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Profoundly Original
Everyone is born as an original, but may die as a photocopy.
–Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), first millennial saint,
canonized 7 September 2025
This teen proficient at computer gaming
Spent utmost technologic talent framing
“Eucharistic Miracles of the World,”
Brave signal flags of his own site unfurled,
Displaying sacramental flesh online,
The bleeding Body, not the bread and wine.
Most difficult of doctrines to receive,
Since Gospel times it’s made shocked listeners leave:
“How can this Man give us his flesh to eat?”
Carlo strove to document the feat
Of God’s disclosures visibly surprising
Men capable of honest sympathizing.
Jesus, at place after place in history,
Astonished scoffers with physical mystery,
And Carlo’s plan was always to be near,
Helping virtual neighbors see and hear.
Research drawn from his schooling classical
Bridged mental gaps with science mystical.
As well, he practiced holy realism:
Soup kitchen work and teaching catechism.
Not a boy whom parents took to church,
Carlo instead led them upon a search,
Discovering fervor as they learned his ways
Of time passed only in God-pleasing praise.
He urged young friends to strengthen harmony
By chastity and personal dignity.
The day he fell to unexpected cancer
Suffering for pope and Church became his answer.
Anguish for heaven would bypass purgatory;
It only took ten days to seal the story.
Since then, two healings demonstrate his glory.
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Poet’s Note: Canonization of a saint requires documentation of two miracles since the saint’s death. There must be proof that neither is the result of medical practice or natural processes.
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Margaret Coats lives in California. She holds a Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University. She has retired from a career of teaching literature, languages, and writing that included considerable work in homeschooling for her own family and others.
Went to an exhibition of his documentations of Eucharistic miracles throughout the world. He was truly a young man dedicated to God and an
unswerving belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist and made a valiant effort to spread its truth. You have done an excellent job
of telling his story in poetic form. Thank you for this poem and for all of your scholarly expositions which I never fail to read.
CARLO ACUTIS: WALK TOWARDS GOD shows photos and videos of the saint during life. The 4-minute presentation was created with the cooperation of San Carlo’s parents in Assisi, Italy, by Canto Catolico based in Chile. English subtitles.
Thanks, jd. Your comment is a good opportunity to say where to find a livelier view of the saint. The video is on YouTube with the English title, and subtitles to the song in Spanish, though it can be toggled to appear in several languages. The original Spanish, Caminar Hacia Dios, premiered on September 5, the day I premiered the poem by reading it to the Society of Classical Poets Symposium in Naperville, Illinois. Along with it I read a translation of another poem on a saint, and pointed out the difference between the two: mine includes no prayer. I’ll add here the prayers written by Juan Pablo Rojas Saffie and sung in the video:
May God grant us the grace to serve Him with faith and humility in works of mercy that lead us to the heights of holiness.
May this message travel through the net and reach the whole world in all its fullness.
That second petition sounds like the work of Carlo Acutis!
Very nice, Margaret. I think one of the holiest things about him was that despite being the first internet-aged saint he limited himself to one hour of gaming a week. Something everyone can learn from.
Good use of time (and time used for good!) is indeed an area in which Carlo Acutis has much to teach everyone of any age. The more I find out about him, the more I am amazed at how much holy activity he managed to pack into fifteen years and a few months. I would say, where did he find the time–but the answer is, he didn’t waste any. Thanks for the comment, Reid!
Margaret, thank you for introducing me to the life of Carlo Acutis. His life story is particularly touching to me because my youngest daughter Sophia was just diagnosed at 24 with leukemia in August, completely out of the blue. Thankfully she is in remission now, and will be receiving a stem cell transplant from my daughter Gloria at the end of the month. We have very high hopes for her future complete recovery and long life ahead.
I admire your interlocking rhyming scheme, it makes beautiful music to my ears. Most powerful are having three final lines which rhyme, rather than the expected two. Makes it even more impactful: “purgatory”, “story”, “glory.” Lovely work!
Thanks so much for your comment, Theresa. My lines are heroic couplets for a young hero, but I did split the rhyme sounds to join the first two verse paragraphs. The line break there seemed to make more sense than a long block of print. The masters of heroic couplet narratives do sometimes allow themselves a rhymed triplet, but usually within a long poem, rather than at the end of a short one as here. Glad you find it an ending with impact!
Very sorry to hear of Sophia’s illness, but I’m happy her prospects seem to be good. I’ve not published during the summer, in part because of doing what I could to accompany my best friend through cancer treatment. She finally looks to be on the road to recovery, but as you know it’s a long haul overall. Saint Carlo may be a heavenly friend for the surprisingly large numbers of younger persons with cancer. The newer kinds of treatment do offer much hope.
A fascinating, informative, and well-expressed poem.
Many thanks! I’m glad you like it.
I’m ashamed to acknowledge that I knew nothing about him until your great poem. Thanks once again for so artfully bringing important information to us all.
He’s very big with the younger crowd, as Robert says below. Very much worth knowing for us, too, though. I forgot to say the poem appeared on October 12 because that is his birthday into heaven, and thus would be his very first feast day, in the Church since the canonization! Thanks for your notice, Warren, which I always appreciate.
Margaret,
A lovely tribute to a boy whose story has captivated young people. I’m struck by how many teens are drawn to his example that in a world overrun with technology one need not despair of faith or miracles. Young men in particular need the examples both he and Frasati provide.
You’re right, Robert, we need them both, and young men have a special need. Frassati is a good example of a right-minded activist for the underprivileged, while Acutis put spiritual riches onto the internet for all to see. The Eucharistic Miracles website is lovingly maintained exactly as the young saint curated it, but others following his example have put up displays of much more good to see. Thank you for being here, and hope to see more of you!
Eucharistic miracles, as well as the attested physical phenomena of mysticism, are unmistakable signs of the incarnational reality of Catholic Christianity.
Thank you, Joseph. Rare physical manifestations of the unseen are always difficult to accept. As an editor, I worked with an account of a contemporary priest levitating. The incidents required not simple description, but testimony in the language of the courtroom to be taken seriously.
An inspiring story in an era where we could do with inspiring stories.
Thanks rendering poetically the amazing events surrounding the life of Carlo Acutis.
Thanks, Paul. Though it’s not an event, I found even the insistence on personal dignity inspiring. Don’t know about teen boys in Abu Dhabi, but around here they tend to be sloppy in dress and uncertain in manners. Carlo didn’t dress up much, but he could make sports clothes look dignified, and apparently had a dignifying effect on others. Makes me smile to think of it.
I returned home from my California beach walk today to find this spiritually uplifting work from a California scholar. Thank you , Margaret Coats.
Thank you, Margaret. Glad to put some lift in the San Diego Sunday afternoon. Everything I learn about San Carlo is heartwarming.
Margaret, this is such a nice poem about St. Carlo Acutis. It offers a great example of how anyone, regardless of age, or interests, can always put God first. I wish I had a peek into St. Carlo’s first experience that began his fervor to document Eucharistic Miracles. Do you know?
San Carlo acts a reminder to do just that, put God first. I haven’t come across anything that would tell why he wanted to document Eucharistic miracles. As I mentioned in the poem, I’m sure he was helped by the serious studies at his high school, not an ordinary one, but one with a classical program. That would have taught research, which is evident in his extensive listing of dates and places.
Maybe we can also consider his desire to be an ORIGINAL, not a photocopy. He wanted to use the gifts God gave him in particular, that make him unique. As I also said in the poem, people in general have difficulty with Eucharistic miracles. Could it really be the real flesh of Our Lord and God? It was a challenge for Carlo, I’m sure, to motivate their belief. It was something many Catholics might never wish to try, or have the talent and perseverance to complete. But Carlo who wanted to be with Jesus always, as his life plan. That would mean taking on any difficulties introducing Him to the world online!
Thanks for a good question, Laura.
What a unique and powerful way of relating. St. Carlo’s holiness!
This surely inspires both young and old.
Thanks, Margaret!
Thank you, Joni. I hope it will, at least a little in addition to the full and holy life of the saint himself!
A wonderful poem of saint Carlo Acutis. A gifted incredible soul inspring the youth of today.
So he does, Jim. I didn’t cover all the inspiration he offers in the poem, but of what I did, I think the effect Carlo had on his parents is most remarkable. His mother has said she didn’t remember much churchgoing before Carlo started dragging her to Sunday Mass. Young persons can even think of bettering the lives of mother and father, which is probably one of the hardest projects imaginable!
Margaret, I join the others in admiration both for the life of a recent teen personage deserving recognition of sainthood and your poem that is an inspired and inspiring manifestation of sincere intellectual application of devotion. Your own works come across to me as miracles on their own merit.
Thank you doubly, Roy, first for your attention to this most remarkable saint for whom I’m unworthy to speak. Second for your high opinion of my works, which is more deeply valued than you may understand. Your judgment is careful, and I’m grateful for your expression of it on this, my returning appearance after several months away.
A lovely poem, Margaret, which I recall from your reading at our symposium last month.
Thanks again, Cynthia. On that first reading, I was very glad to know that you and Paul understood and appreciated the poem.
Margaret your poem truly reflects the saint that Carlo was and how he not only impacted his family but Christians world wide.
Many thanks, Paulette! I’m glad you know the saint and his impact, and glad as well that you find my poem truly reflects that power of holiness so many of us know.
Thank you for creating this poem about a young man that is now a saint and his encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist. Amen
Thanks so much for honoring the saint and appreciating my poem. I’m happy to know you read and enjoyed it, Susan!
Beautiful poem Margaret! I think it’s a perfect poem for our youth today. I will read it to my children. This first millennial saint left a legacy of strong faith and perseverance in his very young age, and his faith is admirable. This poem lays out in detail all his work, especially the Eucharistic Miracles. Our Lord Jesus was very present in his young and short life. Wonderful work!
Thank you, Rosana, and thanks for reading the poem to others. Perseverance in his life plan of being close to Jesus really defines Saint Carlo, and it accounts for his many good works, not all of which did I mention in the poem. Hope your children are inspired by him!
“Profoundly Original” forces one to consider the philosophical metaphor that life is just a copy machine and we are just photocopies of vulgar ideas. We are not! We are called by Saint Carlo and all the Saints to reach to Christ’s sacrifice for our inspiration. Because a photocopy is just material and we are spiritual beings that long to be reunited with our Saviour. Thank you Dr. Coats for passionately sharing your faith and exemplifying what a masterpiece looks like when all around us we see photocopies.
Ramsey, thanks for bringing up the meaning of this metaphor. As you say, we see photocopies all around us. How could each newborn original (as human beings are in the opinion of Saint Carlo) become a photocopy? As you also say, this may happen due to copying of vulgar ideas, but each person chooses to do that–or not to accept those ideas just because they are popular. Rather, he can develop the capabilities given him by God, and thus “make something of himself.” The “something” he makes is a self-creation of sorts, using personal gifts that belong to no one else, which is why we can all be different and thus distinctively “original,” especially when we focus on developing our spiritual nature. In fact, the more we work on that piece of art, the better it may become. Much appreciate your contribution to discussion!
What struck my ear was the use of feminine rhyme; there is one such rhyming couplet in all but the last stanza, which consists entirely of feminine rhymes (perhaps explaining its short length relative to the other stanzas). The echo of the unstressed ending is appropriate in a poem concerned with the enduring legacy of Saint Carlo Acutis. The initial containment and eventual overflow of feminine rhymes also hints at the gradual overcoming of obstacles until none remained before him, as when a river has burst through the dam.
Thank you for your comment, Daniel, and for noticing sound effects I wasn’t entirely aware of. I had thought I might write a shorter poem, to correspond to the brevity of the young saint’s life, but things that somehow needed to be said about him cascaded over that plan. And then the rhymes, too, tended to overflow. You hear the feminine rhymes, but there are also triple rhymes, with “history” and “mystery” being a perfect triple. I rarely regard a rhyme in the “ee” sound alone to be artistically satisfactory, unless it falls on the principal word accent. I did have to accept the imperfect rhyme of “harmony” and “dignity” because the meanings were entirely suitable. “Classical” and “mystical” are a bit more fitting. But you see what I mean about multisyllabic words taking places at the ends of lines in this poem, and tending to create a kind of sound overflow. I’m very happy with your interpretation of it as appropriate to the subject!
I feel privileged to have had a “sneak peek” at this work back at our symposium in Illinois. Yet it rings differently now that the canonization has occurred — strangely, it seems. You give us an argument — a case for sainthood made in verse and rhyme — condensed nicely, which cuts through the sensationalism that accompanied his canonization. You show us who he *really* was, and appropriately begin with the Sacrament (and thank you for reminding that it was the hardest received of Christ’s own teaching). I was happy to revisit this.
Thank you for your visit here, Adam. I didn’t see the canonization ceremony, but I’m glad you find this account of the saint not to be sensational. Wonder if what happened at the ceremony was due to the many young devotees, or to what elders thought they would want? Though Carlo became saintly by being other-directed (toward Jesus in the Sacrament), and by directing others toward that most difficult doctrine, it may have seemed like time to celebrate him in himself. May the poem accomplish any of those ends as best it can!
Thank you, Mrs. Coats, for sharing the story for this marvelous young saint. It is not easy to tell nonfiction stories in poetry but yours was very beautifully done. I especially loved how fluid stanza 3 went. What an amazing thing that he influenced his parents in such a way. The quote from him was also very well chosen. We indeed should not strive to be photocopies!
Yes, I do think beneficial influence on parents can be the most difficult challenge for a child who sees problems and hopes for better. Saint Carlo must have prayed before he took action! And that’s where he himself may have thought about not being a photocopy of what he saw. I’m so glad to have your approval of fluidity in stanza 3, as you’ve made some serious study of poetry and how to write it. It is a summary of a few characteristics too important to leave out. Thank you very much for taking time to make this comment.