Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
When we hear the word saint, many of us immediately picture holy men and women from centuries ago: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Augustine, or St. Teresa of Calcutta. These saints are indeed powerful witnesses, but sometimes they can feel distant—living in different times and places, facing struggles that seem far removed from our own. Yet the Church reminds us that sainthood is not only for the past. The call to holiness belongs to every Christian, in every generation. Each of us, in our daily lives, is invited to become a saint.
Recently, the Church has lifted up two young men as shining examples of modern holiness: Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Their canonizations remind us that sanctity is possible in the ordinary joys and struggles of modern life.
Saint Carlo Acutis (1991–2006)
Carlo was born in 1991 in Milan, Italy. He grew up like many teenagers of our own time: he loved video games, enjoyed sports, and had a knack for technology. But what set him apart was his deep love for the Eucharist. Carlo attended daily Mass, prayed the Rosary faithfully, and made time for Eucharistic adoration. He believed, as he once said, that “the Eucharist is my highway to heaven.”
Using his computer skills, Carlo designed a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles from around the world, hoping to inspire others to recognize Christ’s real presence in the Blessed Sacrament. When he was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 15, he offered his sufferings for the Church and for the Pope. He died in 2006, leaving behind a legacy of joyful, youthful holiness. Carlo shows us that sainthood is not out of reach for the young, and that technology itself can be used as a tool for evangelization and faith.
Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925)
Almost a century earlier, another young Italian witnessed to Christ in everyday life. Pier Giorgio Frassati was born into a wealthy family, but he was not absorbed by privilege. Instead, he had a heart for the poor. He quietly gave away his money, his shoes, and even his bus fare to those in need. He loved mountain climbing, sports, and spending time with friends, but he also devoted himself to prayer, Eucharistic adoration, and serving the poor of Turin.
At only 24 years old, Pier Giorgio contracted polio, likely from one of the sick he had been serving. On his deathbed, his last concern was making sure medicines were delivered to the poor families he had been helping. His funeral was packed not with the rich and powerful but with thousands of the poor whom he had quietly served. Pope John Paul II later called him the “man of the Beatitudes,” because he lived so fully the words of Jesus in Matthew 5.
A Call for Us
Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati stand as witnesses that holiness is not about age, status, or extraordinary feats. It is about choosing Christ daily, serving others, and rooting life in prayer and the Eucharist. They remind us that we too are called to sainthood—whether as students, parents, professionals, or retirees.
As we honor these two new saints, let us ask their intercession. May Carlo teach us to love the Eucharist with childlike devotion. May Pier Giorgio inspire us to live the Beatitudes with courage and generosity. And may we never forget that sainthood is not beyond us. It is the path God desires for each of us, one faithful step at a time.
In peace,
Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School