The beatification of Carlo Acutis will be a 17-day celebration in Assisi
Acutis was 15 when he died of leukemia in 2006, offering his suffering for the pope and the Church.
In October in Assisi the beatification of the computer programming teenager Carlo Acutis is celebrated with over two weeks of liturgies and events that the bishop hopes will be an evangelizing force for young people.
"Now more than ever we believe that the example of Carlo - a brilliant Internet user who loved to help the least, the poor and the misfits - can unleash a driving force for a new evangelizing momentum", said Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi at the announcement of the program of events.
Starting from 1 October, the tomb of Carlo Acutis (pictured below) will be open for veneration for 17 days from 8:00 to 22:00 to allow as many people as possible to make a prayerful visit. Acutis' tomb is located in the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in Assisi, where a young Saint Francis of Assisi is said to have thrown away his rich clothes in favor of a poor habit.
Tomb of Carlo Acutis
The tomb of Venerable Carlo Acutis in Assisi. (Photo: Alexey Gotovsky)
The period of veneration from 1 to 17 October is accompanied by masses in the sanctuary, an appropriate way to honor Acutis, who was known for his deep love for the Eucharist, never missing the daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration. Churches throughout Assisi will also offer the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every day.
Two of the other churches in Assisi will host exhibitions on Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions, topics to which Acutis had attempted to spread devotion by creating websites. These exhibitions, respectively in the Cathedral of San Rufino and in the Cloister of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, will take place from 2 October to 16 October.
Acutis was 15 when he died of leukemia in 2006, offering his suffering for the pope and the Church.
The October celebration of his beatification will include several youth events, including a virtual gathering of young Italians on 2 October entitled "Blessed are you: a school of happiness".
The night before the beatification there is also a youth prayer vigil. The vigil, called "My Highway to Heaven", will be led by Archbishop Renato Boccardo of Spoleto-Norcia and Auxiliary Bishop Paolo Martinelli of Milan, in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which contains the church of San Francesco heard Christ speak to him from a crucifix: “Francis, go and rebuild my Church”.
The beatification of Carlo Acutis will take place in the Basilica of San Francesco at 16.30 pm on 10 October. Limited places have already been reserved for this event. But the city of Assisi is setting up large screens in many of its squares for public viewing.
With tickets for the same beatification limited due to coronavirus restrictions in Italy, the bishop of Assisi said he hoped the long period of veneration and numerous events would allow many people to be close to "young Charles".
“This young man from Milan, who has chosen Assisi as his favorite place, has understood, even following in the footsteps of St. Francis, that God must be at the center of everything”, said Mgr. Sorrentino.