This week in our school community: 5 September 2025

Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis

 

This weekend we will witness the first ever canonisation of a ‘millennial saint’, who the world is hoping will be a true inspiration for our young people and point them to Christ in this era. Our school theme this year of ‘Dare to be glowing saints’ will allude to their call to holiness through our Catholic life and mission.  Much has been written about Bl Carlo and the Catholic press (Catholic Herald, The Tablet, indcatholicnews, etc) are full of articles exploring the incredible story of Carlo and Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati.  I’d like to draw particular attention, however, to this beautiful interview with Blessed Carlo’s mother (https://www.ncregister.com/interview/carlo-acutis-mother-first-millennial-saint-holiness-is-in-the-ordinary):

How were Carlo and Pier Christian witnesses during their lifetime?

Pier Giorgio would say, “Dobbiamo vivere, non vivacchiare,” which means, “We need to live, not just scrape by.” This is a beautiful phrase.  Carlo and Pier Giorgio are similar figures: They put Mass in the centre, Eucharistic adoration, assistance to others — and, above all, the announcement of the Gospel.  Pier Giorgio had an apostolate for others: to his friends in the university and to the poor. Carlo’s apostolate was through the internet with his exhibit on Eucharistic miracles that has toured the world. This exhibit is converting many people and helping many souls.  They responded to Christ’s call to go and announce the Good News to all the people: first by giving witness in their personal lives and by becoming evangelisers in the place where they lived.

Both Carlo and Pier Giorgio had many friends. They were people with whom others had fun and laughed with. Do you think that holiness is something that expands our capacity for friendship?

Surely, the more we are united to Christ and the more we have charity, the more we are attractive. The two of them filled themselves up with Christ. They were both really fun, brilliant and full of life. Pier Giorgio loved hiking in the mountains. He would climb the peaks. Of course, Pier Giorgio had some defects, like all of us. Carlo also had some defects. He loved Coca-Cola and Nutella! Each of them had their limits because to be a saint is not to be superhuman. What made them different was that they were both human beings who fought against their own defects. They were able to live heroic virtues.

So perhaps a new lesson we can learn from Carlo and Pier Giorgio is that happiness is not opposed to holiness? And maybe it is a direct result of it?

In the past, there may have been an exaggeration in the iconographies of saints. When you saw pictures of saints, they seemed to be melancholic and have sad faces. It seemed that to be holy, you could not be happy.  But I know that Padro Pio used to tell jokes. He could be very funny. St. Philip Neri was always joking around. Saints are not robots.

What can the example of Carlo and Pier Giorgio do?

When these kids learn about someone like Carlo or Pier Giorgio, it makes them reflect. Carlo’s exhibit has touched the lives of people around the world. You see that a Eucharistic Host is transformed into flesh. This is something that moves people deeply. Therefore, the things that Carlo did are bringing a great deal of fruit. There are prayer groups to Carlo around the world. This is of course for young people who have a spiritual life. However, even a nonbeliever can read about this exhibit and maybe become curious and start to think. Maybe it plants an invisible seed, and, slowly, it makes it’s way through the brambles. Maybe a flower will blossom. That is my hope.

Mr Robinson

Lay Chaplain