Hammond – Recounting the devotion of Blessed Carlo Acutis to the Blessed Sacrament and listening to Bishop Robert J. McClory helped teens focus on the true presence of Jesus Christ during a recent Eucharistic Adoration inspired by the Diocesan Youth Council.
Julia Zerbes, a senior from Michigan City High School, began the event at St. John Bosco in Hammond with information about Blessed Acutis’ “great joy” and dedication to the Lord through the Eucharist. She spoke on behalf of the DYC, a Diocese of Gary advisory group of high school teens from parishes and Catholic high schools throughout the diocese.
“He was very devoted to his faith and had a special love for God,” said Zerbes, adding that Blessed Acutis went to daily Mass, weekly confession and numerous Eucharistic pilgrimages.
“In the midst of our busy lives and challenges…we can enter into this sacred space” and provide a “precious opportunity to open our hearts and our souls,” continued the DYC representative from Queen of All Saints in Michigan City.
“The Eucharist is my highway to heaven,” a statement made frequently by Blessed Acutis was the motif of the Eucharistic Adoration and something Bishop McClory described during his reflection.
Born May 3, 1991 in London, Blessed Acutis was an English-born Italian who created a website to document and share information about Eucharistic miracles throughout the world. He died on Oct. 12, 2006 and was beatified on Oct. 10, 2020.
Bishop McClory, who attended seminary from 1995 to 2000 in Rome, Italy, shared some thoughts on the highways in the country during his reflection. He explained that Italian roads are not like the web of thoroughfares and highways in the United States with numerous traffic jams and detours but are narrow passages that wind through the country and into the hills. Therefore, he noted, when Blessed Acutis spoke about highways, he would have been talking about the autostrada – the national Italian expressway system that provided an amazing, innovative alternative to transportation.
“You are really going to get to your destination on the autostrada,” said Bishop McClory. “Blessed Acutis focused on heaven as his destination. He’s not relying on himself, but on the words of Jesus.”
Referring to the Gospel reading from John 6, Bishop McClory continued: “Jesus is the bread from heaven, eternal life. He is truly giving himself. We can receive him in the Blessed Sacrament…to love the Eucharist is to love Jesus. It is the way to God – the perfect sacrifice, body and blood, soul and divinity.”
Elias Alcantar, a Morton High School sophomore and St. John Bosco parishioner, appreciated the opportunity to reflect on how he can connect with Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Similarly, Xotchil Ramirez, a senior at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School in Chicago and St. John Bosco parishioner, said her time of reflection focused on growing in relationship with Jesus. “It was great to get closer to God and try to understand what he wants me to do. As well as work on my relationships.”
Zerbes said she really appreciated the time with the Eucharist and her peers. She added that Bishop McClory’s reflection helped her focus on Jesus and heaven as her thoughts took an interesting turn. When she focused on the word highway, the Rascal Flatts song, “Life is a Highway” came to mind.
“There are exits and stops along the highway,” she said. “Those are the distractions and temptations I am trying to avoid.
“Blessed Acutis is a great role model. He kept his eyes on Jesus. We can too…and find joy in vibrant faithfulness,” she continued. “He is such a modern saint. He was so in love with his faith, especially the Eucharist.”
Blessed Acutis was 15 years old when he died shortly after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, offering his suffering for Christ, the pope and the Church.
The beatification of Acutis occurred after a miracle attributed to his intercession. In Brazil, a boy named Mattheus was healed from a birth defect after he and his mother asked Acutis to pray for his healing. Known as an annular pancreas, the serious condition caused him difficulty eating and severe abdominal pain. He was unable to keep any food in his stomach and vomited often, according to information from the National Catholic Register. Around age four, he weighed just 20 pounds. He was able to touch a relic of the future blessed Acutis on Oct. 12, 2013, and prayed for relief from his symptoms, and the healing began. Eventually, Mattheus was completely cured.
Bishop McClory said he was impressed that this event was inspired by the DYC. “It is a microcosm of the greater scale of the (National Catholic Youth Conference) NCYC in November.” he said. “In this culture of noise and distractions, it is a beautiful thing that the young take time to come before the Lord.”