Augustine Mary F.

Abellana
The existential elements in the life of Carlo Acutis

If I would compare myself to Bl. Carlo Acutis in terms of holiness and spirituality, then I
would see myself as a total sinner. My mind is impure from his because I think of earthly things
and desires while Bl. Carlo Acutis think only of God, Mary, and holy things.
What struck me is that he is the only one in the family who goes frequently to church
every day. Well I don’t know with why others of his family don’t go to church, but that is
already something. It would be weird for me, if I were him, going to church alone without my
family. It is already something. It “something” I should say. He was not left with the herd
mentality. He made his way to what he would want to become in life. The journey of becoming
an individual entails great hardships because it something about knowing yourself rather than
knowing what others what they want for you to become. It was simple desire for him; to
document the lives of saints and lead other people to live a saintly life. And now, he is on his
way to sainthood.
Even if he was born with a ‘not so religious’ family, it was unexpected that he goes to
mass frequently without the other members of the family. He was aware of making choices like
in the ethical stage of becoming an individual in Kierkegaard. And then became a person
making a choice beyond good and evil. Each situation like praying and going to church calls for
him to make a choice. It’s a lonely journey.
By reading some writings about him, I find his words very profound like any other. To
quote Carlo’s own words: “Our goal must be the infinite and not the finite. The Infinity is our
homeland. We are always expected in Heaven”. For me, I just couldn’t think of it because I think
too much of myself. And what I want is pleasurable life here on earth. Carlo Acutis thinks of the
rosary as his highway to heaven. Yes, I pray the rosary but not like him so devoutly that he is
like driving towards heaven. I can say that he is a holy person as I would clearly see, and I am
not joking.
Another phrase that struck me the most was this: “All people are born as originals but
many die as photocopies”. To move towards this goal and not “die as photocopies”. Yes, it is
true. Carlo said that our compass must be the Word of God that we have to measure up to
constantly. But to reach such a lofty goal very special measures are necessary: the Sacraments
and prayer. In particular, Carlo placed the Sacrament of the Eucharist at the center of his life
and he called it “my highway to Heaven”. Therefor we must live an authentic life and thrive
towards God because all things come from him and return to him.