The Eucharist: God’s Greatest Gift
Embracing the Journey: ‘The Eucharist is the highway to heaven’
A display showing Blessed Carlo Acutis and a monstrance is seen near his tomb at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy, in this Oct. 3, 2020, file photo. The U.S. bishops chose Blessed Acutis as the patron of the first year of a three-year National Eucharistic Revival. The Italian teen, who is set to be canonized by Pope Francis, had a great love of the Eucharist and used his technology skills to build an online database of eucharistic miracles around the world. The National Eucharistic Congress will be held on July 17-21 in Indianapolis. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
“The Eucharist is the highway to heaven. When people sit in the sun, they become tan, but when they sit before Eucharistic Jesus, they become saints.” —Blessed Carlo Acutis
Those words from soon-to-be-saint Carlo Acutis speak beautifully about the Eucharist, which another saint of our time, Pope St. John Paul II, called our Catholic faith’s “greatest gift.”
Acutis, who died at age 15 in 2006, spoke profoundly in his short life about his love for the Eucharist and his devotion to the Blessed Mother. Drawing from these sources, he was able to use his computer skills to create an online database of eucharistic miracles around the world. In that effort and in his life, he offers a prophetic witness of how all people, young and old, can live their vocation in service to the Gospel—no matter how long or short their earthly journey.
His life also offers affirmation that today’s young people—Acutis would be in his 30’s if he were alive today—have a saintly role model who grew up in their lifetime. And his devotion to the Eucharist is something people of all ages can learn from and embrace.
As we approach the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) scheduled for July 17-21 in Indianapolis, the staff of The Criterion has compiled a special issue focusing on the Eucharist. Many are new articles written by our staff; others are stories from past issues that have strong eucharistic ties that we felt are worth sharing again.
Among the new stories is a conversation with our shepherd Archbishop Charles C. Thompson about the NEC. He talks extensively about the impact that the Eucharist and eucharistic adoration have had in his life and can have in people’s lives, including helping them draw others closer to Christ.
The regular July 5 issue of The Criterion is the center 12 pages of this commemorative issue. The majority of our weekly features are included there.
We hope and pray the stories shared in this commemorative publication help each of you on your eucharistic journey.
Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!
—Mike Krokos, editor