Dear Friends,

Next week I’ll be traveling with a couple of friends to Rome on a personal pilgrimage to attend the canonizations of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis. The Mass for the canonizations will be on Sunday, September 7, in Saint Peter’s Square. You can watch a livestream of the Mass on EWTN’s website, beginning at 12:00 midnight (Pacific Time), or watch a replay of it later.

Frassati was born in Turin, Italy, on Holy Saturday in 1901. From a young age he was known both for being an avid mountaineer, and for his dedication to the poor, the homeless, and the sick. At the age of 17, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Later, he became a Third Order Dominican and received Communion daily. He died of polio in 1925 at the age of 24, possibly catching it while serving the sick. On a photograph from his last mountain climbing trip, Frassati wrote in Italian “Verso L’Alto,” which means “to the heights.” Through his intercession, we pray that we may continue to strive for the summit of holiness on Earth and eternal life in Heaven!

Acutis was born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Italy. From a young age he exhibited a love for the Eucharist. His interest in computers led him to create a website featuring over 100 Eucharistic miracles from around the world. After receiving his First Communion, he told his mother: “To always be united to Jesus, this is my life plan.” He also called the Eucharist his “highway to Heaven.” His devotion to the Eucharist inspired his parents to return to practicing their Catholic faith, as well as the conversion of other family and friends. Carlo died from cancer in 2006 at the age of 15 and will be the first millennial saint. He is remembered for saying: “People who place themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints.” Through his intercession, we pray that we will always be united to Jesus in the Eucharist!

It's fitting that these two will be canonized as saints together, as they are both modern examples of a youthful and vibrant faith. Know that I will be bringing all of you with me in my heart and in my prayers, in particular praying for Pier Giorgio’s and Carlo’s intercession for our youth. If you have prayer intentions you’d like me to bring with me, please submit them before midnight on September, by writing them in the online form, or on the papers available in the Narthex.

Saint Luke, pray for us!

Yours, in Christ the King,

Fr. Green