BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS; FIRST SAINT IN JEANS, T-SHIRT AND A COMPUTER WIZARD
“A Boy of the internet age and a model of holiness of the digital age” - Pope Francis “First Saint dressed in Jeans, Sneakers and a sweater”
The tomb of Carlo Acutis was opened in Assisi, his hometown prior to beatification and was found to be intact but not in-corrupt. The following is the statement of Archbishop Sorrentino of Assisi on October 1.
“Today we see him again in his mortal body. A body that has passed in the years of burial through the normal process of decay, which is the legacy of the human condition after sin has removed it from God, the source of life. But this mortal body is destined for resurrection”. Carlo who was conferred the title Blessed on October 10 was a victim of the dreaded disease leukemia at the age of 15 and died in 2006. The teen was known for being a Computer wizard proficient in programming and did not have other interests which teenagers normally have. He was a very religious person from his early years, attended daily mass and had an intense love for Jesus and Virgin Mary. The heart of Acutis which is considered a Relic will be displayed in a glass reliquary in the basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. According to officials, a certain amount of reconstruction work was necessary on the face before display as Acutis had brain hemorrhage at the time of death. It is also mentioned that as a consequence he was in intense pain and he had offered his sufferings to God. Acutis’ tomb will be available for public veneration from the October 1-17 despite the restrictions imposed by the health authorities in view of the Corona pandemic.
He used his Computer skills to great advantage by investigating and compiling the illustrated details of Eucharistic Miracles around the World and thereafter together with his Mother Antonia Salzano produced the first Vatican Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition in 2004. Following this Exhibition it was also displayed in many countries including Sri Lanka and portrayed colourful exhibits with detailed descriptions which was in fact a fulfillment at least in part of the program of new evangelization of the world proposed by Pope John Paul II. These exhibits were also shown in a website constructed by Carlo “Miracoli Eucharistici” so that access to information was possible worldwide. In this website incidentally descriptions of the Miracles currently are also available in Sinhalese and Tamil as well due to the feedback provided by us. Pope Francis described him as follows “Carlo is a boy of our time. A Boy of the internet age and a model of holiness of the digital age.” A spokesperson in Assisi said. For the first time we will see a Saint dressed in jeans, sneakers and a sweater.” According to the Catholic News Agency, Carlo’s Mother Antonia, expressed that she was very much moved at seeing the Son’s body and further said “We hope that through the exposition of the Carlo’s body, the faithful can raise their prayers to God with greater fervor and faith who through Carlo invites us all to have more faith hope and love in Jesus and offer our prayers for all our brothers and sisters just as Carlo did in his earthly life. We pray that Carlo will intercede for all of us with God and obtain many Grace for us”. Carlo will ideally be a role Model for the Catholic youth all over the world. His love for Jesus and Virgin Mary and daily attendance at Holy Mass in the materialistic world of today is indeed a worthy act to follow.