The history of the Christian Church reminds us that holiness is not a privilege reserved for a chosen few, but rather a divine gift that God has bestowed upon ordinary men and women in every age. From the earliest days of the Church, saints have emerged from the most unexpected places and situations to become luminous guides for both the Church and the world. In our own time as well, the Lord continues to bless His people with new models of holiness. Among them stand two radiant figures – Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frasati- whose youthful witness continues to inspire not only today’s faithful but humanity at large.
Carlo Acutis, who completed his earthly pilgrimage in 2006 at the tender age of 15, proclaimed with youthful conviction that the Holy Eucharist is “the highway to heaven.” While he enjoyed the gifts of his time such as computers and the Internet, he did not allow them to become mere tools of entertainment or distraction. Instead, he harnessed their potential to proclaim God’s glory and to reveal to the world the inexhaustible wonder of the Eucharist. Carlo reminds us that holiness is not determined by years but by a heart that burns with love for God. Rooted in daily intimacy with the Eucharist, he bore witness to how Christ’s presence can permeate ordinary routines and even the digital space, without diminishing the genuine joys of youth.
Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati’s motto, “Verso l’alto” – “Go higher, go up” – captures the spirit of his short yet luminous life. An avid mountaineer and cheerful companion to friends, he discovered his deepest joy in serving the poor with compassion and dignity. His closeness to God was inseparably bound to his closeness to those in need. Although his life ended at the age of twenty-four, his legacy endures as a call to the young: that authentic youthfulness is not wasted in selfish pleasures but is fulfilled in love, service, and the pursuit of justice.
Yet today, countless young people are drawn away from God and their spiritual lives by the many allurements of the age. A culture dominated by consumerism, self-indulgence, and the relentless pursuit of success and pleasure exerts a powerful pull. The dizzying pace of life, the overuse of technology, and the distractions of social media often leave little room for prayer, silence, or spiritual depth. In such a climate, the witness of Carlo and Frasati shines with renewed relevance. They show us that holiness is not escapism but a way of living fully in the world while being anchored in God. Their lives invite us to place the Eucharist at the centre of our existence, to witness to faith with creativity in the digital world, and to recognize Christ in the poor and the suffering.
Following their example, may our families, our young people, and our communities rediscover the beauty of a life rooted in faith. The counsel that Saint Paul once gave his beloved disciple Timothy resounds anew for our generation, especially for the youth: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim 4:12).
