Carlo Acutis, a saint for our time.

Having joined the lengthy, silent and respectful queue of people waiting their turn to visit the shrine of St Carlo Acutis in the Church of St Mary Major Assisi one is taken aback somewhat upon arriving at shrine by the almost normal sight of the uncorrupted body of the newly canonised St Carlo whose shock of tousled, black curly hair attests to his youth so cruelly ended at the tender age of fifteen years by pernicious illness. Clad in clothes fashionable with young teenagers at the time of his death further reinforces the sense of normality and familiarity with this young man who is truly a saint for our time. But Carlo Acutis was no ordinary young person, socially aware, affable and good company he was also at home in the world of the internet and social media becoming not just the first saint of the 21st century but also the first saint who to coin a well worn phrase was tech savvy and at home in the world of social media whose potential he put to good use in spreading the Christian message and underpinning his good works in his all too short life on this earth.

His elevation to sainthood on 7th September last a short nine years after his death bears testimony to his sanctity as manifested by his good works and practice of his faith which benefited and encouraged a great many young people.

My first encounter with St Carlo was through my involvement with the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus who have long supported the cause for beatification and later canonisation of St Carlo through prayer, religious observance and practical promotion through the publication and distribution of posters, literature and prayer cards along with the promotion of prayers for his beatification and canonisation. In the weeks and days before the day of canonisation, Primary councils of our Order located around the country distributed in excess of 10,000 prayer cards and 10,000 pamphlets in parish churches which is just one example of the work undertaken by the Order in support of St Carlo. In one instance, a primary council distributed in excess of 7000 prayer cards which is no small undertaking.

Our Order along with the whole church of God rejoices in our new saint, our 21st century saint, a saint of our generations: St Carlo Acutis Pray for us.