Carlo Acutis was born May 3, 1991, in London, where his parents were working. Just a few months later, his parents, Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano, moved to Milan.

As a teenager, Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia. He offered his sufferings for Pope Benedict XVI and for the Church, saying “I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, for the Pope, and the Church.” He died on Oct. 12, 2006, and was buried in Assisi, at his request, because of his love for St. Francis of Assisi. His cause for canonization began in 2013. He was designated “Venerable” in 2018, and was designated “Blessed” October 10, 2020.

From a young age, Carlo seemed to have a special love for God, even though his parents weren’t especially devout. His mother said that before Carlo, she went to Mass only for her First Communion, her confirmation, and her wedding. But as a young child, Carlo loved to pray the rosary. After he made his First Communion, he went to Mass as often as he could, and he made Holy Hours before or after Mass. He asked his parents to take him on pilgrimages — to the places of the saints, and to the sites of Eucharistic miracles.

Saint John Church is blessed that we have many young adults who attend Mass. Though Carlo died as a teen, he is of the generation of our young adult parishioners. Like them, he grew up with computers and computer video games. Like them, he practiced the Catholic faith in a secular milieu. I hope to create devotion to Blessed Carlo Acutis at Saint John’s in honor of our young adult parishioners.