Hajja Salesjana

of parishes on all continents, has prompted conversions — and miraculous healings, too. His mom gets emails daily about medical miracles, with documentation, as well as conversions and favors — all through his intercession. “People are praying to him, and things are happening now, it’s incredible,” Ferrisi said. “He’s a very powerful saint. Pray to him, because he’s answering prayers left and right.” Ferrisi said her son who just graduated from college with a degree in computer science told her, “I can’t relate to the other saints, but I can relate to Carlo because he was like me, into technology.” Make a ‘Spiritual Plan’ In the second episode, Ferrisi shared the first millennial saint’s “spiritual plan.” “He’s a wonderful person to get to know,” she said, adding: “He lived a spiritual plan of life every day.” What did that daily plan include? • Mass • Rosary • Adoration before or after Mass — he could often be found in church before the tabernacle. “He had a very deep relationship with Jesus.” • Reading the Bible • Community service — he would feed the homeless with his family, including distributing leftovers, in the footsteps of St. Francis, a favorite saint of his. Bonus trivia: Carlo had mystical experiences: The Fatima seers appeared to him. Love Your Pets He loved his pets — the Acutis family had four dogs, two cats and a goldfish. “He was a big lover of animals.” Be a Good Friend “What a wonderful friend he was,” Ferrisi said, explaining that he took time to protect kids who were bullied or invited over those who had family issues — he spent lots of time with friends. Most of All, Cultivate a Caring Heart Like Christ’s “He had a very deep spiritual life” that put faith into action: spending time with friends and doing corporal works of mercy, Ferrisi said. We live for eternity, was his perspective, so he used his time wisely. “I lived my life without wasting even a minute of it,” Carlo said. Three days after being diagnosed with terminal leukemia, he died. “Carlo now is bringing so many people into the Church,” the author explained, adding that “Assisi was his favorite place on earth.” That is where he is buried — that was his dying prayer. His upcoming canonization — likely in 2025 — Ferrisi said, will be “a moment of hope and joy in the Church.” His family and cousins and friends will attend, including his younger twin siblings, who were born on the four-year anniversary of his death. Most of all, Carlo wants people to be drawn to Christ. As Ferrisi said: “He wants to lead us to a deeper relationship with Jesus, which will give us joy and hope. We have to remember that: If we become close to Carlo, we will become close to Jesus.” (Blessed Carlo will be canonised on the 27th April 2025 during the Jubilee for Youths in Rome) 34 Jannar-Marzu 2025 hajja