Seeking More: Takeaways from Frassati and Acutis, by Karla Garcia

Whether they be athletes, musicians, or saints, we all admire talented people for their impact on culture and our personal lives. These individuals add excitement to the mundane, often becoming a source of inspiration, built on authenticity and connection.

My passion for music has led me across a variety of artists, from One Direction to Twenty One Pilots to Tomorrow X Together. Their melodic styles brought me enjoyment, while their lyrics gave me comfort as I navigated adolescence.

My journey into spirituality parallels this. Over recent years, my faith has shifted from

heritage-based to a genuine interest in Catholicism. What inspired this? Apart from its entrancing theology and apostolic roots, the saints have been a source of admiration. But what is a saint? Simply put, people with ordinary lives who experienced a fervor for “seeking more.”

An Introduction to Canonization

Since the 10th century, the Catholic Church has recognized faithful with extraordinary virtues: piety, joy and gentleness, prioritizing self-giving and embodying their creed. The formal canonization process was solidified in 1234. First, a proposal and then an extensive investigation of a candidate’s life are required before an official induction. For followers, sainthood becomes an example—a practice filled with discipline, prayer, charity, and humility, igniting a movement of spiritual role models and intercessors.

St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

On September 7th, Rome canonized Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, two Italian patrons who passed away in their youth. Frassati (1901 - 1925) is remembered for his approachable personality and generosity. His routine consisted of fighting social injustice and caring for disadvantaged people, particularly by donating personal goods. A charitable act from his childhood depicts Frassati’s selfless spirit: encountering a boy with no shoes, Frassati took off his pair and gifted them to the young child.

Pier Giorgio Frassati. Retrieved from Frassati Fellowship.

Seeking to become a mining engineer, Frassati studied at the Royal Polytechnic Institute of Turin from 1918 to 1925. He pursued university through a vocational lens, sharing: “I want to be able to help my people in every way and I can do this…as a mining engineer…by setting a good example, [and] act in a very effective way."

Frassanti lived an adventurous life through mountain climbing, intimate friendships, and social groups. His commitment to the community dictated his life, leading to sacrificial deeds, even at the detriment of his health. Through caring for the sick, Frassati contracted polio and died on July 4, 1925, at the age of 24.

St. Carlo Acutis

Carlo Acutis. Retrieved from Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Born in 1991, Acutis is remembered for his sincerity, empathy, and technical skills. He enjoyed video games and traveling, yet held a special place for service. Encouraged by the virtue of detachment, Acutis sought more than just possessions and gratification. As a child, he questioned the economic disparities within his hometown and felt compelled to act on it. Acutis dedicated his time to the homeless by distributing food in containers and supporting their needs through his personal allowance. The quote, “Every minute that passes in vain is a missed opportunity,” guided his life.

In 2004, Acutis's passion for coding led him to launch a website centered on Eucharistic Miracles, a fundamental element of Catholic faith. His mother, Antonia Salzano, recalls her son as “an internet geek… [who] had the temperance to use technology for good, and was not exploited by it,” often limiting his use of Nintendo and PlayStation games.

His selflessness was real. Even when faced with leukemia, Acutis expressed: “There are people that are suffering much more than I.” Shortly after his diagnosis, Carlos Acutis passed on October 12, 2006, at the age of 15.

Youthful Inspiration

Catholicism can seem foreign, daunting, or unclear. Our culture doesn’t embrace this philosophy, and neither do we. From an outsider's perspective, devotion can be intimidating and outdated. However, those from within know a sacramental life is complex, as many things compete for our attention. Incomplete doctrines also bring skepticism. In America, protestantism has dominated ecclesiastical, social, and political spaces, often shifting spirituality from faith-based to broken theocracy. True Catholicism inspires people to “pick up our cross,” seek interior change, and put our beliefs into action.

The canonization of Frassati and Acutis came at the right time. These saints teach us to focus on “the bigger picture” and to surrender to charity. Pope Leo XIV appointed Acutis for his discipline in the modern world, always seeking spiritual connection over digital indulgence. As young adults, we’re constantly glued to our screens, whether caught up in endless scrolling or daily tasks. Acutis encourages us to “look up,” lift our eyes from social media, and turn our “gaze away from the inferior to the superior,” to help those in need. From Frassati, we learn the virtue of discernment: living for something greater than the self. His message: “Verso l'alto,” or “To the Heights,” invokes the question: What do you seek? In a society driven by greed, Franssati is honored for his spiritual conviction and public engagement.

Rome’s decision to canonize these young men has generated interest in Catholicism and created a “saint-next-door” phenomenon among the faithful. Youth, in particular, will connect with their stories, stimulating a generational seeking of humility, self-control, and neighborly care.