlo Acutis is saint worthy of emulation by the faithful of all ages but especially young people.