Novena to Saint Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis was an Italian teenager who loved the Eucharist, the Rosary and computers, and who used his talent for the internet to share the faith. He died of leukemia on October 12, 2006, at the age of 15. He was beatified in Assisi in October 2020 and canonized by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025, together with Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati. His liturgical memorial is October 12, so this novena is usually prayed from October 3 to 11.
Each day has an opening prayer, a short meditation on one of Carlo’s sayings, five Our Fathers, five Hail Marys and five Glory Bes (fifteen prayers, one for each year of his life) and a final prayer.
First Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
First Day Meditation: “Not I, but God”.
Saint Carlo Acutis, who made your life a continual gift of self, give me the grace to seek the things of Heaven rather than the things that pass away. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Second Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Second Day Meditation: “All people are born as originals, but many die as photocopies.” (quoted by Pope Francis in Christus Vivit, 106)
Saint Carlo Acutis, who never wanted to live a copied life, give me the grace to become the person God created me to be. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Third Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Third Day Meditation: “Ask your Guardian Angel to continually help you so that he becomes your best friend.”
Saint Carlo Acutis, who already in this world sought the company of the holy angels, give me the grace to live as my guardian angel would lead me. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fourth Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Fourth Day Meditation: “Our soul is like a hot-air balloon. If by chance there is mortal sin, the soul falls to the ground, and confession is like the fire that lets the balloon rise again… It is necessary to go to confession often.”
Saint Carlo Acutis, who lived this sacrament of reconciliation so well, give me the grace to always seek confession with deep contrition. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fifth Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Fifth Day Meditation: “Sadness is looking at yourself; happiness is looking towards God.”
Saint Carlo Acutis, who never took your eyes off Jesus, your great love, give me the grace to experience this true happiness in this world. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sixth Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Sixth Day Meditation: “The only thing we have to ask God for in prayer is the will to be holy.”
Saint Carlo Acutis, who always knew how to ask God for what was essential, give me the grace of a deep desire for Heaven. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Seventh Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Seventh Day Meditation: “The Virgin Mary is the only woman in my life”.
Saint Carlo Acutis, who loved the Virgin Mary more than anything, give me the grace to respond to the love of this tender and good mother. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eighth Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Eighth Day Meditation: “The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven.”
Saint Carlo Acutis, who always sought your Jesus hidden in the tabernacle, give me the grace of a deep Eucharistic love. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ninth Day
Opening Prayer
Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I thank you for all the favors, all the graces with which you enriched the soul of Saint Carlo Acutis during the 15 years he spent on this earth and, through the merits of this dear Angel of Youth, grant me the grace that I ardently ask of You (make the request for the grace you desire).
Ninth Day Meditation: “I am happy to die, because I lived my life without wasting a single minute on things that do not please God.”
Saint Carlo Acutis, give me the grace of graces, which is final perseverance and a holy death. So be it.
5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glory Be to the Father are prayed, in honor of the 15 years of Saint Carlo’s life on this earth.
Final Prayer
God, Father of mercy, I thank you for raising Saint Carlo Acutis to the glory of the altars, so that through him you may be ever more glorified. Through his merits and intercession, grant me the grace I ardently desire, if it is according to your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.