Devotion to Blesseds Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis is only growing as their canonization is expected soon. Although the date (or dates) is not yet set, there is a strong possibility that they will both be canonized next year at the same time.
The two young men are particularly appealing to the young faithful, leading exemplary lives and acting as wonderful role models.
And when you look closer into their lives you’ll see they have a lot in common.
With July 4 being the feast day of Frassati, we thought we’d look at some of the similarities between the two Italian saints-in-waiting:
1
Deep Faith and Devotion
Pier Giorgio Frassati: Known for his deep love for the Eucharist and devotion to prayer, Pier Giorgio’s faith was the cornerstone of his life. He regularly attended Mass, spent hours in adoration, and had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Carlo Acutis: Carlo also had a remarkable devotion to the Eucharist, often referring to it as his “Highway to Heaven.” His deep faith was evident in his regular participation in Mass, frequent confession, and his efforts to promote Eucharistic miracles through his website.
2
Charity and Service to Others:
Pier Giorgio Frassati: He was known for his extensive charitable work, often helping the poor and sick in his community. His life was marked by a genuine love for others, seeing Christ in the faces of those he served. He wouldn’t hesitate to give the shoes he was wearing to someone in need.
Carlo Acutis: Similarly, Carlo was dedicated to helping others, particularly through teaching his peers about the faith and volunteering at a soup kitchen. He had a heart for the marginalized and used his technical skills to evangelize and educate. He would save up money to buy tents for the homeless, rather than buy things for himself.
3
Joy and Holiness in Everyday Life
Pier Giorgio Frassati: Despite his wealthy background, Pier Giorgio lived a life of simplicity and joy. His infectious joy and humor made him beloved by many. In fact he was known for his pranks that were always funny and never mean-spirited. He found holiness in everyday activities, including his love for mountain climbing.
Carlo Acutis: Carlo was known for his joyful spirit and love for life, which he balanced with his deep faith. He enjoyed playing soccer, video games, and programming, demonstrating that holiness is attainable in ordinary activities.
4
Family Lives
Pier Giorgio Frassati: He was born into a well-off family with strong Catholic values. Despite his parents’ initial misunderstanding of his deep faith, they supported his education and charitable activities. His deep love for his family meant that he always put them first, to the extent that he hid the gravity of his illness.
Carlo Acutis: Carlo’s family, especially his mother, played its own crucial role in nurturing his faith. While she hadn’t been going to Mass before his birth, Acutis’ devotion encouraged her return to the Church. Both his parents supported his interests and devotion, which was instrumental in his spiritual development.
5
Early devotion
Pier Giorgio Frassati: From a young age, Pier Giorgio showed a strong inclination towards the faith, joining the Marian Sodality and the Apostleship of Prayer as a teenager.
Carlo Acutis: Carlo exhibited an early devotion, making daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament and praying the Rosary from a young age. He also developed a keen interest in catechesis and Church history.
6
Academic and Extracurricular Interests
Pier Giorgio Frassati: Although he found studying difficult, he was a diligent student, studying engineering at university. When he finished studying he planned on using his education to serve those working in the coal mines. His interests extended to mountain climbing and numerous other sports. He was also a keen linguist and could recite Dante.
Carlo Acutis: Unlike Frassati, Carlo was a brilliant student with a passion for computer science. However, he too used his talents for the good of others and created a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles, combining his faith with his technical skills.
7
Linguistically gifted
Pier Giorgio Frassati: One thing Pier Giorgio could do is communicate, and in several languages. As well as his Italian mother-tongue, he could speak German, French, and also Latin. In a letter to his friend Carlo Bellingeri, he also shared that he was trying to learn another classic, stating: “I’ll review my Greek about which I know nothing.”
Carlo Acutis: While the young tech-whizz might not have had as many languages in his repertoire, he was bilingual in English and Italian. However, ever humble Acutis would pretend in class that he didn’t know the answer to questions to give others a chance.
8
Shoes!
Pier Giorgio Frassati: The one thing Pier Giorgio loved was to help the less fortunate. He would more than happily take the shoes off his feet to give to those in need — much to his parents’ annoyance!
Carlo Acutis: The young saint appeals to today’s youth partly because of his shoes. Seeing a saint in repose wearing a pair of Nikes makes him more relatable than the saints from decades and centuries before.
9
Died young
Pier Giorgio Frassati: One of the saddest similarities between the two men is that they both died at an early age. Frassati died at the age of 24, on July 4, 99 years ago, from polio. His family was so focused on the declining health and eventual death of his grandmother — just three days before his own passing — that they hadn’t realized just how sick he was. There was a huge crowd at his funeral, including those he’d spent his life helping. It was only then that people understood the extent of his service to others.
Carlo Acutis: The young saint died of leukemia at the tender age of 15. Like Frassati he didn’t make a fuss and offered up his suffering for the Pope and the Church. His funeral, too, was full of people coming to pay their respects whose lives he’d impacted.
And today we celebrate...