A Millennial Saint in the Making
Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), the British-born Italian teenager known for his profound devotion to the Eucharist and savvy use of digital media, captured the hearts of young and old alike. He meticulously catalogued Eucharistic miracles online and used his skills to promote faith in the modern world. Though he passed away at age 15 from leukemia, his example, blending holiness with everyday life, has made him a powerful role model for Millennials and Gen Z.
First Miracle: Healing of a Brazilian Child (Beatification Miracle)
The path toward Carlo’s beatification began with a medical marvel in Brazil:
- A young boy named Mattheus was born with a congenital malformation of the pancreas (an annular pancreas), a condition so severe that it rendered him unable to eat normally and caused constant vomiting. At almost four years old, he weighed only about 20 pounds and lived on liquid nutrition.
- In October 2013, during a prayer service, the boy touched a relic of Carlo Acutis. Soon after, his vomiting stopped, and he began to eat solid food again. Medical exams confirmed that his pancreas had returned to normal, an outcome deemed “instantaneous, complete, and lasting” and scientifically inexplicable.
- Following a thorough review by the Vatican’s Medical Council, Pope Francis formally recognized the miracle on 21 February 2020. This recognition led to Carlo’s beatification on 10 October 2020 in Assisi.
This miraculous healing affirmed Carlo’s intercessory power and set the foundation for what was to come.
Second Miracle: Recovery of a Costa Rican Student (Canonization Miracle)
For his canonization, another extraordinary event was recognized:
- On 2 July 2022, a 21‑year‑old Costa Rican university student named Valeria Valverde suffered severe head trauma after a bicycle accident in Florence. She required craniotomy to relieve intracranial pressure and was given a very low chance of survival.
- Valeria’s mother, Liliana, and others began praying for Carlo Acutis’s intercession. Liliana herself traveled to Carlo’s tomb in Assisi on 8 July 2022 and prayed fervently.
- Miraculously, on the very day of the visit, Valeria began breathing spontaneously and the next day, she could move and partially speak. By 18 July, scans showed that the hemorrhage had vanished. She continued healing rapidly and was transferred to rehabilitation by mid‑August.
- Pope Francis formally recognized this miracle on 23 May 2024, clearing the way for Canonization.
Canonization Set for 2025: First Millennial Saint
With both miracles confirmed, the Church moved forward:
- On 1 July 2024, Pope Francis announced that Carlo’s canonization would take place during the Jubilee of Teenagers. The date was initially set for April 2025, with the ceremony to be held on 27 April.
- After Pope Francis’s death on 21 April 2025, the canonization was delayed. Pope Leo XIV later confirmed that Carlo Acutis would be canonized on 7 September 2025, alongside Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.
He will thus become the Church’s first millennial saint, a young believer whose digital fluency and holiness ushered the faith into the 21st century.
Why These Miracles Matter
Each miracle underscores Carlo’s extraordinary holiness:
- Beatification miracle: highlights Carlo’s spiritual accompaniment even after his death; his intercession brought healing where medicine could not.
- Canonization miracle: reaffirms that young sanctity resonates with the young; Carlo continues to draw hearts toward Christ.
As a devout Catholic audience, one can find in Carlo both a companion and a guide: in a world saturated by screens and instant messaging, his life speaks of real communion, with God, the Eucharist, and others.
Miracle and Message in Tandem
Carlo Acutis stands as a bridge between the digital era and timeless Christian virtue. Two verified miracles, one ending a child’s suffering from a life-threatening congenital defect, and another restoring life and hope following near-fatal head trauma, have unveiled him to the universal Church as a saint for our time.
His life is a testament: faith can flourish in ordinary settings, or through extraordinary tools. May his example remind us that true holiness speaks across centuries and devices, inviting all to encounter the miracle of Christ.
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