1) Why 7 September is a day of great joy for the Church
7 September 2025, the universal Church celebrates the canonization of two luminous young blesseds: Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis. For the faithful, it is a day of joy—because the family of heaven welcomes new friends; of gratitude—because God never ceases to raise up saints in every generation; and of hope—because holiness is possible in the ordinary roads of the twenty-first century: in classrooms and lecture halls, on mountain trails and commuter trains, at keyboards and family tables.
Yet many wonder: what exactly is a canonization? Is it simply a beautiful Mass in St Peter’s Square, or something far deeper that touches faith and daily life? This long pastoral article aims to help you enter tomorrow’s celebration with understanding and thanksgiving—and with a renewed desire for holiness.
2) What is canonization? A clear definition and why it matters
Canonization is the Church’s solemn and infallible declaration that a person lives in the glory of heaven and may be venerated with public cult throughout the entire Catholic world. In practical terms: the Church confirms that this man or woman has reached our common goal—holiness, the fullness of communion with God—and is given to us as a model and intercessor.
Canonization does not make someone a saint. God’s grace and the person’s faithful cooperation do that. The Church, after investigating the person’s life and virtues, and after verifying a miracle obtained through his or her intercession, recognizes publicly what God has accomplished. From that moment, the faithful may invoke the saint’s intercession in public worship; his or her name may enter the liturgical calendar, litanies, and communal prayer.
3) Beatification vs. canonization — what’s the difference?
Beatification permits public veneration of a person as “Blessed,” but usually within a limited scope—often a region, nation, or religious family. Canonization extends that veneration to the entire Church. A Blessed becomes a Saint; the Church proposes his or her life as a universal pattern of Christian discipleship.
4) How did the process develop? A brief historical sketch
In the earliest centuries, holiness was recognized above all in the martyrs who shed blood for Christ. Local churches honored their graves and preserved their stories. Soon, veneration also embraced confessors—those who lived the Gospel heroically without martyrdom. To safeguard unity and avoid abuses, the authority to approve public cult was gradually reserved to the Apostolic See. Today’s process—with historical scrutiny, theological assessment, and rigorous medical evaluation of alleged miracles—matured to protect truth and to present credible, trustworthy witnesses.
5) What happens during the canonization Mass in Rome?
Canonizations are normally celebrated during a Solemn Mass in St Peter’s Square, in the presence of the Holy Father, cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and thousands of pilgrims from across the world. After the introductory rites and the proclamation of the Word, the assembly sings the Litany of the Saints, invoking the Church Triumphant to intercede for the Church on earth.
Then the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints three times petitions the Pope to inscribe the candidates among the saints. The Holy Father pronounces the solemn formula, such as: “We declare and define that Blessed N. is a Saint and we enroll him among the saints, decreeing that he is to be venerated as such by the whole Church…”. From that moment, the cult is universal. The image of the new saint is unveiled, and relics are brought to the altar and honored—a tangible reminder that heaven is close and the saints are our friends.
The Mass continues with thanksgiving for God’s works in His saints, and with the homily highlighting how the new saints illuminate the Gospel for our times.
6) “Humility not as the world sees it” — Mother Teresa’s key
“Humility is the mother of all virtues: purity, charity and obedience.” — St. Mother Teresa
The world often confuses humility with timidity or self-diminishment. In the saints, humility is simply truth—about God, ourselves, and others. It is the serene recognition that everything is grace; that I do not need to manufacture my worth, for I am a beloved child of the Father. True humility frees courage and creativity: it gives birth to service, compassion, fortitude, and cheerful self-gift. In this light, canonization is not a museum honor for spiritual “superheroes,” but a proclamation of what God can do in hearts that stay small before Him.
7) The new saints of our time
7.1) Pier Giorgio Frassati — “the Man of the Beatitudes”
Student and mountaineer, friend of the poor, man of action and prayer. Frassati loved the mountains; he savored the beauty of creation and the laughter of friends; and he took the Gospel with utmost seriousness. Daily Mass, confession, adoration; concrete mercy toward the sick, the orphaned, the forgotten—these were not add-ons but the deep rhythm of his life. After his death, the hidden heroism of his charity came to light. He is called the “Man of the Beatitudes” because his life embodied Christ’s roadmap to happiness: poverty of spirit, purity of heart, mercy, hunger for justice, peacemaking, meekness, patient endurance.
Frassati teaches that holiness fits students, sports lovers, energetic volunteers, and joyful companions—provided the heart remains wide open to God and neighbor. He shows how recreation becomes thanksgiving; how friendship becomes a path to virtue; how study becomes service; how sorrow becomes intercession.
7.2) Carlo Acutis — the “God influencer” of the digital age
A bright, cheerful teenager who discovered in the Eucharist the “highway to heaven”. Carlo loved computing and new technologies; he offered those gifts to God, building websites and exhibits on Eucharistic miracles so that others might be refreshed by the Real Presence. Sensitive to the poor and deeply attached to his family and friends, he lived with a simplicity that disarmed cynicism. His early death did not end his mission; it amplified it. Carlo continues to invite young people—indeed, all of us—to center life on Jesus and to use technology as a tool of truth and charity.
Carlo’s much-quoted insight remains fresh: “Everyone is born as an original; don’t die as a copy.” He embodies a “digital asceticism”: choosing content that builds, curating one’s attention, resisting the addiction of endless scrolling, and letting screens lead back to real encounters with the Lord and with people.
8) Why does the Church need saints? The theology of the communion of saints
In the Creed we profess belief in the communion of saints—the living bond among the Church on earth, the souls being purified, and the Church in glory. Saints are intercessors and companions: they pray for us, encourage us, and become living “commentaries on the Gospel.” They do not replace God; they lead to Him. Like kindly mentors, they take us by the hand and whisper: “Look—He is nearer than you think.”
Canonization inscribes a particular name into this great family with ecclesial certainty. Tomorrow we receive two new friends who speak the language of our age: the language of friendship and sport, of study and social concern, of code and servers and internet cables sanctified by love.
9) “Holiness is everyday” — the practical school of Frassati and Carlo
9.1) From Frassati: the Gospel on the trail and in the city
- Concrete charity: schedule a weekly act of mercy (visit a sick neighbor, deliver a meal, make a call to someone lonely).
- Joy and sport: care for the body as a temple of the Spirit; let recreation become thanksgiving.
- Friendship: carry a short prayer for a friend on your phone or in your wallet; the memory of the heart belongs to love.
- Mass and adoration: choose a weekly hour for adoration; teach children the grace of silence before the Lord.
9.2) From Carlo: Eucharist and the internet
- Eucharistic culture: add one weekday Mass and a slot for adoration—the shortest road to heaven.
- Digital asceticism: practice one “offline day” each week; limit mindless scrolling; curate your feed toward truth, beauty, and kindness.
- Sensitivity to the poor: direct part of your savings to a concrete charitable goal; let children help choose the project.
- Online evangelization: share a testimony, a prayer, or a good article; let your posts point back to the Source—Jesus.
10) Following the canonization liturgy — three moments to watch
If you follow the Vatican broadcast, consider focusing on three moments:
- The Litany of the Saints: the Church cries out that we do not walk alone. Ask for courage and for the gift of holiness for our parish.
- The papal formula: as the Pope proclaims the canonization, renew your own “yes” to Christ’s call to sanctity.
- Relics and homily: while the relics are honored and the homily is preached, entrust your family, our youth, and our sick to the new saints’ intercession.
11) What canonization offers a parish — concrete proposals
11.1) Prayer and devotions
- A nine-day thanksgiving novena through the new saints for living faith in families, for our youth, our sick, and our poor.
- Eucharistic adoration for the holiness of our parish (e.g., every Thursday, 30–60 minutes).
- Family rosary once a week, with a brief meditation taken from Frassati’s or Carlo’s life.
11.2) Formation and works of mercy
- Young adult lectio divina: meditations on the Beatitudes and on Eucharistic passages.
- Parish outreach: “Frassati Backpacks” for students in need; “Carlo Micro-Grants” to support children’s study equipment.
- School of prayer: workshops on silence and adoration; how to make an examen; the Jesus Prayer as a simple daily practice.
12) Miracles and discernment — why the Church asks for signs
A verified miracle in a canonization cause is not a curiosity but an act of ecclesial prudence. The Church asks the Lord for a sign granted through the candidate’s intercession and then examines it rigorously—historically, theologically, medically. The goal is not to “prove God” but to protect the faithful and propose trustworthy witnesses whose intercession heaven has already confirmed.
13) “Saints shame our mediocrity”—but with love
A theologian once quipped that saints “shame our mediocrity.” The point is not to discourage, but to awaken. Saints show that grace really works, that the Gospel has power. They are not ideals from another planet, but neighbors: students, programmers, mountaineers, nurses, parents, and grandparents who chose fidelity again and again.
14) Humility in practice — a short “List of Humility” inspired by St. Mother Teresa
- Receive even gentle correction with gratitude: seek truth over self-justification.
- Slow your instinct to explain yourself: let facts speak when possible.
- Prefer the less comfortable option when love for others calls for it.
- Do not rush to have the last word: leave space for God to act.
- Practice hidden kindness when no one is watching.
Such small choices create a climate of holiness at home, in the parish, and even online—quietly, steadily, joyfully.
15) The Eucharist — the heart of the saints
Frassati sought Jesus in daily Communion; Carlo called the Eucharist the “highway to heaven.” If you ask where to begin, begin here: Mass and adoration. Mark your calendar: Sunday—without fail; and once during the week if possible. Choose a weekly time for silent adoration, even twenty minutes.
16) Confession — the sacrament of new beginnings
Saints were not sinless; they were penitent and surrendered. Frequent confession cleanses memory, clarifies conscience, and opens the heart to joy. If it has been months—return. If you come regularly—persevere. If you are afraid—ask for help to make a simple, honest confession.
17) Family holiness — the domestic sanctuary
The most beautiful school of sanctity is the home. Begin with small rituals: the sign of the cross before leaving, a short prayer at meals, Sunday Mass together, a weekly decade of the rosary, a blessing for children at bedtime. A small image of the new saint in a child’s room can quietly say, “I can be a saint here and now.”
18) Youth and mission — Frassati and Carlo as patrons of courage
Youth does not postpone discipleship; it embraces it today. We invite our young people to take their place in parish life: altar service, music ministry, outreach, media workshops, Bible study, sharing talents. Learn from Frassati the beauty of the path and from Carlo the wisdom of the web.
19) The parish as a “laboratory of holiness”
A parish is not merely a place for religious “services.” It is a home, a school, a workshop of holiness. Clergy, consecrated, and laity together—each with a distinct vocation—form a living fabric of prayer, service, and joy. Do not search for a perfect parish; seek presence—your presence matters. Canonization day is an invitation: “Come. Stand up. Go.”
20) A brief “examination” before the canonization
- Is there room in my week for the Eucharist beyond Sunday?
- Does a poor, sick, or lonely person have a friend in me?
- Does the internet serve my vocation—or waste my time and wound my heart?
- Do I cultivate humility—love of truth without self-promotion?
- Does my family cherish small rituals of faith that bind us together?
21) Prayers through the intercession of the new saints
21.1) Prayer to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati
Saint Pier Giorgio, friend of the poor and lover of the mountains, teach us the joy of the Gospel, the courage of service, and the simplicity of heart. Obtain for us fidelity in daily duties and a love that never turns away from those in need. Lead the youth of our parish along the path of the Beatitudes toward the beauty of holiness. Amen.
21.2) Prayer to St. Carlo Acutis
Saint Carlo, friend of the Eucharist and apostle of the internet, teach us to place Jesus above all things. Obtain for us hearts attentive to the poor, pure intentions, and wise use of technology. May our lives become a joyful witness that God is near. Amen.
22) Tomorrow — a feast of hope
When the words of the papal formula resound tomorrow, think of your own road. God does not demand instant perfection; He desires faithfulness. Holiness is a small “yes” repeated every day—while washing dishes, debugging code, hiking a ridge, waiting at a bus stop, paying a bill, holding a child. Frassati and Carlo assure us: this is truly possible.
23) Thanksgiving and mission
As the Mass concludes, let us unite in thanksgiving: “Glory to You, Lord, for the saints of our time.” Then, mission. Do not hoard the joy. Tell someone what you heard; share what moved you in Frassati’s and Carlo’s lives. Invite a friend to adoration, to confession, to Mass, to a parish group. Saints beget saints when grace is shared.
24) A practical four-week “starter” after canonization
- Week 1: add one weekday Mass and 20 minutes of adoration; read a short bio of Frassati.
- Week 2: perform a concrete act of mercy; support one specific person; pray to Frassati for courage.
- Week 3: practice a full “offline day”; adore the Lord; study a thought of Carlo on the Eucharist.
- Week 4: go to confession; pray a family rosary; invite someone to church.
25) A final word — “the saints next door”
Popes like to speak about “the saints next door.” They seldom make headlines, but they are pillars of daily life: loving, forgiving, feeding, helping, praying, keeping silence when needed and speaking when required. Frassati and Carlo are well-known; they also point to thousands of “hidden” saints—perhaps in your home, your office, your classroom, your parish pew. Canonization is like a great spotlight: it illuminates the road you and I are called to walk.
Appendix: A mini-catechism on canonization (Q&A)
Why does the Church canonize? To strengthen the faithful with certainty and to present reliable models of discipleship. It is also an act of praise for God’s works in His saints.
Are saints “perfect”? Not in the sense of never failing. They are faithful to grace and never stop beginning again. Their strength is God’s mercy.
Must I choose only one patron? You may honor many, but it helps to cultivate a personal friendship with one—spiritual mentors bring focus.
How can the Church be sure someone is in heaven? Through careful investigation of life and virtues, enduring reputation for holiness, and a miracle attributed to the person’s intercession. The papal declaration is infallible.
What about those not canonized? Heaven is filled with countless anonymous saints. Canonization concerns those whom God gives as universal guides.
