Antonia Salzano, the mother of St. Carlo Acutis, has offered a deeply moving reflection on what it means to be the mother of a saint—and how faith transforms the grief of losing a child into a testimony of love and eternal hope.
According to Catholic News Agency, Salzano recently spoke with EWTN Noticias, sharing both her joy at her son’s canonization and her continuing mission to follow his example of holiness. Her son, who died of leukemia at the age of 15 in 2006, became widely known as the “Apostle of the Eucharist” for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and his creation of a virtual exhibition of Eucharistic miracles around the world.
“A Privilege, But Also a Duty”
Reflecting on her experience at the canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV, where she and her husband Andrea, along with their younger twins Michele and Francesca, presented the offertory gifts, Salzano said, “Naturally, it’s a privilege, but also a duty, because first and foremost, I have to become a saint myself, because the call is also for me. I have to set an example,” according to CNA’s reporting.
Her words echo the spiritual responsibility every Christian parent bears: to lead by example and guide their children toward heaven. Yet for Salzano, the call now extends beyond her family to countless others seeking faith in a world “in darkness.”
“Being the mother of a saint is also a call to help others, because people are in darkness. Many people haven’t found God,” she said. “If I can give advice, speak a good word to help souls, I do it gladly, with great love, because I think the most important thing is to find God in our lives and live in God’s light.”
Consolation for Grieving Parents
Salzano also offered heartfelt advice to mothers and fathers who have lost a child; a pain she knows all too well. “The important thing is to understand that what matters is loving God [and] our neighbor,” she said in the EWTN Noticias interview, as reported by Catholic News Agency. “If you lose your child, it’s not that you’ve lost him or her for eternity. It’s not goodbye. It’s to find yourself in another, more beautiful life, with God, with God’s light.”
Her son Carlo once wrote, “Death is the passage to true life.” Salzano echoed his wisdom: “Whoever is afraid of death does so because they don’t trust in God, they don’t have faith in God. Because if we have trust in God, we cannot be afraid of death. The only thing we should fear is sin, because this can separate us forever from God.”
A Son Who Lived for the Eucharist
Salzano recalled that Carlo began attending daily Mass at age seven, committing himself to a simple but profound spiritual mission: “To always be united to Jesus—this is my life plan.”
She explained that her son lived like any ordinary teenager, studying, playing sports, spending time with friends—but his heart was always anchored in the Eucharist. “For Carlo, the central focus was the encounter with Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament,” she said.
A Mother’s Continuing Mission
For Salzano, her son’s canonization is not the end of his story—it is the beginning of a larger mission. Through her witness, she continues to call others toward faith, holiness, and hope.
“Carlo’s example reminds us that sainthood is possible for everyone,” she said. “Our children can become saints when we help them to love God above all else.”
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