Thursday 13 October 2022

7 FACTS every Catholic Parent should know about Bl. Carlo Acutis/ Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 



1)   Carlo Acutis was born in London to an Italian family. His parents before settling in Milan in Italy were migrants working in London and in Germany.

2)   His parents weren’t especially devout. They were not religious, hardly going to the church. His mom said that before Carlo, she went to Mass only 3 times; on her First Holy Communion Day, her confirmation, and on her wedding day. But because of her son Acutis she and her cousins started attending mass regularly.

3)   Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia. He offered his sufferings for the Pope and for the Church. He said if we criticize the church, we actually criticize ourselves because we are the church and there are still plenty good priests and good Catholics in the church.

4)   Even though he went for mass every day, prayed the daily rosary and confessed his sins every week he still struggled with isolation and his sickness.  Many times, my friends the devil takes advantage of our loneliness and sickness. The devil wants us to remain depressed. Therefore He said the only way to fight the devil is by participating in daily mass and praying the daily rosary.

5)   He never asked his mom to take him to the shopping mall or to a good restaurant rather he would request his mom to take him to all the pilgrimage centres of Eucharistic miracles.  Since he would ask many questions about God and religion his mom enrolled herself for a course in theology and bible study.

6)   His heart, which can now be considered a relic, is displayed in a reliquary in the Basilica of St. Francis/ in Assisi. It was his wish to be buried in Assisi/Italy in the town of his favourite saint, St. Francis of Assisi. His mother said that his family had wanted to donate his organs when he died, but were unable to do so because of the leukemia.

7)   Carlo was the only child of his parents. His mother, Antonia, is said to attribute to his intercession the fact that, at the age of 44, she gave birth to twins, born exactly four years to the day after his death. You know friends, those who are struggling to conceive or if they have suffered miscarriages, they must take courage there is still hope even in their forties.

This is about a young boy an only child, who by his strong faith and love for God so to say converted his parents to fall in love with God and to attend the church regularly.  No wonder Jesus says let the little children come to me for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Carlo’s Mother said: “Carlo’s life can teach many young people that a normal life can become extraordinary if we put God at the centre and walk in harmony with God's plan for us. Carlo did this. ”

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