For the letter 'C', I have chosen a Blessed that has fielded a lot of my prayers recently. He is the patron of computer programmers; I have been seeking his intercession for help with the ministries I am doing online - I just got off a Zoom Bible Study meeting and I have an Alpha on Zoom tomorrow, on both of which I am the designated "tech" person (LOL!!).
So let me introduce you to my new friend, Blessed Carol Acutis. Bl. Carlo is the newest Catholic Blessed in a couple ways. Firstly, he was just beatified on October 10, 2020. Also, he was born in 1991 - yes, that is NINETEEN Ninety-one! Most of my readers will remember 1991; I do.
Carlo was born in London to a wealthy Italian family. The family moved to Milan shortly after Carlo's birth. His parents were not especially religious and when the young boy showed an interest in religious practices, his questions were answered by the family's Polish baby-sitter. He requested to receive his First Communion early at the age of seven. Thereafter he made the effort, either before or after Mass, to spend time in reflection before the Tabernacle.
At school, Carlo would worry about his friends whose parents were divorcing and he would invite them to his home to support them. He would also defend peers who were bullied and mocked by bullies. Those around him considered him a "computer geek" on account of his skill with computers and the internet. At the age of 11 he started compiling a catalog of each Eucharistic Miracle around the world. He turned this catalog into a website which he completed in 2005. He wanted to use his gifts with the computer to evangelize the world.
He had asked for his parents to take him on pilgrimage to the locations of all the known Eucharistic Miracles, but he contracted leukemia and his declining health prevented this. He died on October 12, 2006 at the age of 15. He was buried in Assisi according to his wishes. His feast day is October 12.
No comments:
Post a Comment