Lenten campaign 2026
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In recent years, Catholics around the world were introduced to St. Carlo Acutis, a millennial teenager who died a holy death in 2006. His simple and honest faith at such a young age has inspired countless young people to lead lives of holiness.
While St. Carlo may seem like a rare individual, it's becoming clear that there are many young people scattered across the world who fall deeply in love with Jesus Christ at an early age, even in our own times.
One of those individuals is Joe Wilson, a Scottish 17-year-old who died in 2011 from Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Before his death, people who knew him were astonished by his Catholic faith.
Meet Joe Wilson
Joe was born in 1994 in Scotland, growing up in Carfin. He was raised Catholic and attended Our Lady and St Francis Primary school. Before his death he attended Taylor High.
During his teenage years, Joe kept a diary that was later published after his death, entitled "Joe's Words." In it, he wrote about his spiritual life and his attraction to the Catholic faith.
When Pope Benedict XVI visited Bellahouston Park in Glasgow in 2010, he wrote, "Pope Benedict is coming to Glasgow on Thursday and I’m going to see him. I cannot wait. We will be sitting in zone 1, right in front of the altar. It will be such a wonderful spiritual occasion and bring so much joy to Scotland."
Attending Mass was one of his favorite activities, as he wrote, "After going to Mass on Sunday I feel I have 'returned home.' I've gone back to where I belong."
A website dedicated to Joe also explains a small grotto he visited frequently:
Joe lived very close to Carfin Grotto – a pilgrimage center and shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes -- and this became an important part of his faith journey. Joe would often visit the Grotto both with family and on his own. He viewed it as a special and sacred place; a peaceful sanctuary for prayer and reflection. Joe dedicated many prayers to others during the time he spent there and was particularly inspired by St. Therese of Lisieux after learning about her strong faith and desire to help others.
When he was in a coma before his death, hundreds gathered in prayer, hoping that he would stay on this earth a little longer. The beauty of his childlike faith was known by anyone who knew him and was a beacon of light to others.
Since his death in 2011, many have been inspired by his life and his diary, which reveals a deep spiritual life for a millennial teenager. Hortense Leger adds in an article for Aleteia that, "A major event was also organized after his death, to pay tribute to him: hundreds of people climbed Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Scotland, to raise funds for various charitable associations, including the British Heart Foundation, cause closely linked to Joe's life and death."
On November 27, 2025, the Bishops Conference of Scotland approved the opening of a cause of canonization for Joe. The next step involves the gathering of documents in order to present it to Rome.
While this is the earliest stage of his cause for canonization, he joins a list of millennial saints who died in the prime of their lives, and who prove that holiness is possible for teenagers.
