It’s not every day that you encounter a saint’s statue that looks like a teenage boy walking to class – carrying a backpack and wearing a polo shirt and khaki pants.
But that is exactly what visitors to St. Mark Parish in Fallston and St. Margaret Parish in Bel Air now see when they approach newly unveiled statues of one of the Catholic Church’s newest saints, St. Carlo Acutis.
“If you read what this young man did, it brings chills,” Bel Air Knights of Columbus Council #4714 Grand Knight Bruno Baran said, adding with a laugh, “It makes you question whether you’re worthy enough to go to heaven yourself.”
Pope Leo XIV canonized both St. Carlo and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Sept. 7. St. Carlo died at 15 years old in 2006 after battling leukemia. He became known as the first saint of the digital age, using the internet to share stories of eucharistic miracles around the world.
“He was chronicling the miracles of the Eucharist, how important the Eucharist is and the adoration of the Eucharist,” said fellow knight Steve O’Brien.
The council raised $1,500 to commission the statues, which were made of fiberglass and other materials and hand–painted this past summer by an artist in Italy. The statues were formally presented during parish Masses in November.
“My daughter gave me a heads up that her parish in Annapolis was having an exhibition of the Carlo Acutis eucharistic miracles. My wife and I made a visit to see that, and we were so impressed that I hung around a bit and asked the leadership of the Knights of Columbus in Annapolis what it would take for me to borrow them for the Bel Air Council’s audience,” O’Brien said.
The council arranged for a display of the miracles at its Bel Air hall, accepting freewill donations that ultimately helped fund the statues.
The statues are striking in both their modernity and simplicity.
Baran and O’Brien believe the highly relatable aspects of St. Carlo’s life can help educate not only young people but adults as well – connecting his journey to their own paths of faith.
“It also is to educate on what his life was about and how he dedicated himself to the Eucharist and Jesus and his secret to get into heaven,” O’Brien said. “He had no fear of death. He knew he was going home. It affected his family. His mother went back to the church.”
Baran noted that although the saint endured significant pain during his struggle with leukemia, he refused to complain.
“He just dealt with it and felt that he had done his work,” Baran said. “He did not waste a moment of his life.”
Each statue of St. Carlo now stands in areas of the parishes that serve youths most directly – intentionally placed where young people can see a powerful example of holiness lived out in everyday life.
“I believe that our kids were pretty much amazed at his sainthood,” O’Brien said. “We’re hoping it provides a lot of inspiration to follow Christ and the Eucharist.”
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