Colin Cooney ’28
This has been an historic month for young Catholics around the world. On September 7th, we celebrated the joyful canonization of Carlo Acutis alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati. Carlo Acutis is the patron saint of youth and internet users, while Pier Giorgio Frassati is the patron saint of students and those seeking social justice. Just three days later, the nation was shaken by the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Kirk was a faith-driven individual whose mission was to inspire civil discourse among America’s youth through college debates and social media. He worked tirelessly to engage young people in meaningful dialogue. Although his conservative views sometimes sparked disagreement, he was a devoted Christian, loving father and husband, and a model of living one’s faith in public life. Through the example of saints like Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, as well as modern leaders like Charlie Kirk, we are reminded that today’s young people are called to live out their faith with courage, compassion, and conviction.
Carlo Acutis inspires young people because he shows that sainthood is possible for ordinary teenagers who put God first. Like many of his peers, he enjoyed everyday activities such as playing soccer and video games. What set him apart was how he used his passion for technology to serve his faith by creating a website to share Eucharistic miracles with the world. He told everyone that the Eucharist was the “Highway to Heaven” and that it had the power to make anyone holy. Acutis is also remembered for his extraordinary kindness. He stood up for classmates who were bullied and made sure that no one felt excluded. His life demonstrates how holiness can be lived in small, daily actions, from simple acts of kindness to consistent devotion. His deep love for the Eucharist and his commitment to publicly proclaiming his faith show that holiness is achievable for all teenagers. Similarly, Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati’s life illuminates how young people can follow the Gospel to make meaningful impacts on those around them.
Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati demonstrates that living a holy life does not mean abandoning the normal pressures of teenage life. He was a diligent student who took his studies seriously while still finding time to serve the poor and sick. Born into a wealthy and politically active family, he respected his parents but quietly followed his own moral convictions. He generously and often anonymously donated his possessions, including his bus fare, the shoes off his feet, or even the coat off his back to help those in need. Frassati maintained close friendships and often inspired his peers to join him in his charitable works. His devotion to the Eucharist and daily prayer enabled him to incorporate faith into every aspect of his young life. In a modern parallel, Charlie Kirk’s life illustrates how Christians continue to dedicate their lives to guiding young people in faith, dialogue, and civic responsibility. Kirk lived by many of the same principles that Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati exemplified over a century ago.
Charlie Kirk founded an organization called Turning Point USA whose mission was to defend Americans’ freedom of speech and to find common ground among young people. He aimed to engage students in civil discourse by organizing campus events, debates, and discussions that encouraged open dialogue on political and social issues. While his approach was often provocative, he sought to create spaces where young people could express differing viewpoints through respectful conversations. Many students credited him with teaching them how to approach civil discourse. Kirk emphasized the value of expressing gratitude for others’ perspectives, even in moments of disagreement.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Pope Leo XIV praised him as a faithful Christian and a man of great conviction who sought to further the mission of civil discourse among today’s youth. In a statement delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, the Holy See condemned the violence as an affront to human dignity and called on all people to reject division and extremism. The Pope emphasized the importance of faith in God, forgiveness, and grace, encouraging individuals to live their beliefs publicly and actively in ways that promote dialogue, understanding, and service to others. He also offered heartfelt condolences to Kirk’s family and prayers for all affected by the tragedy. The Pope urges Catholics to pray not only for Kirk, but also for the unborn babies, the euthanized, the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten souls who are all crying out. He calls on Catholics to pray, to forgive, to seek peaceful resolutions, and to avoid being drawn into further sin through divisive and vengeful politics or ideologies.
This week serves as a powerful reminder that people can live out their faith through everyday acts of kindness, service, or courageous leadership. Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati exemplify how devotion, prayer, and generosity can transform ordinary lives into extraordinary examples of holiness. Charlie Kirk’s dedication to fostering civil discourse among youth shows that living one’s faith publicly and actively can inspire others to engage with the world thoughtfully and respectfully. As Pope Leo XIV emphasized, Christians are called to respond to tragedy with faith, forgiveness, and grace, striving always to promote dialogue, understanding, and service. The lives of these three individuals challenge us to boldly live out our faith in order to achieve personal holiness and positively impact our communities.
Let us all pray for the repose of the soul of Charlie Kirk.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Photo Credits: Carlo Acutis: By Unknown – https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65806943
Pier Giorgio Frassati: Luciana Frassati, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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