Blessed Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis was born May 3, 1991. His mother, Antonia Salzano, is originally from Centola-Palinuro, in the Cilento. Carlo often went to Centola during the summer, and often visited the nearby Eucharistic Shrine of San Mauro La Bruca.
Carlo had a deep love for God from a very young age, although his parents were not particularly devout, leading to his mother’s reversion to the Faith. A normal child, he was empathetic, and defended bullied children, especially the disabled. Besides soccer, he loved video games, but limited himself to playing these for only an hour a week. He studied computer programing books and taught himself animation and coding. Especially devoted to Our Lady, he loved to pray the Rosary. He went to Mass and confession as often as possible.
He was particularly interested in and promoted Eucharistic miracles, going on pilgrimage to different shrines. He created a website to catalog and share information on these miracles. Carlo did all he could to bring non-practicing Catholics back to the Church.
Carlo was diagnosed with an untreatable leukemia at age 15. He offered up his suffering for others, saying, “I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, for the Pope, and the Church.” Carlo died on October 12, 2006, and was buried in Assisi at his request, due to his love for St. Francis.
His cause for canonization began in 2013. A miracle of healing has been attributed to his intercession and he was beatified, or named “Blessed” on October 10, 2020. His feast is celebrated on October 14.
Saint Helen (Elena) of Laurino
Saint Helen (Elena) Consalvo was born in Laurino in the year 509. A virgin and hermit, she is said to have come from a devout family of humble origin. Forced by local gossip to leave her hometown, she undertook a life of asceticism and prayer in a cave near Pruno, outside of Laurino, where she died at 21 years of age in 530. Originally her relics were kept in Ariano, brought there by St. Elzear of Sabran. Her relics were transferred to Laurino in 1882, by the Bishop of Ariano. Her feast is kept there on May 22, but elsewhere on April 20.
Saint Bartholomew of Rossano or Grottaferrata
Saint Bartholomew of Rossano, also called Bartholomew of Grottaferrata or Bartholomew the Younger, was of Greek heritage and was born around 970 in Rossano. The disciple of St. Nilus the Younger, and succeeded him as abbot of Grottaferrata, where he served for 40 years. He also wrote hymns, was a famous calligrapher, and comforted those who suffered. He died in 1055, and his feast is celebrated on November 11.
Saint Nilus (Nello) of Rossano or the Younger
Saint Nilus was born in 910 in Rossano, into an Italian family of the Greek Rite. Originally married, a sickness led to his conversion, and he became a monk under the Rule of St. Basil. He lived as a hermit, but his fame for holiness led followers to live near him, whom he instructed. When word reached him that he was being considered to become a bishop, he fled to Capua where he stayed for 15 years. Eventually, he went to Rome, and from there to Grottaferrata where he began the famous monastery in 1004. He is considered the founder of Italian-Greek monasticism in southern Italy. He later lived in Tusculum, where he died in 1005. He is considered the patron saint of calligraphers. His feast is kept on September 26.