Novena to Saint Carlo Acutis

Scripture

““Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.””

Leviticus 19:2

Intention for today

For the grace to desire holiness and to live it in the ordinary duties of each day.

Reflection

Carlo did not become holy by escaping normal life. He went to school, played football, used the internet, and loved his family and friends – and did all of it with God. Holiness, for him, was not about doing spectacular things but about doing small things with great love and putting God first in everyday choices. On this first day, ask for the same desire: to become a saint in your current life, not in an imaginary one.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Saint Carlo Acutis, awaken in me a deep desire to be holy. Teach me to recognise that every lesson, email, meal, journey and conversation can be a place where I love You and others. Free me from the fear that holiness is not for me. May I live this day as an “original”, faithfully following the unique plan You have for my life. Amen.

Scripture

““I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever.””

John 6:51

Intention for today

For a deeper faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Reflection

From his First Communion onwards, Carlo centred his days around Holy Mass and Eucharistic adoration. He knew that in the Host, Jesus is truly present – the same Jesus who walked in Galilee now waits for us in every tabernacle. Carlo wanted others to rediscover this miracle. Ask him today to help you believe more deeply and to approach Holy Communion with awe, love and gratitude.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, I believe that You are here. Through the intercession of Saint Carlo Acutis, increase my faith, my reverence and my love for Your Eucharistic Heart. May every Communion transform me a little more into Your likeness, so that my whole life becomes a journey towards Heaven. Amen.

Scripture

““Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.””

Matthew 11:28

Intention for today

For the courage to adore Jesus and to receive His mercy in confession.

Reflection

Carlo spent time quietly before the tabernacle, even just a few minutes, letting Jesus look at him. He also went to confession regularly, calling it “the fire that makes the hot air balloon of the soul rise again.” Holiness is not perfectionism; it is staying close to the mercy of God. Today, ask Carlo to help you adore Jesus more often and to approach confession with trust, not fear.

Prayer

Jesus, present in the tabernacle and in the sacrament of Reconciliation, I come to You with my weaknesses and sins. Through Saint Carlo’s intercession, give me the courage to sit in Your presence in silence and to confess my sins humbly and honestly. May Your mercy lift my soul like a balloon towards Heaven. Amen.

Scripture

““Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.””

Philippians 4:4

Intention for today

For freedom from self-absorption and for the grace of deep Christian joy.

Reflection

Carlo knew the difference between passing pleasures and real joy. He was cheerful and fun, but his joy came from looking beyond himself – to God and to the needs of others. When we fixate on our image, our performance or our problems, we easily become discouraged. When we lift our eyes to God, joy quietly returns. Today, ask Carlo to help you shift your gaze from self to God.

Prayer

Lord, source of all true joy, through the intercession of Saint Carlo Acutis, turn my eyes away from unhealthy self-focus and towards You. When I am tempted to dwell on my failures or fears, teach me to look up and trust Your love. Fill my heart with the quiet joy that comes from knowing I am loved, forgiven and called by You. Amen.

Scripture

““Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.””

Matthew 25:40

Intention for today

For a compassionate heart and concrete love for the poor, lonely and overlooked.

Reflection

Carlo did not separate prayer from charity. He visited the homeless, brought food to those on the streets, and defended classmates who were bullied. The Jesus he adored in the Host, he sought in the suffering. Holiness always overflows in concrete love. Today, ask your guardian angel to show you at least one person you can love more practically – and ask Carlo to help you act on it.

Prayer

Jesus, present in the hungry, the lonely and the forgotten, make my heart like Yours. Through Saint Carlo Acutis, teach me to see Your face in every person, especially those who are poor, excluded or wounded. Give me the courage to step out of my comfort and to love with deeds, not only with words. Amen.

Scripture

““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.””

Matthew 6:19–20

Intention for today

For freedom from attachment to material things, comfort and human opinion.

Reflection

Carlo lived in a comfortable environment, but he was not attached to possessions. He dressed simply, avoided wasting money, and shared what he had. He understood, like St Francis, that our real treasure is God. Simplicity is not misery; it is joyful freedom. Today, ask yourself: what owns my heart – God, or something else? Ask Carlo to help you travel light, with a free heart.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, poor and humble of heart, through the intercession of Saint Carlo Acutis, free me from slavery to things, appearances and approval. Help me to live simply, to share generously, and to seek first Your kingdom. May my choices reflect that You, not possessions or success, are my true treasure. Amen.

Scripture

““I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.””

John 15:15

Intention for today

For deep, faithful friendships and the courage to share faith with others.

Reflection

Carlo was a loyal friend. He listened, helped others with homework, defended those who were mocked, and included people who felt on the edge. He also gently shared his faith, not by preaching at people but by living differently and answering questions with kindness. Friendship was for him a path to holiness for everyone involved. Today, ask Carlo to bless your friendships and to make you a bridge to Christ for your friends.

Prayer

Jesus, You call me Your friend. Through the intercession of Saint Carlo Acutis, heal any wounds in my friendships and teach me to be faithful, honest and kind. Give me the courage to share my faith naturally and respectfully, so that the people I love may discover that You are their truest friend. Amen.

Scripture

““Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.””

Colossians 3:17

Intention for today

For purity, wisdom and balance in using the internet, social media and technology.

Reflection

Carlo was a “digital native”. He loved computers and video games, but he set limits: one hour of gaming a week, and no content that offended God. He used his skills to build websites that helped people discover the Eucharist and the lives of the saints. Technology, for him, was not a toy or an idol but a tool for the Gospel. Today, offer your devices to God and ask Carlo to help you use them with freedom, discipline and charity.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, who are present even in the digital world, I place my phone, my computer, my games and my screens in Your hands. Through Saint Carlo Acutis, free me from any addiction, impurity or distraction that pulls me away from You. Teach me to use technology wisely and creatively, to spread goodness and truth rather than noise and darkness. Amen.

Scripture

““It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.””

Galatians 2:20

Intention for today

For the grace to entrust my whole life to God and to live my personal vocation generously.

Reflection

Faced with sudden leukaemia, Carlo offered his suffering for the Pope and the Church. He said, “I am happy to die, because I have not wasted my life on things that do not please God.” His short life became completely God’s. This is the heart of holiness: trusting that God knows us, loves us and leads us through everything. On this final day, gather all the desires, struggles and graces of the novena, and lay them into the hands of the Father, through the intercession of Saint Carlo.

Prayer

Father, I thank You for the life and witness of Saint Carlo Acutis. Through his intercession, I offer You my past, my present and my future. Take my fears, my plans, my gifts and my weaknesses, and use them for Your glory. Teach me to say with my life, day after day: “Not I, but God.” May I one day join Carlo in Heaven, praising You forever. Amen.