When we think of saints within the Catholic Church, it’s normal to conjure up images of medieval heroes, pious contemplative nuns or miracle-working bishops. But in recent times the world has come to know of an enthusiastic, joy-filled millennial called Carlo Acutis, who was beatified in 2020.
It’s mind-blowing to consider Carlo among the ranks of holy men and women who have walked this earth, considering he was only born in 1991. Like most of the youths of his time, he enjoyed computer games and sports, but his love for God was much greater. After receiving his First Holy Communion, he went to Mass every day, and he used his skills with computers to create a website detailing Eucharistic miracles.
This year, a relic of Blessed Carlo has been travelling around Australia, visiting schools and parishes, in conjunction with the exhibition of Eucharistic miracles that Carlo created. I was fortunate enough to be able to see the exhibition and venerate the relic in my local diocesan cathedral a few weeks ago.
Blessed Carlo’s exhibition was particularly impressive. More than 100 miracles are included in the exhibition, each with a tremendous amount of well-researched information and detail. Clearly, Blessed Carlo had a deep love for and devotion to the Eucharist during his lifetime.
In today’s modern world, we like to have answers for everything, from why it’s raining during summer to why little Johnny has a mysterious spot on his ankle. Even when science has no explanation for miraculous events, we still seek ways to rationalise them. Belief in the Eucharist as the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ takes an act of great faith. Faith like Carlo Acutis had.
Recently, it was announced that Sydney would host the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress; an event that will rival the scale of the 2008 World Youth Day. According to Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Eucharistic Congresses are “animated by the belief that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, and that, through the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, Catholics can renew their faith and be spiritually nourished to carry out their mission of evangelisation and service to all people”.
During the next four years, as the Church in Australia prepares for the Eucharistic Congress, there will be many opportunities to deepen our understanding of and love for the Eucharist. Let’s aspire to follow the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ faith – a teenage millennial with a deep belief in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. And let’s pray for more people to come to love the Eucharist like Blessed Carlo Acutis did!
Links
Blessed Carlo Acutis’ Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition
Sydney to host International Eucharistic Congress 2028
Image: Association of Friends of Carlo Acutis
Words: Matthew Biddle