This week, Pope Leo met with young members of Catholic Action, urging them to be like the angels who announced God’s glory and peace to the shepherds. He pointed them toward the example of newly canonized Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassatti:
By acting like them, your proclamation of peace will be radiant, because in the company of Jesus you will be truly free and happy, ready to reach out to your neighbor, especially those in need.
Both of these modern saints are known for their love of Christ and their love of others, particularly those in need. Naturally they were also great lovers of the feast of the Nativity.
As a contemporary saint, we have many photos of Carlo celebrating Christmas. The backgrounds are familiar to us -- a decorated tree with shiny wrapped presents beneath it. Carlo smiling for that traditional Christmas photo that so many parents capture of their children year after year.
In another photo, young Carlo holds his dog in front of the tree. In yet another winter shot, Carlo poses with a snowman. Looking at these photos, it is easy to remember that this saint in heaven was a regular person like us enjoying the holidays on earth not too long ago.
Yet while he celebrated the earthly joys of Christmas, he knew deeply the reason for Christmas. He wrote in his journal,
Many say that Jesus was born poor, that he was placed in a manger … and for this reason, he was of humble birth. But this is not why Jesus was born humble. The joining of divine nature to human nature was the gesture of the most sublime humility. That is why he could say, “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble at heart.”
Devotion
Pier Giorgio also took the celebration of Christmas seriously. Frassatti USA shares a testimony from a teacher, Gian Pietro Ravera, that attested to Pier Giorgio’s enthusiasm for Christmas, recounting one Christmas Mass:
I was among those who were invited by Pier Giorgio, who went on and on about how beautiful the Mass would be, as well as the gastronomic delights that would follow. Pier Giorgio and Carlo Pol served the Mass, and I remember how it was difficult to move in the chapel because it was standing room only.
I continued to watch him, and the longer the Mass went on, and the more intense and spiritually delightful it became, the more I was moved to see that group of university students follow the liturgy of the Mass with such devotion.
Pier Giorgio also writes about his Advent season in a letter, then wishes the recipient the following, emphasizing how he (and we) can best understand the gift of the Incarnation:
“… best wishes above all that you will always possess the True Peace which is the best gift that one can possess on this earth."
