Our patron for the Eucharistic Congress is Blessed Carlo Acutis. He was named the patron for the first year of a three-year Eucharistic Revival in the United States.
Blessed Carlo Acutis was a regular young boy who loved soccer, playing video games, and going to the movies with his friends. While living a relatively normal life, there was something truly remarkable about him. He possessed a deep love and devotion to Christ in the Eucharist. As the internet was gaining popularity in the early 2000s, he helped form websites for parishes, the Vatican, and made a website with information on Eucharistic miracles. He begged his parents to take vacations to 17 different countries and journaled and took copious notes on everything he witnessed. Over a span of two-and-a-half years, he documented 187 Eucharistic miracles. In the midst of his travels, he and his family prayed before hosts that have turned into blood. It is important to note that while he did not come from an overly religious family, he was instrumental in their conversion.
In October of 2006, in the midst of his research of Eucharistic Miracles, he was diagnosed with advanced leukemia. He offered his sufferings for Pope Benedict XVI, the Church, and for his direct entry into heaven. Many were moved by his witness in the midst of his great suffering. He died on October 12, 2006. In November 2016, he was named Servant of God by Cardinal Angelo Scola, bishop of Milan. In 2018, he was declared Venerable by Pope Francis, and was beatified on October 10, 2020. He is quoted as saying: “If we stand in front of the sun, we get a tan, but if we stand before the Blessed Sacrament, we become saints.”
Here on the Catholic Life Conference Committee, through our efforts to host the Eucharistic Congress in the MassMutual Center, we are praying that many may believe in Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist and may come to a deeper love of Christ and His Church. Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!
While we lift up the story of Blessed Carlo, it is also important to remember the first miracle attributed to him. And this took place in Campo Grande, the capitol of the Mato Grosso do Sul state, central Brazil, home to about 800,000 people. Rev. Marcelo Tenorio was the pastor of a local church in this region who was fascinated with the life of Carlo, after learning about him through his godson. There was a 4-year-old boy, named Matheus, who was born with a malformed pancreas. Every time he ate something, he would almost vomit instantly. His mother, Luciana Vianna, was told that he would die before the age of five. Acutis died on October 12, which happens to be the feast day of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil’s patroness. There was a celebration with Mass. After many venerated the Acutis relic. Matheus saw this and wanted to do the same. He venerated the relic and said out loud “stop vomiting.” After he venerated the relic, he had an unusual amount of energy and he was hungry. He ate beef and fries and did not get sick. It was confirmed that his pancreas was completely healed and was so textbook that it almost looked unreal. This case was investigated after being sent to Rome in March 2019. The investigation included medical exams and after a year of this, it was determined that this healing had no scientific cause and declared a miracle. Ms. Vianna is very grateful for Blessed Carlo’s intercession and believes he has an explosion of love and liveliness for the Church and has so much respect for this young saint. Her son and Blessed Carlo are forever connected. We pray for his intercession.
The Catholic Church uses a formal process with a Vatican-appointed Miracle Commission that sifts through hundreds and even thousands of miraculous claims. The commission is composed of theologians and scientists. If the person being examined has lived a virtuous life, they are considered a Servant of God. If they have risen to the level of heroic virtue, they are considered to be Venerable. In order to be declared a Saint, two miracles need to be attributed to the person after death. When they have one miracle attributed to them, they are considered Blessed.
Most of these miracles are medical in nature. There needs to be a spontaneous and complete healing to occur. When a miracle occurs through the saint’s intercession, doctors are not able to explain these healings naturally. The person who experiences a healing needs to pray solely to one person, so there is no confusion as to which saint interceded on their behalf.
Yes. The goal of our lives as Catholics is to become saints. Very simply put, a saint is someone who is in heaven. There are a few who are canonized saints. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), by canonizing some of the faithful, we are recognizing that they have lived heroic lives of virtue. We are able to relate to their example, through their lives and intercession. They pray for us on our behalf. As CCC 828 states, “The Saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history.” Indeed, “holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal.” To put it simply, if you want to change the world, change yourself.