Meet Carlo Acutis, the Church’s first millennial saint.
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE
Milan: Carlo Acutis’ Hometown
Starting in Rome and the Vatican, we follow Carlo’s footsteps by traveling to Milan, Italy, Carlo’s hometown.
Rome Correspondent for EWTN News and author of the book “Carlo Acutis, A Saint in Sneakers,” Courtney Mares shows us the way:
“Carlo has inspired my work in the world of journalism and media. And my hope is that in this video, you too will be inspired by Carlo’s witness of what holiness can look like in the 21st century.”
Although to tourists, the Duomo of Milan is just an iconic attraction. To Carlo, it was his cathedral. Construction began in 1386 and took nearly nine centuries to complete. Napoleon commissioned the facade while occupying Italy in the 19th century, and gargoyles and statues of saints were added over time with still room for more in today’s age.
Here they celebrate mass in the Ambrosian Rite, instituted by Saint Ambrose, which is local only to Milan. This is the same liturgy that Carlo would have attended.
Carlo Acutis’ Parish Church
But where did Carlo attend Mass? For that, we’ll make our way to Carlo’s neighbourhood. Carlo lived in the area west of the Duomo called Zona Magenta, a picturesque part of Milan that’s tucked away but filled with iconic sites.
Mares takes us to his neighborhood:
“We have arrived at the Church of Santa Maria Segreta, where Carlo Acutis attended daily mass and grew in his love and devotion for the Holy Eucharist.
“One of Carlo’s favorite phrases was, ‘The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.’ And this phrase really sums up the centrality of the Eucharist in Carlo’s spiritual life. When Carlo received his First Communion at the age of seven years old, he told his parents that he wanted to always be united to Jesus in the Eucharist. And he accomplished that by attending Mass as often as he could.”
Inside the 16th century church, the pastor, Don Maurizio Corbetta, offers a pilgrim experience where he shows the very spot where Carlo used to sit and pray in front of the Tabernacle.
The church has a side chapel holding a relic of Carlo’s heart for pilgrims to venerate.
Don Maurizio points out, “Here’s the third phrase: ‘Not me, but God!’ What do I tell the young people? Carlo is a friend of God—so it’s a good idea to have friends who are friends of God. Because when we have something to ask, we can turn to Carlo and say, ‘Here, bring these requests before Jesus for us.’”
Carlo Acutis’ Elementary School
Across the piazza, we find Carlo’s Elementary school. This location represents a place where his faith, talents, and education all intersect. As a child, he developed a sense that every person is born an original made by God.
The sisters who taught Carlo in class witnessed this firsthand.
Carlo’s 2nd Grade Religion Teacher, Sister Monica, noted, “Each of us is truly original. So, what is your originality? Just as Carlo discovered the Eucharist as the source to understand his own, and through that, developed an inner dialogue with Jesus—he could ask Him: ‘Where should I go? How can I be original?’ And that becomes a way to make holiness accessible to everyone—to me, to you, to all of us.”
Carlo’s 2nd Grade Homeroom Teacher Sister Miranda shared, “I didn’t know. I didn’t realize he was a saint when he was a boy. A little pupil in my school. And this is interesting, because we must know that God doesn’t ask to us to be like Carlo Acutis. He asks us to be like we are… We have to think of ourselves and see, ‘what is the beautiful project that God has upon us?’ This is the message of Carlo.”
Personal Friends of Carlo Acutis
Speaking with people who knew Carlo personally adds life to any walking tour. This is Rajesh, who worked for the Acutis family as Au Pair. Carlo inspired Rajesh to convert from Hinduism to Catholicism. They share many memories together:
“Each and every corner of this garden, after coming to fetch Carlo, after his class is over. I used to bring Carlo here, and we used to play together. Little by little when he was growing up, Carlo was always talking about the miracles that happen. He wanted to just share this message of Eucharist miracles.”
As the Church’s newest saint, Carlo is an example to young people that true happiness is found when you put God first.
Download the EWTN Travel Jubilee app today
Adapted by Jacob Stein
Produced by Anthony Johnson; Camera by Anthony Johnson and Gianluca Gangemi; Video Edited by Anthony Johnson
