EDITORIAL

A New Intercessor for Young People

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It was announced last week that on October 10 of this year, Carlo Acutis, who died from leukemia in 2006 at the tender age of 15, will be beatified. His life here on earth was far too short, but it was long enough for him to achieve his life’s goal, which was “to always be close to Jesus.” In addition to living a life of exemplary virtue — especially during his battle with leukemia — Carlo had a deep love for our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He found his strength in his daily reception of Holy Communion, which he called his “highway to heaven.”
Carlo eventually combined his love of the Eucharist with his love for computers, by building an excellent website in which 136 Eucharistic miracles are catalogued and explained. All are encouraged to visit the site and to seek Carlo’s intercession — especially for the young people in our lives. At a time in history when many of them are rejecting the Eucharist and the practice of their faith — and using their computers to access pornography and to engage in uncharitable and immodest exchanges on social media — Carlo Acutis’ light shines brightly.
Carlo has shown us that “faith” and “technology” are not mutually exclusive categories, and that technology can (and should!) be used to proclaim the gospel message to the world in the 21st century. Thus, we should not be surprised if someday in the not-too-distant future Carlo Acutis is declared to be “the patron saint of the internet.”

Editor’s Note: The website on which Carlos Acutis catalogued 136 Eucharistic miracles can be viewed by visiting www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html.