A Saint for the 21st Century, Carlo Acutis
Can you picture a saint wearing tennis shoes, playing video games, and dressing up as Spiderman for Halloween? Meet Carlo Acutis, soon to be the first Millennial saint. Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, in London, England. When he was four months old, his family moved back to Milan, Italy. This is where he spent his short life.
Even as a child, Carlo had a great love for the Holy Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, and the saints. But this love for the Church didn’t come from his parents. In fact, his mother, Antonia, had only been to Mass a few times before his birth. By her own admission, her son was the one who encouraged the family to attend Mass. Carlo received his First Communion at age seven, and with love and perseverance, he led his family to a deeper faith even as a child. He went to Mass frequently and Confession weekly.
In many ways, Acutis was a normal child and teen. He had friends, attended schools, and was very tech-savvy. He enjoyed playing video games, but he made sure to only play one hour each week. He wanted to keep himself in check and not become addicted.
Carlo had a deep love for the Most Holy Eucharist, saying,
“The more we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on earth we will have a foretaste of Heaven.”
Therefore, he wanted to strengthen the faith of people around the world by promoting the miracles of the Eucharist. Since he had extensive knowledge of computers, he created a website with all the approved Eucharistic miracles. Carlo started this project when he was eleven, and he finished it the year before he died. Since this time, his website has become a traveling exhibition that has been to five continents. Spirit Catholic Radio has these exhibits available for you to reserve for free. Learn more about the Eucharistic Miracles Display and the Appeals of Our Lady Display.
In October 2006, Carlo was diagnosed with acute promyeloctyic leukemia. Just before his death, he said, “Mom, don’t be afraid. Since Jesus became a man, death has become the passage towards life, and we don’t need to flee it. Let us prepare ourselves to experience something extraordinary in the eternal life.”
Less than two weeks after he discovered he was sick, the young saint died at age 15.
In 2013 his Cause was opened, leading to his beatification in 2020. He was scheduled to be canonized on April 27, 2025 however this date has been postponed due to the death of Pope Francis. Even though Carlo’s life was short, he has left a legacy of love for the Eucharist, generosity to others, and the use of technology to promote the Faith. More than anything, he points us to our ultimate destination. He said, “Our goal must be infinite, not the finite. The infinite is our homeland. Heaven has been waiting for us forever.”
To learn more about EWTN’s documentary “I Am With You”, please visit ewtn.com/carloacutis.
