Discovering the Saints: How Blessed Carlo Acutis Changed My Relationship with Holiness

Teenager Beatified for His Online Holiness

In a world where saints often seem distant and unattainable, the recent beatification of Blessed Carlo Acutis offers a beacon of hope for those seeking holiness in the digital age. Acutis, who passed away at the young age of 15 from leukemia, was known for his exemplary life and his use of technology to spread the Gospel.

Before encountering Acutis, many, like myself, struggled to connect with the saints. They seemed like figures from a bygone era, locked away in stained glass windows. But Acutis’s beatification shows that holiness is not reserved for the distant past—it can be found in the here and now.

Acutis used his computer skills to create an online database documenting eucharistic miracles, showcasing how technology can be a tool for evangelization. His mother described him as an “influencer for God,” spreading light in a dark online landscape. Pope Francis praised Acutis for using new communications technology to transmit the Gospel and communicate values and beauty.

For those of us who spend much of our lives online, Acutis’s example is particularly inspiring. In a world where the internet can often be a place of toxicity and inauthenticity, Acutis’s life shows that it is possible to use online spaces for a higher purpose.

As Pope Francis said in his recent encyclical, “The internet offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity.” We must strive to build online spaces that reflect this vision, where we can encounter each other authentically and share our faith.

Acutis’s beatification serves as a reminder that holiness is not out of reach for any of us. We can all strive to live lives that reflect the values of the Gospel, both online and off. Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us as we navigate the digital world in search of connection and authenticity.