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(OSV News photo/Matteo Minnella, Reuters)
Yesterday, the worldwide Church celebrated the canonization of two modern saints, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis. Together, the two new saints are patrons for youth and young adults.
Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was a young man from Turin, Italy. He was called the “Man of the Beatitudes” by St. John Paul II for his work of bringing comfort and joy to those suffering, hungry, and in need. Frassati was active in the life of the Church through adoration, service, social and political action, and more. He could often be seen walking the streets of Turin with supplies for the poor–so much so that his friends called him the “Frassati Impresa Trasporti” (Frassati Transport Company). A lover of mountain-climbing, he regularly organized trips for prayer and liturgy on the summit and became known for the phrase “Verso L’Alto” which means “to the heights.” He died at the age of 24 from polio, which doctors speculated he caught while serving those who were sick and dying. At his funeral, the streets of Turin were filled with multitudes, including the poor and needy whom he had served. His feast day is July 4.
Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) was a teenager from Milan, Italy. He is the first millennial saint and is known for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and for creating the website The Eucharistic Miracles of the World. Carlo evangelized his parents, family, and friends. He showed special concern for the needs of those living in poverty. “Conversion,” he said “is nothing other than lifting one’s gaze upward. All you need is a simple movement of the eyes.” He passed away at 15 from leukemia. His parents and twin siblings were present at Sunday’s canonization. His feast day is October 12.
In his homily, Pope Leo remarked that: “Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are an invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives, but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces. They encourage us with their words: ‘Not I, but God,’ as Carlo used to say. And Pier Giorgio: ‘If you have God at the center of all your actions, then you will reach the end.’ This is the simple but winning formula of their holiness. It is also the type of witness we are called to follow, in order to enjoy life to the full and meet the Lord in the feast of heaven.” |
