A first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be the Church’s first millennial saint when canonised next year, has been secured by Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood, in the Diocese of Broken Bay.
The relic, a strand of hair, will go on display at Our Lady of Dolours later in the year. People throughout the world, especially students and young people, have prayed for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo who died of leukemia at the age of 15.
Born in London in May 1991, Carlo grew up in Milan, Italy and loved computer games, the internet, and programming but most of all he loved God . The Eucharist was the centre of his life and he never stopped praying for conversions.
Carlo died within a week of his diagnosis on 12 October, 2006.
Prior to his death Carlo said;” “I am happy to die because I lived my life without wasting even a minute of it on anything unpleasing to God”.
Pope Francis recognised the first miracle that led to his beatification in 2020 when a young 3-year old boy in Brazil was healed from a pancreatic birth defect when the little boy’s mother prayed to Carlo in 2013.
The second miracle involved the healing of a 21-year old girl from Costa Rica who was near death after a bicycle accident while studying in Florence in 2022.
Pope Francis recognised this second miracle attributed to Carlo’s intercession in a decree on 23 May this year.
Although no date has been announced by the Vatican for Blessed Carlo’s canonisation, it will be sometime during the Jubilee Year next year.
“I have been deeply touched by the joy expressed by so many with the news we have received a relic of Carlo Acutis,” Chatswood’s Parish Priest and the Vicar General of the Diocese of Broken Bay, Very Rev Dr David Ranson said.
“Normally obtaining such a relic is a lengthy process, often taking months.
“Yet securing the relic for Our Lady of Dolours was expedited with astonishing swiftness, underscoring how miracles manifest through the faithful in the most extraordinary of ways.”
When Fr David read just weeks ago in early June that Carlo had been baptised in the Servite Parish of Our Lady of Dolours Chelsea, London, he immediately initiated the process to secure a relic.
The tomb of Blessed Carlo is in Assisi, at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, which is part of the Church of St Mary Major. Carlo asked to be buried in Assisi because of his love for St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the poor. The teenager would often buy sleeping bags for the homeless and give them what money he had.
The official letter of request was prepared by Bishop Anthony Randazzo granting a friend of a parishioner to collect the relic from the Bishop of Assisi.
Barely 24 hours from the official request received by the Bishop of Assisi, and within one week of Fr David initiating the process, the relic was on its way to Chatswood, Australia.
On 1 July this month, Pope Francis approved the canonisation of 15 people, including Blessed Carlo.
The Parish of Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood is now eagerly planning for the installation of Carlo’s relic on his feast day, Saturday 12 October 2024.
“I am sure this will provide inspiration to those on their faith journey, and be a place of pilgrimage for many,” Fr David said.