Saint Carlo Acutis in His Own Words: Five Sayings
Saint Carlo Acutis died at fifteen, but the things he said are still passed on by teenagers, parents and teachers. Here are five sayings widely attributed to him, and what each one can teach us today.
1. “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.”
Carlo went to Mass every day and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament whenever he could. For him the Eucharist was not a duty but the quickest road to God. It is a good thought for anyone who finds Mass hard to fit into a busy week: a few minutes before the tabernacle can change the rest of the day. The Highway to Heaven T-shirt (€15) carries these words.
2. “To be always close to Jesus, that is my life plan.”
Many people make plans for school, work and money. Carlo made a plan for his friendship with Jesus, and he kept it in the ordinary things: Confession, the Rosary, kindness to classmates. It is a simple question to ask at the start of the week: what is my plan for being close to Jesus? The Close to Jesus T-shirt (€15) is built around this motto.
3. “Not I, but God.”
Carlo spent a lot of time on computers, and he could have been proud of his skill. Instead he tried to keep pointing past himself. He used his talent to build a website about Eucharistic miracles, and he wanted the credit to go to God. The “Not Me, But God” long sleeve (€15) carries these words.
4. “Everyone is born an original, but many people end up dying as photocopies.”
It is easy to copy what everyone else is doing, wearing and watching. Carlo reminds young people that God made each of us once, and that we are most ourselves when we follow the life He had in mind for us.
5. “Sadness is looking at oneself, happiness is looking toward God.”
This one is worth saying to a teenager on a hard day. When we are only looking at ourselves, small problems feel huge. Carlo found that looking up, in prayer and in helping others, brought a happiness that did not depend on how the day went.
Keeping Carlo close
If you would like to read more about him, start with Saint Carlo Acutis: Your Questions Answered and Carlo Acutis: Meet the Church's First Millennial Saint. His feast day is 12 October, and our post on the feast describes how to mark it.
For something small to carry, try the official prayer card and bookmark (€0.50), the Carlo Acutis Medal (€1.50) or the Carlo Acutis Keyring (€3.50). Every order from Carlo's Shop supports the relic visits and school outreach work of Carlo Acutis Ireland.
Marian Holy Art is an Irish Catholic company offering unique religious gifts and devotional items inspired by Lourdes, Knock and the Catholic faith. Our products are available exclusively through Marian Holy Art and are sold at Knock Shrine, Ireland.