By Charlotte Carver, parishioner at St Wulstan's, Little Malvern

Mons. Anthony Figuerido and Catholic author Gwen Wiseman (#gwenofassisi) came to Belmont Abbey near Hereford with a first class relic, a fragment from the heart (pericardium) of Blessed Carlo on Saturday 15 February 2025.  

It was organised by the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia.

We had a wonderful celebration in the Abbey church, with Mass. Then everyone went up to Fr Anthony for a special blessing with the reliquary (pictured), it was so moving and wonderful. 

Charlotte's Address

Thank you, Fr Abbot, for inviting me to share a few thoughts from my heart about my affection for Blessed Carlo. And I also want to thank Anne (here) as it’s almost exactly six years since she told me about the Eucharistic Miracles book in which young Carlo documented them.

So, as Bernadette (also here) asked yesterday: what do I find so attractive about this young saint? But where to begin…?

Well, first of all, that smile! And his cheerfulness. But really, I just love the way Carlo decided to live his life, right from his earliest years as a tiny tot.

Isn’t it amazing that young Carlo could never pass a church without asking to go inside. Even as a little lad, he encouraged his parents to lead a different kind of life from the one they were used to living: Antonia and Andrea Acutis admit they only ever went to church for christenings, weddings and funerals.

But he was never a Holy Joe – we have this on good authority from Anna, former governess to the twins born later. Incidentally, they weren’t born on his birthday, nor the day he died – that’s a myth, they have their own birthday!

I’m bowled over by all his accomplishments during his short life, and from such a young age: his IT skills – learning how to code and document his research of well over 120 miracles, having nagged and dragged his parents all over the world to visit so many holy sites.

And then to have the idea and the expertise to build a website to illustrate so many miracles. It’s quite amazing how he got it all together, with the Exhibition of Eucharistic Miracles first staged in Rome, the year before he unexpectedly died, age just 15.

He must surely have been sent by God to be a shining example and friend to us all, and in particular, to the young in this IT age.

With 4 grandchildren (now 11,12,13 & 14) I am trying to introduce them, by degrees, to the example Carlo has set us all. But I still have to find a way to encourage them to regard him as their friend in Heaven – especially in matters of technology. As a matter of fact, I consult him most days for help with my own online communication skills – and he usually sorts me out!

Personally, I love Italians and keep up with several friends I’ve known for a very long time - 63 years, in fact! My local church, when I lived in Florence, was Sant’Ambrogio where there have been two Eucharistic Miracles.

My daughter lived in Milan with her Italian husband. They were next door to S. Maria delle Grazie and the da Vinci Last Supper.

Their children (from 18 months and 3) attended Istituto/Collegio San Carlo for 4 years – just across the tram tracks from their apartment. And I believe that was Carlo’s very first school for little while, before he was moved closer to home. That’s really rather a special thought for a granny!

And finally, one of my other grandsons was also born at The Portland in London, but 22 years after Carlo!

So, back to the present: what a great age 33 is for “our boy” (as we call him) to be canonised. Blessed Carlo Acutis pray for us and our children, that we may ALL grow closer to Jesus day by day.

Charlotte Carver © 2025

Charlotte featured in The Sower magazine in Advent 2021, discussing Blessed Carlo

Main photograph courtesy of the Catholic Bishops' Conference

Celebrating the Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis

A visit to Assisi - the Life and Legacy of Blessed Carlo Acutis

'Carlo Acutis is very inspiring to my generation'