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Assisi: Parish Church of Saint Mary Major & Sanctuary of the Spogliazione Tomb of Carlo Acutis

 

Carlo AcutisAbout Carlo Acutis:

Carlo Acutis was born in London in 1991, but his parents moved to Milan not long after his birth. From an early age he recited frequent rosaries and received his First Communion at the age of 7 in the Convent of Saints Amrogio and Neumus in Milan. He made the effort to go to daily Mass and to spend time in front of the Tabernacle in addition to weekly Confession. His high school studies were under the Jesuits at the Istituto Leone XIII. He defended the rights of the disabled and defended disabled peers at school when bullies picked on them. He loved traveling …..but loved to visit Assisi more than any other place.

He contracted Leukemia at a young age, and although he had requested that his parents take him on pilgrimages to the sites of all the known Eucharistic miracles in the world, his failing health prevented that.

He had a passion for computers: everything including computer programming, film editing, website creation, editing and layout of comics, and volunteering for those most in need — children and the elderly.

Perhaps his most significant computer venture was cataloguing all the Eucharistic miracles of the world. He started the project when he was 11 years old and wrote at the time, “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of Heaven.”

Acutis researched over 136 Eucharistic miracles that occurred over the centuries in different countries around the world, and have been acknowledged by the Church and collected them into a virtual museum. Besides creating a website to house this virtual museum, he helped create panel presentations that have traveled around the world.

According to the introductory panel, “In the United States alone, thanks to assistance from the Knights of Columbus, The Cardinal Newman Society and The Real Presence Association and Education, with the support of Cardinal Edmond Burke, it has been hosted in thousands of parishes and more than 100 universities.” The panels have traveled to all five continents and have inspired many by their amazing photographs and beautiful stories.

You can find the website with his Miracles List here.

He died from M3 fulminant leukemia on 12 October 2006 at the age of 15.

Cause for Beatification and Canonization for Carlo Acutis:

He was declared Servant of God in 2016, not long after his death. This is the first step on the path to sainthood.

On July 5, 2018 his cause progressed and he was named Venerable Carlo Acutis.

On February 22, 2020, the Vatican announced the approval of a miracle attributed to his intercession.

The miracle involved the healing of a Brazilian child suffering from a rare congenital anatomic anomaly of the pancreas in 2013. The Medical Council of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes gave a positive opinion of the miracle in November 2019.

With Pope Francis’ approval of the miracle, Acutis can now be beatified. He was Beatfied on October 10, 2020 and is now Blessed Carlo Acutis.His body was embalmed and is not incorrupt. Bishop of Assisi Mons. Domenico Sorrentino has stated:

To the act of the exhumation in the cemetery of Assisi, happened January 23, 2019 in sight of the translation to the Sanctuary, it was found in the normal state of just transformation of the cadaveric condition.
Not being however many the years since the burial, the body, although transformed, but with the various parts still in their anatomical connection, was treated with those techniques of conservation and integration usually practiced to expose with dignity to the veneration of the faithful the bodies of the blessed and saints.

An operation that was carried out with art and love. Particularly successful was the reconstruction of the face with silicone mask.

With specific treatment it was possible to recover the precious relic of the heart that was used on the day of beatification”.

You can visit the official website for the cause and beatification of Venerable Carlo Acutis here.

The Tomb of Carlo Acutis in Assisi:

Carlo was buried in the cemetery in Assisi in accordance with his wishes. In January 2019, the mortal remains of the Venerable Carlo Acutis, were exhumed in accord with Canon Law and transferred to a suitable location (reportedly the Capuchin Monastery here in Assisi). Then on April 6, 2019 his body was moved to its permanent place inside the Church here.

About the Parish Church of Saint Mary Major in Assisi:

One of the oldest churches in Assisi, the Church of Saint Mary Major was built in the fourth century, and then re-built in the late 10th century.  It was the original Cathedral at the time of Saint Francis.  The Sanctuary itself is fairly new by Assisi standards, having been dedicated on May 20, 1917.

 

About the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione:

It is here is in the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione (Shrine of Renunciation), that recalls the moment when St. Francis renounced his patrimony, including his clothing, in the bishop’s residence in the presence of his father.

Of great interest is the fact that on April 6 of 2019, the body of Venerable Carlo Acutis was exhumed from its previous location in the local cemetery and then was re-interred here in the Sanctuary.

Finding the Parish Church of Saint Mary Major and the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione in Assisi:

According to their website they have a weekday Mass with Vespers daily at 5:00 p.m. and Mass on Holy Days at 11:00 a.m.

Address:  Piazza del Vescovado , 06081, Assisi (PG)

Tel: +39 075-813085

Click here for the official website of the Parish Church of Saint Mary Major in Assisi (in Italian).

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