Santi e Beati
Carlo Acutis. A saint in jeans and sneakers
Editrice Shalom
Tempo di lettura: 4 min
Autore: Editrice Shalom
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In a world that often pushes us to conform and seek fame at all costs, one figure reminds us of the priceless value of being “original”: “Everyone is born original, but many die as photocopies,” he used to say. Carlo Acutis, a cheerful, confident, and lively boy in love with Jesus’ message, knew how to embody the Gospel with contagious joy, standing out through his authentic normality and a spiritual depth that left an indelible mark. His life, which lasted just 15 years, was an hymn to happiness lived in harmony with God, and soon, on September 7, 2025, he will be proclaimed a saint.
That “extra gear”…
Carlo was a boy of our times, dividing his time among the computer, friends, sports, school, and entertainment. Yet he possessed an “extra gear”: his deep friendship with Jesus. He firmly believed that “God has written a unique and unrepeatable story for each of us, but he has left us the freedom to write its ending”. And he, Carlo, chose Jesus as his model and companion in writing his own.
The heart of his holiness: The Eucharist
At the heart of his spirituality was an boundless love for the Eucharist, which he called his “highway to heaven”. He went to Mass every day and loved spending time in adoration before the tabernacle, saying: “We are more fortunate than the crowds of two thousand years ago, because they had to go looking for Jesus in the villages to meet him, whereas we can go down to the church beneath our homes and find him truly present in the Eucharist”.
Alongside Jesus, a special place in his heart was reserved for Mary: “Our Lady is the only woman in my life!” he used to say. Carlo placed profound trust in the Virgin, considering her “the shortest ladder to climb to heaven” through the Rosary, which he prayed daily.
A “computer scientist” at the service of the Gospel
What makes Carlo such a relevant role model for young people today is his ability to combine a deep faith with the passions of his generation. He was a true “computer scientist,” capable of using computers in ways that amazed experts. But he did not do it for himself; for him, computer science was a means of evangelization and catechesis, as demonstrated by the online exhibitions he created.
A big and generous heart
Carlo’s charity was like a raging river. Driven by the desire to put Jesus first, he saw the face of God in every person. Although he came from a wealthy family, he did not boast about his social position and was not interested in fashion, arguing with his mother to avoid unnecessary purchases. His attention was focused on the “least”: beggars, immigrants, the sick, the elderly, and anyone who struggled to integrate. He brought them food from his dinner and once used his savings to buy a sleeping bag for a homeless man. When doctors asked him how he was doing during his illness, he replied with a smile: “There are people suffering much more than I am”. And, on his deathbed, he said to the nurse: “Don’t wake Mom; she is tired and would worry even more”. His ability to love others was such that Father Roberto Gazzaniga remembered him as “a little piece of heaven for the other boys.”
His “kit for becoming saints”
Carlo believed that holiness was a possible goal for everyone and had even devised a kit for becoming saints:
• A great desire for holiness.
• Live the Mass and Communion every day.
• Pray the Rosary every day.
• A daily portion of the Word of God.
• A little adoration.
• Confession every week.
• The willingness to give something up for others.
A leap into eternity with a smile
His death, at just 15 years old, was a “leap into eternity,” as he himself seemed to foresee. Struck by fulminant leukemia, he faced the illness with courage and serenity that astonished everyone. He offered all his sufferings “for the Pope and the Church, so as not to spend time in Purgatory and go straight to Heaven.” Even in illness, his face was radiant and his smile disarming.
Carlo’s story moved the entire world, especially young people, who recognize him as an authentic witness to God’s love. His remains were transferred to Assisi, a destination for countless pilgrimages, and on July 5, 2018, Pope Francis declared him venerable. On October 10, 2020, he was beatified, and now the Church is preparing to proclaim him a saint on September 7, 2025.
Carlo Acutis is a young man who demonstrated that holiness is not something artificial, rigid, or detached from life, but a joyful and vibrant reality, to be attained “without wasting even a minute”. His life teaches us that, just as a well-built bridge unites two shores, so an authentic faith can unite everyday life and modern passions with a profound love for God and our neighbor, leading to a complete and contagious happiness.
Let us follow in his footsteps to rediscover that we are called to aim high in our lives, destined for a full and endless joy!
