At 6.45hrs on the 12th October 2006, a 15 years old boy from Milan was dying of an acute Leukemia. His Name was Carlos Acutis. Less than a month before, in Mogadishhu, Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, a sixty six year old Consolata Missionary, had been killed due to her Christian faith. She had spent her life for the Mission in Africa.
An area for prayer has been created at Assisi , in the “Carlo Acutis Centre”, where significant relics of Carlo Acutis will be held, his red T shirt and his small bag. These will be held together with those of other saints. Among those relics, there is also that of the martyr Leonella, kept in a wonderful box by the Claritian Nuns.
What ties these two persons together and yet so different? They both grew up in Milan. Both have been declared Blessed in the Catholic Church. But there are many other things that tie Carlo Acutis (who is to be canonized soon) and Blessed Leonella Sgorbati. These are:
The Eucharistic Dimension
“We have received an unexpected call from the Postulation of Blessed Carlo Acutis that was asking for a Relique of Blessed Leonella.” Sr. Renata Conti who was in charge of the process of recognition of martyrdom of Sr. Leonella
“They gave the reasons for this request saying, in her (Bl. Leonella), there were many elements common to Bl. Carlo Acutis who is to be a saint soon. One of these elements is the Eucharistic dimension that has characterized the entire lives of holiness of the two”.
“Reading the writings of Sr. Leonella, her deep and close relations with the poor and with the Eucharist is clear, the same can be seen clearly in the life of Carlo Acutis”.
Carlo Acutis attended Mass every day. He says:
“The Eucharist is my Highway to heaven!”
This is the central point of all his life passed in friendship with God.
From her young age, Rosa (baptism name of Sr. Leonella) was particularly attached to a “little book”, the Gospel, given to her by a Sister. Her relationship with God, very conscious right from youth, took a deep Eucharistic dimension till the end.
Sr. Leonella felt deeply united with the Lord Jesus and she could affirm:
“You give me your body, your blood and I give you all myself, my body, my blood, my total being, I am all yours.” (from the diary of 18 February 2006).
Covent Garden, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Blessed Carlo Acutis shrine (from: Wikipedia)
The Martyrdom
There is another spiritual aspect that connects Carlo Acutis to Sr. Leonella, perhaps not very evident: The martyrdom. It is noted that Carlo Acutis was building himself in digital apostolate (as it’s called today). He was passionate about informatics, he built various websites.
In the summer of 2006, he took significant time constructing a website for Pontifical Academia “ Cultorum Martyrum”, whose goal was to deepen the worship and knowledge of martyrs.
In a common broad sense, the term Martyr is the witness of faith and there is no doubt that Carlo Acutis was a Martyr in his young life.
Sr. Leonella lived 50 years longer than Acutis and she did not only witness to faith with her life given to the missions, but she sealed it with her own blood.
Her final words were “I forgive, I forgive, I forgive”. Whispered with deep agony but as a witness to the forgiveness of Christ on the cross.
Blessed Leonella Sgorbati, martyr. Her final words: “I forgive. I forgive. I forgive”
Two enterprising Saints
The fame of the holiness of Carlo acutis spread quickly. A young and enthusiastic life that seems to have wanted to continue with the same energy in witnessing Christ. After only 20 years from his death, Carlo Acutis will be declared saint on Sunday 7th September by Pope Leo XIV.
If Carlos Acutis has “won” the Course of canonization, (we write it with a smile), even Sr. Leonella was an enterprising person active on earth as she is now in heaven:
“We say that our Sr. Leonella makes her own ways, she does not need us Consolata missionaries to make herself recognized, and this is very true” comments Sr. Renata.
“Think of it, only in Italy, the presence of Sr. Leonella (her relics) is nearly all over, from North to South, not because the community has done animation… but because her life is a constant call, an absolute love capable of giving itself even up to martyrdom due to pure love”.
An eloquent sign that interrogates, that provokes and that attracts.
Carlo Acutis, Leonella Sgobarti saints recognized by the Church, bright and joyful witnesses of the beauty of the faith in Christ!
Pray for us from heaven and accompany the persons that turn to you.
The Carlo Acutis Centre (at Assisi, near the Hermitage of the Prisons) and its prayer area will be inaugurated after the canonization of 7th September. Stay tuned!
Consolata Missionary Sisters is an international religious congregation, founded in Turin on 29 January 1910 by Saint Joseph Allamano, we serve the Church in the mission of first proclamation of the Gospel to those who do not yet know Jesus Christ, the true consolation of the Father.
Called by the Holy Spirit to share in the Charism, God’s gift to Father Founder, we offer our life to Christ forever, in the mission ad gentes, that is, to non-Christians, for the proclamation of salvation and consolation.
