THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Offaly columnist reflects on two newly canonised saints

“REJOICE in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Recently in the past few weeks, the Church invited us to rejoice as two young men, Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati were declared saints. Born in different centuries, they lived very different lives, Carlo with computers and technology, Pier Giorgio with mountains and hidden acts of charity. And yet their message to us is the same, that holiness is possible here and now, in the ordinary lives we live, if only we live for Christ.

History is full of young people who faced this crossroad. Saint Francis of Assisi, once a wealthy youth seeking glory, encountered Christ along the way and asked, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” From that moment, he stripped away earthly wealth to embrace the love of his brothers and sisters, especially the poor and weak. Similarly, Saint Augustine, in the tangled knot of his early life, heard the quiet call of God: “I want you.” In saying “yes,” he found a new path where nothing was lost.

The call to holiness is for everyone

We often imagine holiness as something distant, reserved for priests, nuns, or great mystics. Yet both Carlo and Pier Giorgio show us that holiness is, in truth, the vocation of every baptized Christian. “This is the will of God: your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Carlo loved playing computer games and exploring technology. Pier Giorgio loved sports, laughter, and the beauty of creation. Neither was set apart from the world, they were immersed in it. But what made them saints was how they lived these ordinary passions with extraordinary love, placing everything into the hands of Christ and Our Lady. Their lives remind us that holiness is not about escape, but about transformation. God does not ask us to leave the world behind, but to let His grace penetrate every moment of our daily lives. Both saints centered their lives on the Eucharist and friendship with the poor, showing us a path of sanctity deeply attuned to the needs of our world today.

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Carlo Acutis – A highway to heaven

Carlo called the Eucharist his “highway to heaven.” Daily Mass and adoration shaped everything he did. At fifteen, struck with leukemia, he accepted his suffering with faith and offered it for the Pope and the Church. His love for Jesus in the Eucharist made even pain meaningful. “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven," Saint Carlo Acutis always said.

In our own time, when technology often overwhelms or distracts us, Carlo shows us another way. He used his gifts to create a website documenting Eucharistic miracles, bringing people closer to Christ through the very tools so often misused. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2). Carlo’s witness invites us to ask: how can I use the tools of my daily life, my phone, my computer, my work, my talents for the glory of God?

Pier Giorgio Frassati – The man of the Beatitudes

Pier Giorgio’s friends called him “the man of the Beatitudes.” He loved mountain climbing because it lifted his soul toward God’s majesty, but he was equally at home in the back streets of Turin, quietly bringing food and medicine to the poor. When he died suddenly at just twenty-four, thousands of people, most of them those he had helped in secret, lined the streets at his funeral. His life embodies Christ’s words: “When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing… and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:3–4). Pier Giorgio teaches us that holiness is not found in being noticed, but in serving with joy when no one else sees. “Verso l’alto – To the heights!” Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati always said.

Holiness in the here and now

Together, Carlo and Pier Giorgio proclaim that holiness is not far away, it is possible in the here and the now. Whether climbing a mountain or playing a computer game, whether visiting the poor or sitting at a desk, every moment can become a doorway to God when we surrender it to His love. They remind us too that joy is at the very heart of the Gospel. Joy is not about escaping pain or pretending everything is easy. Rather, joy is what happens when we unite our lives, even our struggles to Christ. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Both Carlo and Pier Giorgio knew this joy deeply, and it gave them strength to love with freedom and courage. Even in the face of illness and early death, neither saint wavered.

Pier Giorgio proclaimed, “The day of my death will be the most beautiful day of my life,” climbing mountains with eyes set on heaven. Carlo reminded us that heaven is always waiting, and that to love tomorrow is to offer our best fruit today. Their lives challenge us, holiness is possible, attainable, even for young lay people in the hustle of modern life. As we reflect on their lives, let us pray for courage to live faith generously, for the wisdom to discern God’s plan, and for hearts that find joy in service and laughter in love. May we, like them, look beyond ourselves, carry our crosses willingly, and let every small act of kindness, prayer, and mirth point us and those around us toward the highway to heaven. Let us always walk upwards, together, in faith, hope, charity and love.

Living holiness in daily life

Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati show us that holiness is lived in ordinary choices. Here are ways to follow their example - Use Technology for God’s Glory – Like Carlo, let phones, computers, and social media be tools for good. Share encouragement, pray online, or explore faith digitally. Ask, Is my screen drawing me closer to God or pulling me away? Celebrate the Eucharist Daily – Carlo reminds us that the Eucharist is the “highway to heaven.”

Even small acts, kneeling in prayer, attending Mass, or praying with family help transform the day. Practice Hidden Charity – Pier Giorgio taught the power of quiet generosity. Give without being seen, a note of encouragement, helping a neighbor, or offering your time. Ask, Who around me needs God’s love today, even if no one notices? Find God in Creation and Joy – Climb a mountain, walk, or notice the beauty in creation. Praise God for it. Laugh with friends, enjoy art or music, and offer your joy as a gift. Holiness thrives in gratitude and delight. Turn Suffering Into Offering – Life brings trials. Like Carlo, unite struggles to Christ. Even small discomforts such as waiting, disagreement, or work challenges can become opportunities to grow in patience and love. Live Joyfully in Ordinary Moments – Approach daily tasks such as washing dishes, studying, working, with attention and love. Offer each moment to God. Joy and holiness go hand in hand, the ordinary becomes extraordinary when lived with Christ. Encourage Others in Their Faith – Both saints inspired those around them. Share your faith with gentleness and kindness. Invite a friend to Mass, pray together, or witness through words and actions. Holiness is contagious.

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Thought for the Week

As your thought for this week, let us rejoice in these new saints, their witness cannot leave us unchanged. Each of us is called to ask, 'How central is the Eucharist in my life? Do I see it as my “highway to heaven”? How do I use my talents and daily tools for God's glory? Are they surrendered to God or only to myself? Can I find small, hidden ways to serve those around me this week without seeking recognition? Do I radiate the joy of Christ in my ordinary life, even in hardship and allow Christ's joy to sustain me? Do I offer my ordinary actions such as work, play, conversation, rest, as gifts to God?' Holiness does not demand grand gestures, it asks us to give everything, joys, struggles, and daily moments to God. When we surrender our lives, ordinary moments transform into extraordinary acts of love.The saints show us that when we give our joys, our gifts, and even our sufferings to God, He transforms them into something beautiful.

Let me leave you with a closing prayer in honour of both of our new saints in Christ, "Lord Jesus Christ, You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You raised up Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati as lights for our time, proving that holiness is not distant but here, woven into the fabric of daily life. Teach us, Lord, to love as they loved. May we, like Carlo, find our strength in Your Eucharist, our true highway to heaven, and may we never take for granted the gift of Your Presence among us. May we, like Pier Giorgio, discover You in the beauty of creation, in the laughter of friends, and above all, in the hidden faces of the poor and forgotten. Breathe in us their courage, their joy, their radiant trust in You. Help us to sanctify the small things of each day—our work, our play, our relationships, our struggles—so that our ordinary lives may become extraordinary offerings of love. Lord, stir in our hearts a longing for holiness, not tomorrow, but today. Make us instruments of Your peace, bearers of Your joy, and signs of Your hope in a world so often troubled and weary. Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us, pray for our young people, and pray for peace in our world. Amen."