The Rise of a Modern Saint: Carlo Acutis

Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church's first millennial saint, was canonized on Sunday in Vatican City, surrounded by tens of thousands of worshipers. Born in London to an Italian Catholic family, Acutis spent his short life researching the Eucharist and spreading the Gospel through his social media presence. Despite his young age and humble beginnings, Acutis's cause for sainthood has captivated the Catholic world, with his popularity growing exponentially in recent years.

Key Takeaways:

• Carlo Acutis was born in London to an Italian Catholic family and spent his short life researching the Eucharist and spreading the Gospel through social media.
• Acutis's family has significant influence within the Vatican and had contributed to the church, which has raised questions about the speed of his canonization process.
• Acutis's original canonization ceremony was postponed following Pope Francis's death, but he was ultimately canonized alongside Italian Pier Giorgio Frassati.
• Acutis's rapid rise to sainthood has generated both enthusiasm and skepticism, with some questioning whether his cause was "sped up" due to his family's influence.
• Acutis's mother, Antonia Salzano, has defended her son's sainthood, saying that his cause was thoroughly investigated by the church and that he had a profound impact on those who knew him.
• Acutis's friends, family, and teachers describe him as kind, devoted, and surprisingly devout at a young age.
• He distributed his allowance to the homeless and needy people in Milan and was known for his charitable work.
• A cause for sainthood cannot officially begin until five years after death, but Acutis's case was expedited due to the Vatican's investigation of two proven miracles.
• Acutis was beatified in 2020 after a young boy in Brazil was healed of an annular pancreas after praying to him, and then a Costa Rican woman's daughter recovered from a traumatic brain injury after praying at Acutis's tomb in Assisi.
• Veneration of Acutis has sparked a surge of interest among Catholic youths, with Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi noting that many young people are approaching or re-approaching the faith.

Statistics:

• Acutis spent his short life researching the Eucharist, reading the Bible, and playing video games like Super Mario.
• He was canonized on Sunday in Vatican City, surrounded by tens of thousands of worshipers.
• Acutis's original canonization ceremony was postponed following Pope Francis's death.
• Acutis was born in London to an Italian Catholic family and died in Milan at the age of 15.
• His family has significant influence within the Vatican and had contributed to the church.
• Acutis's cause for sainthood was expedited due to the Vatican's investigation of two proven miracles.
• He was beatified in 2020 after a young boy in Brazil was healed of an annular pancreas after praying to him.
• Then, on July 8, 2022, a daughter of a Costa Rican woman was said to have recovered from a traumatic brain injury after praying at Acutis's tomb in Assisi.

Sources:

• The Washington Post
• The Economist
• Vatican City-State
• The Catholic Church
• Antonia Salzano (Carlo Acutis's mother)
• Cristiano Zamporri (a student from Milan who wore an Acutis scarf)
• Antonio Gaspari (a Catholic journalist and longtime family friend)
• Fabrizio Zaggia (a religion teacher at the Leone XIII school of Milan)
• Andrea Grillo (a Rome-based Catholic theologian)
• Nicola Gori (the Vatican postulator on the Acutis case)
• Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi