Day three of St. Carlo Acutis’ relic tour in the diocese brought hundreds to Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Lines extended down the cathedral’s front steps and out to the Broad Street sidewalk after the 12:30 p.m. Mass. Long lines also formed before and after the 10:30 a.m. Mass earlier that morning.
Three times the amount of faithful came to the diocese’s mother church Sunday.
Laura Battocletti, a liturgical minister at St. Joseph, estimated that the 12:30 p.m. Mass typically averages about 150 people. Approximately 450 individuals were present for the morning Mass, and about 400 attended the early afternoon Mass at the cathedral.
Individuals of all ages, including youth and young families with children, venerated relics of the 15-year-old boy who died in 2006 after battling leukemia and offering his suffering for the Pope, the Church and to go to heaven.
Now a widely beloved saint, relics of Carlo’s pericardium (the tissue surrounding his heart), a lock of hair, a piece of the bedsheet where he laid suffering and dying, and a piece of his favorite t-shirt drew hundreds to kneel in veneration.
Carolyn Hales, 24, an English teacher at Worthington City Schools, was inspired by St. Carlo’s example of suffering well.
The Columbus St. Catharine of Siena Church parishioner was grateful for the event, specifically the convenience of coming to ask for hope in times of desperation.
“I think it’s incredible that we have the opportunity to be in the presence of these relics, particularly when you’re a person who experiences suffering from chronic illnesses or different health conditions,” she said.
“It’s just been an incredible opportunity, and I’m so grateful that we have opportunities like this in the diocese.”
Several young children also enjoyed the chance to meet Carlo.
Catherine Rudolph, a homeschooling mother in the diocese, brought several children to see the saint. A homeschool group named the St. Carlo Acutis Robotics Club takes the technology-savvy saint as its patron.
Andres and Nayeon Madrigal brought their four children, Antonio, Andrea, Marcelo and Margarita, to the cathedral. While their youngest is two months old, the older three enjoyed ascending the altar and peering into the reliquary to see Carlo’s relics.
“It’s an amazing experience that may not come about as easily,” Andres reflected. “It’s very important that we’re able to share the relics with the Catholic community.”
He noted the impact on the youth, much like his sons and daughters.
“It’s important for the children to see and to understand that the prayers we have daily in our local community, this helps bridge a network, a global community that we live in,” he explained.
Several college students and young adults were also eager to participate in veneration.
For Will Burke, 28, reflecting on St. Carlo’s suffering put the Catholic faith in perspective.
“Our drives to church … we make a big deal out of it, but it’s really easy for us to do what we need to do to practice our faith – and he did it so simply,” Burke said of Carlo.
“It’s beautiful to be here and see the relics, and get a good lesson from him to continue our lives simply and within the Lord.”
Ohio University students Sarah Liederbach, 22, and Lauren Huntley, 21, visited the cathedral to venerate the relics. Liederbach said she appreciated how St. Carlo made his ordinary life holy.
Huntley admired that attribute as well, noting that “he’s very relatable.
“All of the saints, they do all this great work, and it’s amazing. We kind of have a desire for that,” she recognized, “but just being able to see someone who’s very ordinary … going to school and playing sports and making that holy, gives us a good idea of what we can strive for in our day-to-day life.”
