“Young people are leaving the faith”, was the finding in the recent past surveys in the developed countries. There were many reasons cited by the researchers but the main reasons were; their disconnect with the religion and science; church demonizing music, technology, movie, culture, etc; they don’t get God’s experience in the church services; questioning mind is not accepted by the church authorities; the church is judgmental and moralistic in the matters of sex; the church is being exclusive and it does not welcome outsiders, etc. It is interesting to note that the youth move away from the church as they get into their teens. The survey also found that the generation born before 1982 was much more God-oriented then the younger generation. This reality is present among all the traditions but the Catholic church experiences disaffiliation more than any other groups. It is here the call of a synod on the topic of youth becomes relevant. Pope Francis has been inviting the young people time and again to have a dialogue with the church. The church discussed in the last synod about the young people; their life of faith and the challenges in the techno-savvy world.
The church under the leadership of Pope Francis has now realized that she must concentrate on the life of a youth who has been leaving the faith. The Church discussed the life of youth in the present world but it needs a witness to prove the young people that the message of Jesus (the Gospel) is relevant even today. A normal and ordinary youth can also lead a life of holiness. The church has found a witness in the person of Ven. Carlo Acutis. Pope Francis has accepted the cause of Beatification of Ven. Carlo Acutis on 5 July 2018. He becomes the beacon of hope to bring our young people to Christ.
This young man has been inspiring many people around the world from the time; he was declared as a venerable. He is truly a witness of Christ in this modern world of technology and gadgets. He was born on May 3, 1991, to Italian Parents Andrea Acutis and Antonia Acutis. They were not particularly devout Catholics. It is said that Carlo was a special child from his childhood. He was just seven years old when he asked for the Most Holy Communion. The Parish priests allowed him to receive the Lord for his extraordinary knowledge in matters of faith. His request was to receive the Lord in silence. He received the Most Holy Communion in one of the Monasteries in Italy. He showed keen interest in the lives of Saints right from his childhood. He used to read the Bible regularly. He never missed a mass from the day of his First Holy Communion. He was blessed with an exceptional gift in computer skills. He kept his interests in film editing, website creation, editing comics, etc. He started a project of cataloguing the Eucharistic miracles in the world at the age of Eleven. He found 136 Eucharistic miracles in the world. He made a virtual museum of all the Eucharistic miracles. He forced his parents to take him for holidays where these miracles had taken place. He was compassionate and very charitable. He protected weaker friends from the pranksters and their bullies. He saved all his pocket money to make charities to the poor. He would buy basic necessary things for the poor, old, foreigner, handicapped, beggars, etc. on the roadside.
A close look at the life of Ven. Carlo Acutis gives a secret of his spiritual life. He shows us how we can make possibility to heaven, which is our final destiny. He attended the Most Holy Eucharist every day. He adored the Lord after or before the Eucharist. He made his confession every week. He received a recited rosary. He had a special love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. He read scriptures every day. He willingly gave up whatever he had, to others. Carlo lived a normal life like young people of our age. His life of faith made a difference in the lives of other young people. He completely dedicated himself to Christ.
Carlo died on October 12, 2006, at the age of 15 of Leukemia. Carlo offered his suffering to the benefit of the Church and for the wellbeing of Pope Benedict. He knew he would not survive but he was not afraid to die because he wanted to meet his master Jesus Christ. Carlo teaches us a great lesson that coming close to Christ and His Church will not make us or any young people outdated and less popular. It won’t take anything away from us, rather we will experience joy in our life. Carlo’s exhibition on the Eucharistic miracles is conducted in different parts of the world. These exhibitions are making a world of a difference in the lives of the faithful. Ven. Carlo believed that he was called to make a difference in the world therefore he said, “all people are born originals but many die as photocopies”. He did not like to die as a photocopy. He inspires us to be truthful to the plan of God. He inspires us to be original.
Carlo will now be beatified on 10 October 2020 in Assisi, Italy.
