Puebla, Mexico, Nov 27, 2024 / 06:30 am
The life of Carlo Acutis, who is slated to be canonized next year as the first millennial saint, inspires thousands of people around the world. Among them is 9-year-old Alex Espinosa in Mexico, who both considers Acutis a “friend” and enthusiastically expresses that he wants to be like him when he grows up.
On Nov. 20, Pope Francis announced that Carlo Acutis will be proclaimed a saint during the Jubilee of Teenagers, which will take place in Rome April 25-27, 2025. Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, of the Diocese of Assisi, specified that the ceremony will take place the morning of Sunday, April 27, in St. Peter’s Square.
Alex Espinosa is the eldest son of María and Alejandro Espinosa. Alex’s mother says her family’s devotion to Carlo Acutis began in 2020, the year Acutis was proclaimed a blessed.
Although he was only four years old at the time, Alex, seeing the interest shown by his parents, was curious about the life of Carlos.
After learning about Acutis' story and understanding how he lived “an ordinary life, in an extraordinary way,” the little boy was deeply impacted. That same afternoon, he took some suitcases and said to his mother: “We have to be ready for heaven, Mom. We have to have our suitcases ready,” María recalled.
Subsequently on All Saints' Day, Alex dressed up as the soon-to-be saint, who is also known as “God's influencer.” As the boy’s affection for Acutis grew, his mother began to share moments of family life on Instagram, drawing admiration from Catholics around the world for the devotion her son showed towards the young saint.
Thanks to this devotion, the family received relics of Carlo Acutis, which according to María, has been key in Alex's spiritual growth. The mother commented that her son was also encouraged to “help the poor, as Carlo did, wanting to imitate his life in a small way.”
In December of 2023, the boy expressed his desire to make his First Communion “like Carlo Acutis, at the age of seven.”
According to the Code of Canon Law of the Church, “the administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion.”
Thus, Alex received his First Communion two days before his eighth birthday. His mother recalled that “it was something very special for him to say ‘I did it just like Carlo Acutis, when he was seven years old. ’”
Alex’s devotion has been reflected even in small details of his daily life. He celebrated a recent birthday with the image of Carlo Acutis and his mother says he has shared the story of the blessed with other children.
Reflecting on the impact Alex’s words and example have on his classmates, María said “I don’t know how much sticks with them, but in the end, it’s an important testimony of faith at that age.”
A healing attributed to Carlo Acutis
In March 2024, Alex's father, Alejandro, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in one of his lungs.
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While they were waiting for treatment, a close friend offered Alejandro a relic of Carlo Acutis. One evening, Alex expressed his concern: “I'm worried that he’s in pain, I don't like my dad being in pain.” Following his mother's advice, the boy asked Carlo Acutis to intercede with Jesus for his father's health.
That same evening, María placed the relic on her husband's chest as she stayed next to him in the hospital. The next morning, her husband's health improved markedly. Doctors confirmed that the swelling had dramatically decreased, allowing surgery to be scheduled earlier than planned.
María said with certitude that what happened was “a miracle, something inexplicable,” attributing the improvement to the intercession of Carlo Acutis and her son’s prayers. The healing, she says, “was a response to a sincere, pure prayer, from a pure heart.”
Budding friendship and advice for other parents
During a trip to Assisi, Alex’s parents brought him a book that tells the story of Acutis in detail. According to his mother, this allowed the little boy to perceive the blessed in a “closer and more real” way. The boy commented that “he’s my friend, and yes, I pray to him. He likes soccer, Nutella and video games.”
Based on her experience with her five children, María shared some advice on how to bring up children in the faith. She firmly believes that the best way to transmit spiritual values is “by example, that’s important.”
In her experience, children learn by observing how parents treat others, how they express themselves and in this case, “they see how we conduct ourselves in our faith, how we are at Mass, how we pray. I think that has a lot to do with it.”
She and her husband have made faith an integral part of family life, without imposing it, so that the experience of faith is natural, including prayer before meals and when leaving the house. In addition, they try to teach their children to be thankful for small blessings, from “bread with Nutella to having a house.”
The most important thing, according to María, is never to force children, but to make faith a part of their lives “in a natural and fun way,” always showing them that “God loves you very much and you have to thank him.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
