Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati: Two Modern saints Canonized by Pope Francis
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Two young men, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, were canonized by Pope Francis on October 7, 2024, in a ceremony at St. peter’s Square. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-10-07/pope-francis-canonizes-carlo-acutis-pier-giorgio-frassati.html this event recognizes their lives of remarkable holiness and confirms their intercession through miracles. The canonization, a rigorous process overseen by the vatican, elevates them to sainthood within the Catholic Church.
Carlo Acutis: “God’s Influencer”
Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) gained posthumous recognition, particularly among young people, for his deep faith and use of technology to spread the Gospel. He died of leukemia at the age of 15. Before his death,Acutis taught himself computer coding and created a website documenting miracles recognized by the Catholic Church,and also resources on Catholic faith and doctrine. https://www.carloacutis.com/ This earned him the nickname “God’s Influencer.”
the Vatican recognized two miracles attributed to his intercession:
The Healing of a Brazilian Child: In 2013, a brazilian child suffering from a rare pancreatic malformation was miraculously healed after prayers were offered through Acutis.
The Recovery of a Costa Rican Student: A Costa Rican student seriously injured in a traffic accident made a full recovery after his family prayed for Acutis’ intercession.
He was beatified in 2020, a step towards canonization, and Pope Francis formally declared him a saint on October 7, 2024.The canonization ceremony was widely observed, including via giant screens in Assisi, Italy, a important pilgrimage site. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255249/carlo-acutis-canonization-assisi-pilgrims-god-s-influencer
Pier Giorgio Frassati: A Life of Service
Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was an Italian Catholic layman known for his fervent faith, charitable work, and dedication to helping the poor and marginalized. He died of polio at the age of 24. Frassati was a member of Catholic Action, a lay institution dedicated to social outreach and evangelization.
The Vatican has confirmed two miracles through his intercession:
The Healing of a Man with Pott’s disease (1933): A man suffering from Pott’s disease, a form of tuberculosis affecting the spine, was miraculously healed after prayers to Frassati.
The Healing of a Seminarian’s Achilles Tendon (2017): A seminarian in the United States experienced a complete healing of a ruptured Achilles tendon after praying for Frassati’s intercession.
He was beatified in 1990 and canonized alongside carlo Acutis in October 2024.https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/pier-giorgio-frassati.html
The Canonization Process
Canonization is a multi-stage process that the Catholic Church undertakes to declare a deceased person a saint. It involves:
- Servant of God: The initial stage, recognizing a person’s life of virtue.
- Venerable: A declaration that the person lived a heroic degree of virtue.
- beatification: Recognition of a miracle attributed to the person’s intercession, allowing for local veneration.
- Canonization: confirmation of a second miracle after beatification, resulting in universal recognition as a saint.
The process requires thorough examination by Vatican officials and specialists who examine evidence of the person’s life, virtues, and any reported miracles. Ultimately,the Pope makes the final decision. https://www.catholic.org/saints/canonization