Photo from: “Así fue la canonización de Pier Giorgio Frassati y Carlo Acutis.” Regnum Christi Internacional, 11 Sept. 2025

The long-awaited canonization of our first millennial Saint, Carlo Acutis, has finally come! The young boy who used the internet to promote Catholicism and had a deep devotion for the Eucharist was declared a saint on September 7th, 2025. Although, come to think of it, his picture wasn’t alone, there was another one beside his, of a young, Italian, Catholic activist, member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, called Pier Giorgio Frassati. He used his family’s wealth to lead a life of generosity serving the poor and the sick and was canonized on the same day.  

Our school, Colegio La Floresta, values humility, charity, and closeness to God in its students. This canonization aligns with these values because Carlo and Pier Giorgio are primary examples of how, even in our youth, we can live a life full of faith in Christ. This is an exemplary way of living life and connecting with Christian values that we in our school also learn. Their lives show the girls in our school that faith and generosity are possible at any age. They can be real inspirations and a source of hope that, even in today’s digital age, young people can use technology to spread faith and do good.

“Photograph of Pier Giorgio Frassati.” CTS Books, photographer unknown 

Pier Giorgio came from a wealthy family that wasn’t very religious. He had everything anyone could ever want, yet he chose to use this wealth to help and serve those who were not as lucky as he was. He could have decided to live a comfortable life but instead found that real happiness lies in giving. As he once said, “to live without faith, without constantly fighting for the truth, is not living, but survival.” He was always deeply devoted to the Eucharist and Virgin Mary. At 17 he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society, dedicating his time to the poor, sick, and war veterans. He studied mining engineering, hoping to serve Christ among miners. He was also an opponent of fascism, living his faith with courage both socially and politically. His spirituality combined with his love of life helped him enjoy art, music, theater, and poetry. Above all, he was known for his generosity, giving away his money, clothes and time to serve others. He passed away on July 4th, 1925, at 24 years old.

Photo of Carlo Acutis. Source: Communion and Liberation (clonline.org), photographer unknown. 

Carlo was a normal boy who loved playing video games with his friends. He looked very different from traditional saints, always wearing jeans and T-shirts. This made him a saint that many young people can identify with. He used his computer skills to create a website documenting miracles and spreading the Catholic faith, earning him the nickname, “God’s influencer.” He was aware of how addictive video games are and chose to only play for one hour per week, demonstrating immense self-control. He grew up in a wealthy family that wasn’t particularly religious, but his faith was evident from a young age. He helped the homeless in Milan using the money he saved up, stood up for classmates whenever they faced bullying, and supported people with divorced parents. On October 8th, 2006, he was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away four days later at the age of fifteen. His mother reported having a dream where Saint Francis of Assisi told her that Carlo would inspire a new generation of saints after his beatification and canonization. 

Both young men managed to reach a deep level of connection with their faith, while also using the resources they had to help others in need. They were never mundane. They always showed so much personality and charisma in the way they spoke and carried themselves throughout their short lives. Society expects rich people to dress and act in a certain way. Nevertheless, they chose to express their values and opinions with their outward appearance, dressing in simpler clothes, and not worrying about superficial things. They also shared the importance of centering your life around Jesus with their words and actions and thus brought so many more people close to God even after their deaths. Both of their funerals, held eighty-one years apart, were crowded with people they had helped and inspired. This spoke volumes of the kind of people they both were and how inspiring their faith was and still is.  

Carlo and Giorgio’s lives and testimonies teach us to let go of the things that won’t ever fill our souls with real, lasting happiness. They were people who freely chose to sacrifice and give a little more each day, helping others become closer with God. They knew that sacrifice isn’t sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt and kept on praying for others until their last breath. One of Carlo’s most famous quotes that summarizes his faith in very few, simple words is: “Sadness is looking at ourselves, happiness is looking towards God.” So, maybe we shouldn’t focus too much on TSITP (even if it is addictive), and instead think of the last few months more as TSITS (The Summer I Turned Saint).