Carlo Acutis (May 3, 1991-October 12, 2006), “a geek in jeans and sneakers, in the service of God,” was declared a saint of the Catholic Church during a magnificent ceremony in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on September 7. A “normal” child and teenager who, in the brevity of his existence, embraced the faith with such intensity that he shows us that holiness is possible, even in the midst of the challenges of the 21st century.
For each of us, the story of this first millennial saint is an invitation to reflection and transformation. Far from being disconnected from our realities, his life resonates like a melody for all ages and speaks directly to our hearts, for today’s world. Let us highlight three major aspects of Carlo’s testimony and ask ourselves some questions.
From a very young age, and even more so after his First Communion at the age of 7, Carlo was filled with love for Jesus present in the Tabernacle. He used to say that we are much luckier than those who knew Jesus 2,000 years ago. They had to jostle to see him, to touch him: climbing trees, climbing onto roofs… For us, all we have to do is walk into the nearest church! He had an existential understanding of this mystery. His unshakeable faith in the real presence of Christ in the consecrated host was such that he considered the Eucharist to be “a highway to Heaven”! By offering us this testimony, Carlo invites us to question our own relationship with the Eucharist. How do I experience Mass: welcoming the real presence of Jesus in his Word and in the consecrated bread and wine? How do I deepen my understanding of this mystery?
At the age of 9, Carlo fell in love with computers. He excelled in this field, but his goal was not passive consumption; he transformed what could have been a simple passion into a mission in the service of evangelization by creating a website on Eucharistic miracles. On the one hand, he invites us to reflect on our relationship with digital technology: do I allow myself to be consumed, isolated, distracted from what is essential by screens, certain websites, games, social networks? On the other hand, Carlo teaches us that even the most surprising passions can be put at the service of the Gospel! We all have gifts and skills: how can I use my talents to reach people who are far from God?
As a child, Carlo used to say that “prayer is the language of Heaven,” and also that “sadness is looking at oneself, joy is looking at God.” Often our children, from a very young age, seem to be consumed by the love of Jesus in a very surprising way. Antonia, Carlo’s mother, testifies that “this child (her own) converted his mother.” How do we allow our children to convert us? During family prayer, what place do we give to children to let them teach us through their simplicity in their relationship with God? Do we accompany them and encourage them to grow in their interior life? Carlo and his parents remind us that there is a special grace in childhood to receive and to cultivate.
To learn more about Carlo Acutis’ testimony and life, we have numerous links and sources on the internet.
Here are some links:
The official website of
the Carlos Acutis Association⬇️
🔗 Carlos Acutis : vie et oeuvres du nouveau saint 🔗
➡️ The book published by his mother