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ROME – The tomb of Venerable Carlo Acutis was open for public veneration from October 1, before the beatification of the teenage computer programmer on October 10.
The computer genius was beatified in the city of Assisi, in the province of Perugia, in Italy, after a Brazilian boy was cured of a rare disease due to his intercession.
A spokesperson for Acutis’s beatification told the Catholic News Agency (CNA) that the entire body was present, but “not uncorrupted.”
“Today … we see him again in his mortal body. A body that has passed, in the years of the burial in Assisi, through the normal process of decomposition, which is the legacy of the human condition after sin has taken it away from God, the source of life. But this mortal body is destined for resurrection, ”Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi said at a mass at the opening of the tomb on October 1.
The bishop explained that Acutis’s body was “reassembled with art and love.”
Child of the Internet Age, Model of Holiness
Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was known for his computer programming skills and his love for the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary.
The heart of Acutis, which can now be considered a relic, will be displayed in a reliquary in the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi.
Her mother said her family had wanted to donate her organs when she died, but were unable to do so due to leukemia.
Carlo is a boy of our time. A child of the Internet age and a model of holiness of the digital age, as presented by Pope Francis in his letter to young people around the world, ”said Sorrentino.
He added: “The computer… has become a way of traveling through the streets of the world, like the first disciples of Jesus, to bring to hearts and homes the announcement of true peace, which quenches the thirst for the infinite that lives in the human heart. “
Reconstructed face
The rector of the Sanctuary of Dispossession in Assisi, where Acutis’s tomb is located, told EWTN that reconstruction work on Acutis’s face was necessary before the public hearing of the tomb.
Acutis had a brain hemorrhage at the time of his death and offered his suffering for the Pope and the Church.
“His body was found to be completely integral, not intact, but integral, with all his organs. A job was done on his face, ”said Father Carlos Acácio Gonçalves Ferreira.
“Somehow, his earthly face will be seen again. But that face, let’s not forget, at this point does not point to himself, but to God ”, said Bishop Sorrentino.
Acutis’ tomb is open for public veneration from October 1-17 in Assisi to allow as many people as possible to pay a prayer visit in the weeks leading up to and after his beatification on October 10, despite the fact that the coronavirus measures limit attendance.
Holiness is achievable for teens
In her interview with EWTN, Ferreira praised Acutis as a witness that holiness is achievable for teens.
At the grave, Acutis is dressed in the casual clothing he used in everyday life. While he was not buried in these clothes, they are expected to provide evidence of the teenager’s life.
“For the first time in history we will see a saint dressed in jeans, sneakers and a sweater,” said the rector.
“This is a great message for us, we can feel holiness not as something distant but as something very within everyone’s reach because the Lord is the Lord of all.”
The year before his death, the Italian teenager researched Eucharistic miracles to create a website that would catalog and share this information with others.
17 day celebration
As part of the 17-day celebration of Acutis’s beatification in Assisi, two churches host exhibits of Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions that he cataloged and attempted to spread through the creation of websites.
These exhibitions, in the Cathedral of San Rufino and the Cloister of the Basilica of Santa María de los Ángeles respectively, will take place from October 2 to 16.
The veneration period is flanked by Masses in the sanctuary, a fitting way to honor Acutis, who was known for his deep love for the Eucharist, never missing daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration.
The churches of Assisi will also offer the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every day.
The celebration of his beatification also included several youth events, including a virtual meeting of young Italians on October 2, entitled “Blessed are you: a school of happiness.”
On the eve of the beatification a youth prayer vigil was held. The vigil, called “My way to heaven,” was led by Archbishop Renato Boccardo of Spoleto-Norcia and Auxiliary Bishop Paolo Martinelli of Milan.
It was held in the Basilica of Santa María de los Ángeles, which contains the small church where Saint Francis heard Christ speak to him from a crucifix: “Francisco, go and rebuild my Church”.
Had in common with San Francisco
The tomb of Acutis is in the Sanctuary of Dispossession of Assisi, where it is said that a young Saint Francis of Assisi stripped himself of his rich clothes in favor of a bad custom.
“Carlo Acutis, like Saint Francis, had in common, in addition to his love for Jesus and in particular for the Eucharist, a great love for the poor,” Sorrentino said when he announced on October 1 that a soup kitchen would open near the Shrine. of Dispossession in memory of Acutis.
Carlo’s mother, Antonia Salzano, said she was deeply moved by the opening of her son’s grave for public veneration.
“We are delighted that Carlo’s grave has finally been opened, especially since the faithful that Carlo has spread throughout the world will be able to see and venerate him in a stronger and more attractive way,” he said.
“We hope that through the exposition of Carlo’s body, the faithful can raise their prayers to God with more fervor and faith who, through Carlo, invites us all to have more faith, hope and love for Him and for our brothers as Carlo did. in his earthly life. We pray that Carlo intercede for all of us before God and obtain many graces for us ”, added Salzano.
