Carlo Acutis, the geek saint will be beatified by Pope Francis

7 October 2020
Europe, Must read, News, Youth 18-25

Carlo Acutis, known as the cyber-apostle of the Eucharist, will be beatified on 10 October 2020! His body can be venerated from the beginning of October in the Sanctuary of the Strip of Assisi (Italy).

In a statement, the Sanctuary of the Strip of Assisi stated that “from October 1, 2020 to October 17, 2020, it is possible to ‘venerate’ the body of Carlo Acutis”.

The Franciscan sanctuary added that they will explain the modality of veneration later, but said that consultations could be made via email at beatificazioneacutis@assisisantuariodellaspogliazione.com.

The life of Carlo Acutis

Carlo Acutis was born on 3 May 1991 in London (England), where his family lived for work. Years later they moved to Milan (Italy).

He received his First Holy Communion at the age of seven, and since then his life has been marked by a deep love for the Eucharist, which he considered to be a “road to heaven”.

He attended Mass every day and also prayed the Rosary, driven by his devotion to the Virgin Mary, whom he considered his confidant. He also gave catechism classes to children and helped those most in need.

Carlo’s intense spiritual life led him to invent what some have called a “kit to become a saint“, formed by Mass, Communion, Rosary, daily Bible reading, confession and service to others.

Acutis also developed a special talent for computing and was considered a genius by the adults who knew him. He has created virtual exhibitions on topics of faith, such as Eucharistic miracles throughout the world. He did this when he was 14 years old.

When he was diagnosed with leukemia, Carlos decided to offer his sufferings to the Pope and the Catholic Church. He died on 12 October 2006, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, at the age of 15.

According to the Italian website Famiglia Cristiana, before knowing that he was ill, the young man recorded a video in which he said that if he died he would like to be buried in Assisi.

On 5 July 2018, Pope Francis signed the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Carlo Acutis, an important step in a cause of beatification.

This approval means that the Church recognizes that the servant of God lived the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity in a heroic or remarkable way.

The next step is to wait for the Holy See to recognize a miracle performed through the intercession of Carlo Acutis, in order to proceed with his beatification.

For his canonization, it is necessary that the Church officially recognize another miracle accomplished through the intercession of the young Italian.

Faced with some rumours that the body of Carlo Acutis is incorruptible, the postulator of the cause of the venerable has spoken.

“Regarding the state of conservation of the body, any trial is premature, because the proper investigations are still being carried out by the medical team,” Nicola Gori said in a statement dated January 24, 2019 in response to information published on social networks.

Originally published in ACI Prensa and on Comunidade Emanuel (Brasil)

The three sources of inspiration on Carlos life, according to fr.Will Conquer ( author of the book Carlos Acutis, a geek in heaven)

Evangelisation begins in the family. The Acutis family is a family that breathes faith. This has not always been the case. It is hard to imagine Carlo’s mother far from the pews of the church, she who lives and breathes with the breath of the Spirit. His father, who is so discreet, admits that Carlo has, on many occasions, pushed him around and that he still pushes him around today, urging him to continue to bear witness to his faith. It is however, the testimony of his cousin that has enlightened me more. We all have a cousin who has lost his faith. Flavia was that one. She remembers her beloved cousin who insisted on going to Mass every day without ever forcing anyone. After the death of her cousin, she gradually distanced herself from Christ and the Church. Today she is part of that Milanese generation that is rediscovering the joy of the Gospel and Carlo has a lot to do with this.

Evangelisation begins now. Carlo did not wait to look at Heaven like the disciples after the Ascension. All his youth he put it at the service of his greatest project: to become a saint. His sanctification passes through evangelisation. He died without being able to attend the inauguration of his exhibition. So much effort in vain? Quite the contrary. From Heaven, he must rejoice to see all the good that his work continues to do on Earth. It is the call of all baptised to become missionary disciples, and Carlo did not wait the years to answer this call.

Evangelisation begins here. We might dream of going on a humanitarian mission, of volunteering with the MEP or Fidesco. Nevertheless, you will not be a missionary on the other side of the world if you do not know how to be a missionary on the corner of your street. Carlo believes in an evangelisation of proximity that begins with the poor person he meets on the other side of the street. It goes through all the people he meets without necessarily thinking that God loves them; like the special affection Carlo had for a domestic worker of Hindu origin called Rajesh. Carlo’s simplicity of heart and his joyful testimony, as well as the simple answers to his questions about the life of Jesus, will help Rajesh to become a Christian. And if through the Internet Carlo can reach people far away from him and the Church, he remembers that before becoming a place of mission, the Internet, on which we spend so much time today, must first of all be a possible place for our sanctification. Can one be holy with a mobile phone in one’s hand? Carlo will tell you yes. ¨

Published by the the French magazine “He is risen” (Il est vivant)

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