Who is Carlo Acutis

Despite what one might think of a young candidate for the honors of the altars, Carlo was an absolutely normal boy, like most of his peers, but with an absolutely special harmony, thanks to his great friendship with Jesus.

In addition to the main duties of his state as a student and as a son, he is able to find time to teach catechism to children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation; to volunteer at the “table of the poor” of the Capuchins and the Sisters of Mother Teresa; to help the poor living in his neighborhood; to help children in difficulty with their homework; to do apostolates with the internet; to play the saxophone; to play football; to design programs with the computer; to have fun with video games; watching crime movies and making movies with his dogs and cats.

"To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan", he wrote when he was only seven years old.

And since then he has been faithful to this plan until his departure for Heaven took place between 11 and 12 October 2006 at the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza.

From an early age Carlo has always shown a great attraction towards "Heaven".

On a special occasion, given his uncommon maturity in the things of Faith and his great love for the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Carlo was admitted to First Communion at only seven years and since then he has never missed the daily appointment with Holy Mass and a little of Eucharistic adoration, before or after Mass. And the daily Rosary.

Carlo writes that “by standing before the sun you get a tan... but by standing before the Eucharistic Christ, you become holy".

For Carlo "the Eucharist is his highway to Heaven", and also the most powerful means to become saints quickly.

Famous is his phrase: "Everyone is born originals but many die as photocopies".

In order not to die as a photocopy, Carlo draws from the source of the Sacraments, which for Carlo are the most powerful means of growing in virtue, effective signs of God’s infinite mercy for us. Thanks to the Eucharist Carlo heroically strengthens the virtue of fortitude, which will give him that courage common to all the saints, to always go against the tide, opposing false idols that the world constantly proposes to us.

The Eucharist also nourishes in him a very strong desire to be constantly attuned to the Lord’s voice, and to live always in his presence. In doing so, Carlo manages to bring that lifestyle learned at the school of the Eucharist: being among the school desks, in a pizzeria with friends or in the square for the ball game, or using the computer, becomes a living Gospel. Carlo managed in an extraordinary way, while living an ordinary life like that of many, to dedicate his life, moment by moment, to the highest end to which all men are called: the eternal beatitude with God.

Carlo, "in love with God", lived this strong presence of the divine in his earthly life and tried in every way to transmit it generously to others and still now, continues to intercede so that everyone can put God in the first place in their lives and say like Carlo: "Not me, but God"; "Not self-love but the glory of God"; "Sadness is looking at ourselves, happiness is looking towards God.

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