Bishop Patrick McKinney encouraged all schools in the diocese of Nottingham to ask Blessed Carlo Acutis to pray for them. Carlo was born on May 3rd 1991 in London where his parents worked. After a few months they moved to Milan, Italy. He was well known for loving the Lord, Our Lady and saying that Jesus was his friend. As a child, Carlo loved to pray the Rosary. He tried to go to Mass or ask his parents to go there as often as he could to try to convince others to receive Holy Communion daily. He also made Holy Hours before or after Mass. He was a very good programmer and had a camera to make funny videos. He built a website about Mass and God.
On the site, he shared this message with people: “The more often we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.” When he went outside, he did long “litter hunting” trips on the beach. At school, he defended children who got picked on. He gave his pocket money, sleeping bags and food to the homeless. As a teenager, Carlo got very ill and had to go to hospital. He said, “I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, the Pope and the Church.” He died on 12th October 2006. He was designated “Venerable” in 2018 and was designated “Blessed” October 10th 2020. He is a saint.
By Fran Hazel
PICTURE: CNS photo/Sam Lucero, The Compass