November 5, 2025
Two New Saints - 1
Dear Friends,
On September 7, just about two months ago, Pope Leo canonized two young men, declaring them as saints in our Church. Their names are Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Carlo – and by the way, that is Italian for Charles – was born in 1991. He lived virtually his entire life with his parents in Milan, Italy. From a young age, Carlo showed a love for God and participated in the life of the Church. In fact, his mother says that he showed her how to live.
Carlo was known for taking up for classmates who were being bullied. He used some of his money to buy sleeping bags for the poor. And he had a passion for computer programming. Carlo showed how we can use technology for good and for spreading the gospel message.
He once said: “My secret is to contact Jesus every day.” He believed in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and he felt that he encountered Jesus in this sacrament. He even catalogued Eucharistic miracles in the world and created a website for them. Carlo said: “When we face the sun, we get a tan… but when we stand before Jesus in the Eucharist, we become saints.” Little did he know how this would come true for himself at such a young age.
Carlo was a very normal teenager. He dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt, and sneakers, and caried a backpack. I guess his laptop was in that.
When he was just fifteen years old in 2006, Carlo died from a brief illness with a very aggressive leukemia. In his short life, he visited Assisi a number of times and was drawn to Saint Francis’ simplicity, humility, and love of the Eucharist. For that reason, his parents chose to bury his body in Assisi.
Pope Francis said of Carlo: “His witness shows today’s young people that true happiness is found by putting God first and serving him in others, especially the least.” Pope Leo described Carlo Acutis as being “in love with Jesus and ready to give everything for Him.” He lifts up Carlo as a role model especially for youth. In truth, Carlo’s faith and life are an inspiration for all of us.
Next week we will look at the other saint canonized on September 7, Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Fr. Michael Schleupner
November 12, 2025
Two New Saints - 2
Dear Friends,
On September 7, Pope Leo canonized two young men, declaring them as saints in our Church. Last week’s Inbox Inspirations focused on Carlo Acutis; today’s is on Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Pier Giorgio – in English this is Peter George – was born in 1901 into an influential family in Turin, Italy. His father was the founder and editor of a newspaper and later an Italian senator and ambassador to Germany. His mother was a well-known painter.
Pier Giorgio and his sister first attended a state-run school in Turin. In 1913, he entered a Jesuit-run school and finished high school there. Then in 2018 he entered the Polytechnic University of Turin and studied engineering.
From a young age he developed a deep faith. He had a strong devotion to the Eucharist and encouraged frequent reception of this sacrament for the strength it gives us. He also had a central place for the Virgin Mary in his spiritual life. At the same time, Pier Giorgio was very active in living his faith. He was a member of the Catholic University Federation which encouraged the intellectual, spiritual, and social formation of university students. His involvement in this gave expression to his keen commitment to social justice. Pier Giorgio joined the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul which focused on caring for the poor. He personally cared for the marginalized people of Turin and would even visit their homes, bringing food, medicine, and companionship.
Pier Giorgio became a Lay Dominican. This means that while not a vowed Dominican priest or religious, one lives as an ordinary layperson while following the spirituality based on Saint Dominic. Besides daily prayer, this again included for Pier Giorgio the service of others, in other words, his commitment to social justice.
Pier Giorgio was an active outdoorsman and mountain climber. His love of the mountains inspired his motto: “Verso L’Alto” – “To the Heights.” It seems that this motto spoke to him of both climbing mountains and striving for spiritual holiness.
Pier Giorgio contracted polio and died suddenly at age twenty-four in 1925. Thousands of poor people whom he had helped showed up at his funeral to mourn his passing. Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati is a great role model for youth, young adults, athletes, and all who live an ordinary life and follow the way of Jesus in that.
Fr. Michael Schleupner
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