• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Francis recognized May 23, 2024, the second miracle needed for the canonization of Italian Blessed Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. He is pictured in an undated photo. (CNS photo/courtesy Sainthood Cause of Carlo Acutis)

Here comes a saint who gives parents hope

July 3, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Saints

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Carlo Acutis has been called “God’s Influencer.”

He was born in 1991. He played the saxophone. He enjoyed video games and Pokémon. As a child and as a teen, he loved Jesus and the Eucharist. He showed kindness to those who had less than he did. He brought others closer to God.

Sadly, he was only 15 when he died of leukemia—not so long ago, in 2006. But even though Carlo Acutis lived a short life, it was a powerful one.

Now the Vatican has announced that Carlo will be canonized a saint. People around the world will have the chance to learn more about this young man who loved Jesus so much. I’m excited for them.

I can’t remember when Blessed Carlo Acutis first caught my attention. But ever since then, we have crossed paths from time to time. Every time he enters my sphere, I am filled with curiosity about this young man, along with gratitude for the life he lived and hope for young people everywhere.

I would have been intrigued by him regardless of where I am in life. But as a mother of teen boys, I find such hope and power in his story.

Carlo shows us that you can live for God even in this modern era. He reminds us that you can become a saint without founding a religious order or dying as a martyr or doing something that seems remarkable and significant. You can become a saint by living the life God invites you to live.

Carlo was raised and baptized by his Catholic parents, but in many ways he shaped his own faith journey as he came to love Jesus in the Eucharist. As a teen, he created a website dedicated to Eucharistic miracles, and he lived life for God—all while enjoying life as a teen, too. His life is inspiring thousands—and bringing people closer to God.

And his story means so much to me as a mother today. It’s not easy to keep yourself on a path to holiness, never mind your own children. There are temptations and pitfalls all around. Trying to navigate dynamic, evolving technology with your children can feel impossible.

Our children today are forced to mature faster in some ways and not fast enough in others. It’s a tense time, a violent time, a confusing time. But there are beacons of light and faith, and stories like Carlo’s serve as a beautiful reminder that God is with us. We are called to do our best as parents. But we also have to trust that our children will find their paths. I take comfort in remembering that Jesus is relentless in his love for them, and he will never stop trying to reach them.

At such a young age, Carlo was able to take technology and create a tool to bring people closer to God. He was also able to play video games and enjoy other teen activities—and still keep Jesus central in his heart. He gave to those who were poor and needy. He received Communion daily. He was kind and generous and had fun, and he found his way home to God.

“God has written a unique and unrepeatable story for each of us, but he lets us write the ending,” Carlo Acutis said.

We have that chance to write the ending. What a wonderful example for teens—and for all of us—that everything is possible, that God loves us each as we are, and that he wants us to find our way. God will help us on that path, however we choose to write that story—for and with him.

Carlo Acutis, pray for us.

More on the saints

Walking with saints

JUBILEE-YOUTH-FRASSATI

Thousands visit Blessed Frassati’s remains in Rome for Jubilee of Youth

Jubilee 2025

Young teen’s relics a reminder for pilgrims that holiness ‘is not impossible’

newman

Pope paves way for St. John Henry Newman to be formally named doctor of the church

Poland’s ‘living memorial’ to St. John Paul II marks 25 years of transforming lives

Body of Blessed Frassati, relic of Blessed Acutis will be in Rome for Jubilee

Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Can AI help the church evangelize?

Children of Abraham: Let us find another way to peace

Question Corner: How accurate is the portrayal of Judas in ‘The Chosen?’

The popes at Tor Vergata: From John Paul II’s vision to Leo’s witness

Faith’s family tree

| Recent Local News |

Sister Agnese Neumann dies at 96

Maryland Catholic Conference pleads for peace on 80th Anniversary of atomic bombings

Father Donio receives Knights’ highest award for work as chaplain

Mount St. Mary’s launches new physician assistant program

Radio Interview: The Vatican Observatory

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Ambassadors call attention to starving Israeli hostages, Gazan civilians
  • Bishops in Japan: Atomic bombings a call to destroy nuclear arms, commit to peace
  • Can AI help the church evangelize?
  • Black Catholics reflect on 60 years of the Voting Rights Act, challenges
  • Review: ‘Art Detectives,’ streaming, Acorn TV
  • Wester: World must disarm nuclear weapons before AI triggers Armageddon
  • ‘Free Gena,’ plead colleagues of kidnapped Irish missionary in Haiti
  • Sister Agnese Neumann dies at 96
  • Knights of Columbus open 143rd Supreme Convention with call to be ‘heralds of hope’

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en