“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple”

Friday was the Memorial of St Teresa of Calcutta, or “Mother Teresa” as she had so widely been known until her canonisation in 2016.  We might think of saints as belonging to bygone ages, but Mother Teresa really is a modern day saint.  On Sunday, Pope Leo is canonising two further modern day saints, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, both Italian young men who, like all the saints, are wonderful role-models for us.  

Pier Giorgio Frassati Blessed Pier was born in Turin, Italy, in 1901 in a wealthy and privileged background.  From a young age he showed remarkable faith despite his family not having a strong belief.  He attended mass every day.  He thrived intellectually and was a great athlete and mountain-climber.

As a teenager, he dedicated himself to serving the poor and sick in Turin’s slums.  He gave away his own possessions and money and often went without to help those in need.  He was known for his humility, cheerfulness, and joy. He was also a political activist, standing up for workers’ rights, education, and the dignity of all people.

In 1925, at the age of 24, Pier Giorgio contracted poliomyelitis, probably from working with the poor.  His sickness progressed rapidly, and within a week, he died on July 4th.  His family was astonished when thousands of Turin’s poor attended his funeral, testifying to his hidden life of charity.

Carlo Acutis was born in London in 1991 to Italian parents and grew up in Milan. From an early age, he showed great holiness, attended mass daily, prayed the Rosary, and was known for his kindness and generosity.

Carlo was famous for his expertise with computers and came to be called “the Apostle of the Internet” for the way he used it to spread the Gospel.  Carlo befriended the lonely, defended classmates who were bullied, and used his allowance to help the poor.

In 2006, at the age of 15, he was diagnosed with leukaemia.  He offered his suffering for the Pope and for the Church, never losing his faith or joy.  Carlo died on October 12, 2006, and was buried in Assisi, a city he loved for its association with St. Francis.

Jesus is calling all of us to offer all of our lives and says, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”  These two modern day saints help us on our own journey of faith.  God bless, Fr Kevin.