Rationale: In the Gospels, Jesus exhorted his followers, and us today, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” A teenager of our time like many others, going to school and seeing his friends, and an expert for his age in computers, lived his life as salt of the earth and light of the world. This teenager is Carlo Acutis. In the next days, we will know more about the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis. As his Christian life unfolds before us, we will discover that he asks us to emulate the Gospel with our life, so that we can be a beacon lighting the way for others. By looking at this adolescent as one of the modern-day youth and as someone who was captivated by the love of Christ, which enabled him to experience pure joy, the young people of today will be in contact with an experience of life that does not take anything away from the richness of their teenage years, but which actually makes those years more valuable and meaningful. Who is Bl. Carlo Acutis? Carlo Acutis places his trust in the Virgin Mary, lives a life of grace, and tells his contemporaries about his incredible experience with God. He goes to Mass and takes Communion every day and passes hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Carlo is devoted to Our Lady, faithfully says his Rosary, and dedicates his devotions to her as his beloved Mother. In sociological terms, this boy is the same as his school friends and bears out the fact that the Gospel can also be experienced fully by an adolescent. His brief existence, reaching out with the aim of encountering Jesus, was like a beacon lighting the way not only of anyone who met him on their path but also of those people yet to know his story. Bl. Carlo and Our Mother Foundress, St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus, are not unlike each other. Both have a deep love for Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, the Church, and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Bl. Carlo’s work, the "EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES" Exhibition, is a testimony of his love for the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharistic Miracles of the World is a website created and designed by Bl. Carlo that catalogs 163 true stories of Eucharistic Miracles. The holy life of this tech-savvy teenager reminds us of the Church’s teaching in Christus Vivit: “Through the holiness of the young, the Church can renew her spiritual ardor and her apostolic vigor. The balm of holiness generated by the good lives of so many young people can heal the wounds of the Church and the world, bringing us back to that fullness of love to which we have always been called.” The words of Bl. Carlo Acutis: “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.” echo that of St. Marie Eugenie: “I must enter into a deeper friendship with Jesus Christ and believe in His tenderness. He has loved me, He has chosen me; I come from Him, I am going to Him…I will be totally immersed in Him.” Goals of the Novena and Exhibit 1) Know the life and example of Bl. Carlo Acutis. 2) Emulate the example of Bl. Carlo in cultivating an intimate friendship with Jesus Christ. 3) Nourish a love for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. 4) Witness to the goodness of God by thinking with hope, speaking in truth, and acting in humble ways. Official prayer for his cause for canonization that can be used to pray for a miracle from God. O God our Father, we thank you for giving us Carlo, a model of life for young people, and a message of love for all. You made him fall in love with your son Jesus, making the Eucharist his “highway to heaven.” You gave him Mary as a beloved mother, and you made him, through the Rosary, a cantor of her tenderness. Receive his prayer for us. Look above all upon the poor, whom he loved and assisted. Grant me too, through his intercession, the grace that I need (mention your intention). And make our joy full, raising Carlo among the saints of your Church, so that his smile shines again for us to the glory of your name. Amen. Online References: Carlo Acutis Introduction. (2015, August 19). http://www.carloacutis.com/en/association/ presentazione Fenton, F. P. (2020, October 20). Who is Carlo Acutis? 10 things you should know about him. Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/46048/who-was-carlo-acutis-acna-explainer FILIPINO version of the official prayer for his cause for canonization. O Panginoong aming Ama, Pinasasalamatan Ka namin sa pagkakaloob mo sa amin kay Carlo, Isang huwaran ng buhay para sa mga kabataan, at mensahe ng pagmamahal para sa lahat. Hinayaan Mo siyang ibigin ang Iyong anak na si Hesus, hanggang sa ang Eukaristiya ay gawin niyang “daan tungo sa kalangitan”. Ipinagkaloob mo sa kanya si Maria bilang kanyang iniirog na ina, at sa pamamagitan ng Rosaryo, ay ginawa mo siyang tagapag-awit ng kanyang kabutihang-loob. Dinggin mo ang kanyang dalangin para sa amin. Kalingain mo higit sa lahat ang mga naghihirap, na kanyang minahal at inalalayan. Ipagkaloob mo rin sa akin, sa pamamagitan niya, ang pagpapalang aking kailangan (banggitin ang iyong kahilingan). At gawin mong ganap ang aming kagalakan, na dinadambana si Carlo kasama ng iba pang mga banal sa iyong simbahan, upang ang kanyang ngiti’y aming muling masiliyan tungo sa kadakilaan ng iyong ngalan. Amen.
