Young Saints-To-Be: Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati

Sanctity in the Modern World

To people in the modern world, sainthood seems impossible. Even if our hearts are fully set on it, the everyday tasks and temptations of today’s busy world can easily derail our hopes and plans. These distractions aren’t bad in themselves, but they can pull us away from God if we don't have our priorities straight.

One might object that sainthood was possible in the past, or for people who abandon the world for a monastery, but it's impossible for people who have to live everyday lives. Two Blesseds of the past century, Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, would certainly object to this. Both lived ordinary lives in the modern world and can show us a clear path to sanctity even when things seem bleak.

In order for a person to be officially canonized, that is, recognized as a Saint, they must have two well-documented and investigated miracles attributed to their intercession. When a potential Saint has one of these two miracles attributed to them, they can be officially beatified. Once beatified, a person is refered to as "Blessed."

In our series The Saints: Adventures of Faith and Courage, The Merry Beggars has focused mostly on canonized Saints, but we've also created series based on several beatified individuals. We’re excited to share that two of these, Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, are now well on their way to canonization are and expected to be canonized during the upcoming jubilee year of 2025!

The New Kids: Carlo Acutis

Blessed Carlo Acutis will likely become the first millennial to be canonized. When he passed away in 2006 from an aggressive form of Leukemia, Carlo was only 15 years old. He lived a normal life - he loved video games, soccer, and even Pokemon. But he reserved his highest love for God. While his canonization has yet to be officially announced, a second miracle was officially attributed to his intercession, meaning that his canonization will likely take place in 2025 and be officially announced shortly. Speculations have been made that Carlo may be proclaimed as a Patron Saint of the Internet due to his facility in computer programming and his creation of a website to document Eucharistic miracles, still active today.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born into a prosperous family in Turin in 1901. As a young man, He lived an active life of service and joy, giving constantly from his family’s abundance to the poor and the needy. He spent his free time climbing mountains, leading hikes, and encouraging his friends in prayer. During one of his many visits to the poor of Turin, he contracted polio. Some time later, he began to feel weakness in his back, which led to eventual paralysis and great pain. He passed away on July 4, 1925, at the age of 24. an announcement was made last month that Pier Giorgio’s canonization is likely to take place next year, and while his second miracle has yet to be officially announced, it can be believed with great certainty that he and Carlo Acutis will be canonized very soon.

An Example for the Youth

Both of these young Italian Blesseds give real examples of a life of holiness lived in today's world. Both Carlo and Pier Giorgio lived fully human and normal lives, engaging with the good things they found their peers interested in without sacrificing any of their own moral fiber. But their hearts were always set on heaven, and they spent the wealth of their time and their love in preparing for eternity. Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us!

Listen to our series Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in preparation for the upcoming canonizations! You can also read more about the life of Carlo Acutis here. To stay up to date on upcoming series, check out thesaintspodcast.com!

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