The Acutis Family

20th Century: Feast Day October 12

Carlo’s parents have no idea what first attracted him to Jesus. They never took him to Mass or talked about Jesus, but from a young age, Carlo was not only interested in Jesus, but he knew and loved Him. He spoke about Jesus often, and each time they passed a church, Carlo begged him to go inside. When Carlo received his first Holy Communion, he committed to attending daily Mass so that he would never ever go a day without receiving Jesus. When Carlo’s parents saw how deeply their young son loved Jesus and was willing to do anything to be with Jesus, their hearts were also changed. 

This was the effect that Carlo had on people. He loved Jesus boldly and without shame. Jesus’s name was often on his lips. He was filled with Christ’s joy, and others wanted to share in that joy. When Carlo witnessed people his age receiving Holy Communion without believing it was Jesus’s True Presence, he decided to use technology to tell the world about Jesus in the Eucharist.

Carlo loved technology. He got his first computer when he was 11, and he got busy learning computer coding and website design. But instead of sitting for hours in front of a screen and scrolling aimlessly, Carlo began to catalog Eucharistic miracles carefully. He recognized that it is difficult to fully believe that bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, especially since the bread and wine appear, to our senses, to be unchanged. However, several times, God has allowed miracles to occur that prove the true presence of Jesus. For example, consecrated Hosts have bled, and when the blood is analyzed by scientists, it has been found to be a unique type of blood found only in the heart. This, miraculously, has happened several times around the world. We can only conclude that the hosts are bleeding with the very blood of Christ. Carlo gathered these stories and shared them on his website. He understood that a love of the Eucharist could change the world. He said, “Jesus is my great friend, and the Eucharist is my highway to heaven.”

Sadly, Carlo died when he was only 15. Thinking he had the flu, his parents took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. He died just one week later, but he died with joy, knowing he would soon be in heaven.

St. Carlo Acutis didn’t suffer from the modern plight of distraction because Jesus was always with him. He received Jesus daily in the Holy Eucharist and allowed Jesus to direct all his actions. When you find yourself distracted by technology, remember St. Carlo Acutis. Live for the Eucharist. Find time every day to connect with Jesus. And be creative in using all the blessings of this modern age to bring more people to Christ.

St. Carlo Acutis, pray for us!