Yesterday (23rd May) Pope Francis recognised a second miracle attributed to London-born Blessed Carlo Acutis, paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint.
Liliana, a mother from Costa Rica, prayed at the beatified teenager’s tomb in Assisi after her daughter Valeria suffered severe head trauma from a bike accident and was given little chance of survival.
Having prayed for the intercession of Blessed Carlo, on the same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had spontaneously started to breath. The next day, she began to move and partially regained her speech. In just a few months she had made a complete and miraculous recovery.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols commented:
'This is the fast-track to sainthood! Carlo Acutis, born in London, baptised in the Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Fulham Road, died at the age of 15 in 2006, computer savvy and sometimes bullied at school, he is now held before the world as an inspiration for all.
'Why?
'He understood the purpose of life. He said that he was not afraid to die because he had not wasted a minute of his life on things that didn’t please God. He had a pathway to follow. He said "The Eucharist is the highway to heaven". He lived each day cheerfully, "always united with Jesus".
'A joyful, courageous, generous, faith-filled teenager. A saint for our day and everyday. And a Londoner! A star!'
Photo: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk
