St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, fully embraced the gift of life. Known as a computer whiz, he also liked to play soccer, video games, and the saxophone. Carlo was a little “different” at school, in the pizzerias, and on the soccer field. What set Carlo apart was his constant pursuit of holiness. In addition to his fun hobbies, he spent time teaching catechism classes and serving in soup kitchens. Carlo loved to attend daily Mass and frequent Eucharistic adoration.
While St. Carlo was just a regular boy from Milan he used his interests and gifts to grow in holiness. We’ve compiled 5 of St. Carlo’s best quotes to inspire young Catholics like him to embrace their faith and get to know Jesus.
“Throngs of people stand in interminable lines to buy tickets to rock concerts or soccer matches, but I don’t see crowds of people lined up outside church waiting to see Jesus in the Eucharist. This should make us pause and reflect.”
How are we bringing Christ to others? When we receive the Eucharist, we are filled with Christ himself and our call at the end of Mass is “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” If we aren’t living in a way that both shows our love and service to the Lord through our actions, how can we truly share the truth and significance of the Eucharist?
“Everyone is born as an original, but many people end up dying as photocopies.”
We are all called to be saints and God made you who you are on purpose! Be you because who you are is important to God and a gift to your family, your friends, and anyone you encounter throughout your day.
“Prayer is the language of heaven.”
Stopping to pray during our day can be hard when we don’t make it a habit or we get so busy we forget to pause and talk to Jesus. But just like practicing an instrument, a sport, or before a big test, practicing prayer, being in conversation with God and listening to him, should be something we do to be the best version of ourselves.
“Everything fades, anyway. … What will make us truly beautiful in the eyes of God is only the way in which we loved him and how we loved our neighbors.”
What do you do to care for your neighbors? Your family, actual neighbors in your neighborhood, your classmates, those are all people it’s important to love just as Jesus does, but it’s a little easier to do that. Do you serve neighbors who need your help a little more? Maybe at school you do a service project and collect canned food for families who need it, or maybe your family gives gifts to families in need at Christmas time. Carlo Acutis would sometimes talk to and give to the poor he encountered just around his city. Perhaps this week you can save money to give to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at your parish or fill a box with things you no longer need that someone else could use.
“Jesus is very creative because he hides in a little piece of bread, and only God could do something so incredible!”
The best thing about this quote is St. Carlo’s familiarity with Jesus, he’s describing his friend. Do you have a friend you always think of or describe as creative, artistic, athletic? Carlo has such a fervent love of Christ and a true friendship with Him. You can befriend Jesus too. Pray, read the Bible, receive the Eucharist, and encounter Christ in people around you!
If you’d like to learn more about St. Carlo Acutis check out our collection of books about, by, and featuring him including our newest release Not Me, but God: The Imitation of Christ According to Carlo Acutis, Carlo Acutis: The First Millennial Saint which is where we gathered our biographical information for this article, and our OSV Kids book God’s Superheroes: Amazing Catholic Men.