Here are 5 things he is best known for:

Love for the Eucharist — He called the Eucharist his “highway to heaven” and attended Mass frequently.

The Eucharistic miracles exhibition — He created a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles from around the world.

A young saint — He was born in 1991 and died in 2006 at just 15 years old.

Using technology for God — He used his computer skills to evangelize and help others learn about Jesus.

A saint for young people — He showed that holiness is possible in everyday life, even for young people who love computers, games, and the internet.

He was canonized on 7 September 2025 by Pope Leo XIV.

Patroness of Brazil. Pray for us.

Gran Turismo 4 included a 1:1 street circuit in Assisi: Città di Aria.
Driving this in reverse you will see Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore, the resting place of our beloved (unofficial patron of video games) St. Carlo.

There could be a chance this was one of the games he once played, it being one of the best selling games in 2005

I converted from being a Methodist, and after a lot of deep study and prayer, I decided to pursue Catholicism. I’m currently going through catechism. But to be completely honest, I am finding it so hard to stay motivated.

First, it is so antisocial. In Protestant churches I'm used to people actually talking to you, welcoming visitors, and hanging out. I made so many friends in my Methodist church.

At Catholic Mass, people roll in right as it starts, sit in total silence, and then sprint to their cars the second it ends. Nobody talks to anyone. Nobody even looks at anyone.

Second, the vibe from some cradle Catholics is exhausting. They can be downright mean to converts.It’s wild to me how much some cradle Catholics look down on converts, considering how many of them are completely lukewarm or barely practicing themselves. I've literally seen "vert" used as an insult. The word convert -- is an insult. Why would anyone want to convert to a religion where they're looked down on for not being born into it? What?

I used to always ask why Catholicism is dying out to Protestantism in places like Guatemala and Brazil but i think the answer is simple. Protestants are actually nice. They are nice and welcoming and they build a community and invite you into it.

In my experience, Catholics can be very unwelcoming, antisocial, and they look down on you.

Hi y’all. In the spirit of “pray for thy enemies” and “honor the dignity of human life,” and not making violence normalized, I’d like to pray the rosary during the live stream of the Fort Hood shooter’s execution.

Does anyone know if a live stream Rosary is being organized for that same time, to maximize the impact? I don’t think I should organize one just from my prayer corner, but if no organization steps up I will 😮‍💨

Our Lady of the Pillar

Our Lady of the Pillar appeared to St. James at Zaragoza in 40 AD, the first recorded Marian apparition. She is patroness of Spain and the Hispanic world.

This feast commemorates the tradition that on October 12, 40 AD, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the Apostle St. James the Greater on the banks of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza) in Spain.

Mary, who was still living in Jerusalem, appeared standing on a pillar of jasper, carried by angels, and asked James to build a church on the spot. This apparition is considered the first recorded Marian apparition in history.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Spain for nearly two millennia. Our Lady of the Pillar is the patroness of Spain and of the Hispanic world.

Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is the name given to the Virgin Mary in the context of the traditional belief that Mary, while living in Jerusalem, supernaturally appeared to the Apostle James the Greater in AD 40 while he was preaching in what is now Spain. Those who adhere to this belief consider this appearance to be the only recorded instance of Mary exhibiting the mystical phenomenon of bilocation. Among Catholics, it is also considered the first Marian apparition, and unique because it happened while Mary was still living on Earth.

This title is also associated with a wooden image commemorating the apparition, which is now enshrined at the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. Pope Callixtus III granted indulgences for visitors to the shrine in 1456. Pope Innocent XIII in 1730 mandated her veneration throughout the Spanish Empire. On 20 May 1905, Pope Pius X granted the image a canonical coronation.

Our Lady of the Pillar is considered the Patroness of Aragon and its capital Zaragoza, Hispanic people, the Hispanic world, and of the Spanish Civil Guard. Her feast day is 12 October, which coincides with the National Day of Spain.

Please pray for the dioceses of Penonomé and Chitré, whose churches were damaged by the earthquake in Panama, leaving many people homeless, mostly farmers. Thankfully, there were no fatalities.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/09/panama-earthquake

The news lately has been filling me with sadness. The public execution news is making me sick. How can we as Catholic’s stay positive even when negative news is going on the world. Do we block it out? Just pray? Talk to others? I’m scared for the world’s future.

Basically title. Will I go to hell if I kill myself with my muscle relaxer prescription?

I am a mid 20’s Marine Corps infantry veteran diagnosed with arthritis of the cervical spine, ADHD, Panic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, bilateral Eustachian tube dysfunction, TMJ disorder, the list is long. I also suspect Asperger’s syndrome. Basically I wake up and live in in pain every day. Sharp pain in my ears, neck, jaw, and nothing helps. I was bullied out of my friend group and don’t have any real friends.

I am alone every day and can’t get anything done. Even getting my laundry done and folded is a huge undertaking. I fail at everything I attempt and I am angry with God. I do not even enjoy my long time hobbies anymore. I beg God every day for relief and help, direction, but he never answers me or sends me any help. I am tired of living in this cursed world full of despicable people and I am tired of seeing everyone else achieving things I know are impossible for me. I will never marry or have children. I even still live at home at my big age. I am unhirable. My several attempts to start my own business(es) went nowhere.

I have vivid violent fantasies of lashing out at those who have wronged me, but have decided that is totally out of the question and I should just take myself out without hurting anyone else.

I have tried everything. I have prayed the Rosary and asked others to pray for me. Doctors give me the run around and just prescribe me more pills. This is no way to live taking pills every day. So I’m thinking why go through all this trouble for 60 more years when I can just skip to the end? Nobody would miss me except my parents and I would finally be at peace. So I’m wondering: am I guaranteed eternal damnation in hell for ending my own suffering?

I find it odd how alot of Christian’s think Russia is this bastion of Christianity because the goverment imposes a level of social Christian morality I’ve talked to Russians and looked at statistics church attendance is lower, HIV rates are higher, the people themselves may be culturally Christian but don’t really practice it in reality the women and women are having premarital sex and living like people in the west. something that people gloss over is they think because the Russian goverment doesn’t allow some degeneracy that Russia is moral however Russias degeneracy is imperialism and a complete disregard for human life. I’ve cried over some videos of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers dying in the war it’s heartbreaking theres been news articles and videos on X showing people from Africa and Asia being offered jobs in Russia then they are forced to sign a military contract and are treated like cannon fodder ik there’s alot of propaganda on both sides but even Russian military channels know the death toll and disregard for human life it would be nice to see this satanic goverment fall and see Russia consecrated to the Virgin Mary as Russia has potential but instead it’s destroying itself physically and spiritually I saw this Canadian family going to Russia because Canada promoted LGBTQ yes that’s bad but what’s worse turn ur tv or your phone off of have your sons conscripted to the war just to be blown up by a drone within 30 minutes on the front and there’s instances where some people in rural Russia are individually forced to sign contracts against there will essentially forced conscription

I had one three years ago and don’t regret it. Why? Well, for one thing, I just don’t want kids. Point blank period. Never had the desire for being a father. And I got the procedure because I wanted some peace of mind knowing that, if I eventually find myself with a woman and use protection, the likelihood of an accidental pregnancy is extremely low.

And yet, the Church considers this a permanent form of contraception. Could I get it reversed? Yes. But a) these aren’t very effective and b) I just don’t want to. I have no regrets over it, like I said.

But given this, would this bar me from becoming a full fledged member of the Church, since I’m deliberately going against something the Church forbids? Or would the priest or bishop or whomever is really in charge of getting me confirmed not really care and just cares about who I am as a person and how I plan to live my life?

Just wanted to share a good thing that happened to me. In short I was feeling kinda down and was about to have a long night driving. I stopped by the gas station for some coffee and privately thought: “When in doubt, I’ve got God and coffee.”

The cashier proceeded to give me the coffee for free.

Thank God for coffee and all the other small blessings that go over my head.

Genuinely curious, not trying to rage-bait or stir up controversy. Please feel free to delete this if it violates any community rules. I think the question itself is clear and I am honestly unsure from a Catholic theological perspective.

I’m a male in my late 20’s in the process of going through adult confirmation. While I’m really excited to enter into full communion with the Church, this journey has made me feel profoundly lonelier than I have in a long time. A few particular areas that I am struggling with:

- I have struggled with SSA. While I have no qualms with the Church’s teachings regarding SSA, it’s also hard knowing that I will also probably never be able to enter the sacrament of marriage and have a family of my own. It’s hard going to mass alone, being surrounded by families, and being reminded of the solemn consequences of my sins. I have no jealousy or resentment for these families, rather I am just very insecure and self-conscious as a single man in the Church.

-Social anxiety is something I’ve struggled with severely in the past, and I find that it’s returned greatly as I am entering the Church. Even things like the sign of peace overwhelm me when I go to mass alone. I want to get more involved in my Parish events to build relationships, but I am struggling to bring myself to attend these events alone. It is hard because I need to find a sponsor in the short term as well.

- I am dreading the thought of attending Christmas and Easter masses alone. I have always attended Protestant services with my family, and it’s hard to think about no longer being able to do this.

Ultimately none of this will keep me from joining the Church, but I share these struggles in the hope that maybe someone on here can relate at some level.

God Bless

On a typical Sunday, what mass time do you normally attend? I’m a 7:30 am mass attendee. I’m not a fan of crowds and this one only has about 100 people.

I am a teen who is currently living in a Baptist household and go to church at a Baptist church. I’ve recently looked into catholicism and I think I’m starting to believe it is the true denomination, but I do not think my parents/siblings will approve because I think they do not agree with catholic teachings/ways. If anyone has any ideas on what to do, please tell me.

That includes myself, so I am in good company. I don't know if its just me, but the local young adult community has a lot of single men and women. I am relatively new to the church, but I am used to most of my non-Catholic peers being in a relationship by now. And I don't think it is for the lack of trying, there are a lot of them trying to put themselves out there on dating apps (Including Catholic Match) and "Catholic Speed dating" events. A lot of them I am surprised are in their late 30s and early 40s and have never been in a serious relationship- there are so many of them that are genuinely charismatic, nice, funny, charming, and popular within the parish and the greater young adult community.

This isn't so much of a "rant" but more of something I have noticed and was wondering if this is something you have noticed as well? In other Christian denomination circles (Especially Evangelicals), there seem to be more people that are married with kids by the time they are 30. In the Catholic community, I notice more singles.

There was an image from a sister that I shared to social that said along the lines of “you’re not pro life if you advocate for the birth of a child but do everything you can to prevent helping that mom or child after. That makes you pro birth”

The conservatives and older people in my friends felt necessary to go on about making adoption easier and that abortion is murder. I tried stating that’s not the point of the post and then I was accused of bringing no solutions to any problem and my post was just asking for attention.

Am I taking crazy pills by being confused on what these people are saying?? I believe in the dignity of the unborn child since the moment of conception. Are they say radicalized in such a pro choice world that anything that touches the topic must be in favor of abortion??

I found this chant and I really liked it but I don't understand what prayers or salms they are reciting and I would really like to know if anyone can identify it thank you so much

Hello I am a Catholic convert that was originally born in a Muslim-majority country. I moved to a Western country about 20+ years ago as a child with my parents and converted earlier this year. We came legally, are working, and have integrated. My family both here and in the country that I was born in are secular, and I have had no issues with them knowing my faith.

With that said, I have become increasingly scared regarding the political situation. I am seeing many political parties and movements come up that are calling for mass deportations some of them connected to extreme movements and they specifically target those from Muslim countries. For the past while this has resulted in a lot of anxiety for me (I should mention that I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder). I am so worried about what will happen in the future. I have tried to unburden myself and leave my worries with the Lord as the Scripture tells us but my mind still keeps thinking. Similarly, Lord Jesus teaches us to focus on today’s troubles instead of worrying about the future…but my mind does not turn off. Needless to say I have not slept well and am becoming physically strained.

I keep thinking what would happen if a radical movement comes to power that strips my Citizenship and sends me to a country that, outside of birth and a few family members, I have little connection to (and I would lose my friends, living standards, my livelihood, and freedoms). I worry also because in my birth country conversion is not legal, so how would i practice my Faith and partake in the sacraments (I pray for all those in that situation, since my country of birth has many Christian converts ; though not many are Catholics ) and what if the authorities somehow find out. I am praying yet always worried. I am hoping some of my worries will be assuaged so I can rest easy.

I keep thinking of the courage St. Paul had as he wrote letters while he was imprisoned and likely knowing he would be executed. Similarly, St. Thomas More displayed immense strength by sticking with his Faith despite being imprisoned and later burned. I have not had anything even close to what these went through happen (and I truly pray I don’t suffer like they did because I don’t think I could withstand it), yet I am crumbling thinking of what might happen. I know one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is courage, yet I am weak and trembling in constant fear even though many say the scenarios I think of are unlikely and nothing has happened. I am on edge all the time waiting for the other show to drop, with my mind constantly making up the worse possible scenarios. Please pray for me and please pray for others in the world who are anxious, overwhelmed, and those of our Faith in nations where they cannot easily/safely practice.