Acutis and Frassati: The Christian Paradox

Simone Riva - Today, Pope Leo XIV will proclaim two new saints: Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis. Their “secret” was charity lived to the fullest.

“This is the Christian paradox: God does not save by doing, but by letting Himself be shaped.” This is one of the most significant phrases from Pope Leo’s splendid general audience last Wednesday, September 3. Today is a great celebration, as the Church proclaims two new saints. The lives of the saints, after all, are a continuous process of “letting oneself be shaped” in the manner of Christ.

Pier Giorgio and Carlo had many things in common, not least of which was illness and death at a young age, confirming that they were not spared from life’s challenges and trials. Within their circumstances, they showed an irrepressible drive to give themselves totally, responding to the world before them with the simplicity of children.

This approach is the opposite of a life managed by the desire for control. In the same general audience, the Pope said, “On the cross, Jesus teaches us that man does not find fulfillment in power, but in trusting openness to others, even when they are hostile.” Indeed, the temptation is always lurking to praise Christ’s words and gestures while living by an opposing method.

Loyalty to ourselves and to what the Pope calls our “thirst” will keep us from deceiving our own hearts. Our hearts constantly remind us of the fundamental needs mentioned by the Holy Father: love, meaning, and justice.

During their lives, Frassati and Acutis encountered the charismatic experiences of other saints: St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis and St. Clare, St. Dominic, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Anthony of Padua. It is striking how the experiences of men and women from centuries ago have crossed the ages to inspire two young men who have now joined the same heavenly company.

Furthermore, the lives of both revolved around the same pillars: the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. These are two pillars that, like wombs, can continually generate life in those who embrace them. A life that becomes so passionate and full that it inspires anyone willing to grasp its secret.

In an article published in Il Giorno on September 2, the Archbishop of Milan, Monsignor Mario Delpini, described Carlo Acutis: “He is likable, like a friend you enjoy meeting, a classmate you’d like to have, or a mountain lover with whom it would be pleasant to take a walk. Likability is not a feeling that can be easily described or artificially constructed.”

Among many holy figures, the presence of the saints is recognizable because it ignites a desire for their constant companionship. This relationship, which we would not otherwise have, sparks the drive necessary to make our own contribution to the world. In a historic catechesis on holiness, Benedict XVI expressed it this way: “How can our way of thinking and our actions become the thinking and acting of Christ and with Christ? What is the soul of holiness? The Second Vatican Council clarifies this, telling us that Christian holiness is nothing other than charity lived to the full” (General Audience, April 13, 2011).

Charity lived to the full is a hallmark of the lives of Pier Giorgio and Carlo, as it is for all saints. The superabundance of grace one experiences naturally overflows and seeks to be shared. Life thus becomes a wonderful adventure: the adventure of “letting oneself be shaped.”