Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis is blessed

IC photo/Marie Mischel

+ Enlarge

Following the Dec. 2 Mass at which Bishop Oscar A. Solis blessed the first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, Father Gustavo Vidal accommodated the faithful who wished to venerate it.

LAYTON — The first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church was blessed by Bishop Oscar A. Solis during a Mass on Dec. 2. Concelebrating the Mass was Fr. Gustavo Vidal, pastor. Deacon Bernardo Villar assisted; Deacon Dale Dillon was the master of ceremonies.

Blessed Carlo Acutis, who lived in Italy, died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15. He had a special love for the Eucharist, and designed a website that documented Eucharistic miracles throughout the world. He was beautified in 2010. The relic is three strands of his hair obtained from the bishop of the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera. Bishop Solis brought the relic back from Italy and presented it to Fr. Vidal, who is director of the diocese’s Carlo Acutis Apostolate initiative.

The apostolate is “designed to help youth ages 13-18 experience and fall in love with the true presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit and in the Eucharist,” states the apostolate’s poster, adding that this will help defeat the influences that youth face that lead to addictions, low self-esteem and even suicide. The apostolate sponsored a couple of youth rallies earlier this year; the next one is planned for Jan. 20 at St. Joseph the Worker  Catholic Church in West Jordan. The relic will be brought to the rally, as will a display of the Eucharistic miracles documented by Blessed Acutis.

St. Rose of Lima is one of only two parishes in the United States to have a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, Fr. Vidal said.

During the Mass, Bishop Solis said that Blessed Carlo Acutis is a wonderful example of the power of the Eucharist” and that “it is a tremendous blessing” for the diocese to have the relic of “a man of God, a faithful Christian who exemplified the virtue of our Christian faith, and [who had] a special devotion to the holy Eucharist.”

Blessed Carlo Acutis’ devotion to the Eucharist is a wonderful message to everyone, especially the youth, the bishop said, adding that Blessed Acutis used social media to preach the Gospel and to share the message of God’s love to the world.

The relic is intended to help promote devotion to the Eucharist and also encourage people to be excited to attend Mass, receive the Eucharist and encounter the living and saving presence of Jesus, the bishop said.

In his comments at the close of Mass, Fr. Vidal invited people from throughout the diocese to visit St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. “If you want to bring your kids, your youth groups, your Confirmation classes to learn about Carlo Acutis, we welcome you,” he said. “We want to make of this parish a pilgrimage place. Please, come. Please, bring your kids so they can follow the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis,” who is “an incredible model” for young people.

“Yes, you kids can be saints in the Church. Yes, you can give your hearts, your souls, your lives, to the Lord,” he added.