The Eucharist is the highway to heaven – Carlo Acutis

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I had heard about Carlo Acutis several years before his relics and Eucharistic Exhibition came to my church. I was intrigued not only by such a young man who was venerated and declared Blessed, but by how recently he had died (in 2006) of acute promyelocytic leukemia. He was near enough to my kids’ ages that it was something that pulled at me. I had seen photos of him and read brief snippets, but when I was told that this exhibition and his relics were coming to our church for nearly a week during Lent, I began to read more. I volunteered to help during the exhibition, and I attended the talks given by the woman, Eileen Wood at Catholic Quest, who was custodian of this display and his relics as well as several of the liturgies held during that week. We also had our own resident expert give a couple of talks about relics in general as well as Eucharistic miracles in particular. It was a busy time at our church, and we had over 1500 visitors in the time we held the exhibit.

The exhibit was inspired by Carlo’s own works in writing about and posting the Eucharistic miracles on his website. It became recognized by the Vatican and eventually was turned into posters with photos and narratives explaining the miracles. One year before the exhibition came to our parish home, there was a Eucharistic miracle in nearby Connecticut where hosts were multiplied during a mass service. This was in 2023, and masses were still being streamed, so some of the reactions can be seen on video if you go to YouTube. This article talks about what happened.

There was something dynamic about reading about the miracles, some sounding more and more fanciful, but with the recent one kept in my mind, it was easier to believe and easier to fathom how some of these miracles occurred. While reading the texts and looking deeply at some of the photographs, I still maintained an eye in the alcove with the relics of both Blessed Carlo and Saint Manuel Gonzalez-Garcia, the Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle. I was drawn there by the presence of the relics and the Eucharist. I, and many others, created our own third-class relics by touching important objects to the first-class relics on display to be venerated. I did two for Blessed Carlo and one for St. Manuel.

Prior to the exhibit, I prayed a novena to Blessed Carlo and after the exhibit, I took home (to borrow) a second-class relic of St. Manuel and prayed a novena to him. This pious and spiritual week still lives on for many of us as I continue to read St. Manuel’s own words that he shared during his lifetime. Blessed Carlo’s words can be found online as he was a young man of his times, spending time on his computer, not only with games and friends, but with Jesus as well and creating his website to share Jesus’ love with whoever came across his site.

If you can, please read more about Carlo Acutis. There are many books and several sources online including his own website which continues to be maintained.

There is even a comic book coming out in July – Miracles of the Eucharist with Carlo Acutis.

Recently, it was announced that Carlo had his miracle, and he would be canonized a Saint. We, at my church, and around the world, were thrilled to find out that our prayers for his canonization were answered. It hasn’t been announced when the ceremony will take place, but you can be sure I will let you know when I know. In the meantime, read about the miracle here and here.