Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Monday, 12 October 2020

In view of the youngster and the elderly… the cheerful sainthood is likely

By Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader :

It is no coincidence that the youngster and the elderly become neighborly.

 

The youngster is Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 at the age of 15, is the native of Lombardy, northern Italy. The gentle, meek and cheerful elderly is Pope Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli or Pope John XXIII who became the Pontiff of the Catholic Church in 1958 at the age of 77, and died in 1963.

 

Both are from the Italian city of Lombardy. The elderly man launched the Second Ecumenical Council after his election as the 261th successor of Saint Peter. The cardinals had in mind at the time that this would be a transitional phase, especially after the tumultuous period of Pope Pius XII during World War II, which was concomitant with the enquiries raised about the Church and its position on the massacres that were committed, especially the Holocaust.

 

John XXIII led the largest reform revolution in the history of the Catholic Church, as he triggered the admiration and astonishment of the Church itself, its men, its women, and its believers.

 

How could he launch the largest ecclesiastical revolution at time when he was supposed to serve for a transitional stage able? He opened the gates of Church to the world at a time when its doors and windows were locked and there was no contact with the outside world. Pope John XXIII was able to turn the Church to be the light for the world and to deal with all modern technologies at a time when there was a constitution issued by the Second Ecumenical Council on dealing with modern media called Inter Merifica.

 

As for the Lombardy youngster Carlo Acutis who, at his young age, was also able to make an ecclesiastical revolution in the good use of social media. He launched a website for archiving the Eucharist miracles. He was beatified on Saturday, October 10, at church altars and was called the patron of Internet users.

 

Therefore, an elderly and a youngster gathered together at the altar of holiness. Carlo Acutis was beatified on October 10, 2020, and his annual feast was announced on October 12. The day following his beatification and right before his feast, marks the Catholic Church celebration of the Feast of Pope Saint John XIII (October 11 of every year).

 

Holiness in the present world is neither impossible, nor does it exclude anyone. The Pope had strived on daily basis to become a saint. This youngster had a passionate love for God by attending Holy Mass, worshiping the Eucharist daily, honoring the Blessed Mary by praying the Holy Rosary on daily bases, and by going to confession on weekly bases, as well as using the media to create a milestone in holiness in the world of today.

 

What draws attention is that holiness neither differentiates between people of a certain age, nor of social position or otherwise. The holiness is open to all, as Lord Jesus Christ says in the Holy Gospel of this Sunday, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) The Lord has chosen for sainthood two natives of Lombardy. The first noble distinguished by humor and fun, and the second, a youngster who was no less cheerful than the saint pope.

 

The invitation is open to all, and it is hoped that the wishes will be met. Is there an answerer?