Mary Queen of the World Cathedral is hosting a traveling exhibit on Eucharistic miracles created by the Blessed Carlos Acutis. On display until May 13, the exhibition recounts some sixty miraculous events that have occurred around the world over the centuries.  

SOURCE - Originally published by le-verbe.com

Have you heard of Carlos Acutis? As a young Italian boy of 11 and a half years old, he, like most boys his age, was fascinated by the world of computers. In fact, he was a gifted computer expert. His other passion, however, taking precedence over all other concerns, was the Eucharist. 

Beginning with his first communion, he wondered how to convince the whole world of the real presence of Christ at Mass. This desire led him to the idea of creating an exhibition on Eucharistic miracles. 

Through research on the Internet, he created a list of 132 of them. Four years later, in 2006, he died, in sanctity, before the inauguration of his exhibition. He was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020. 

Acutis’ immense research work bore posthumous fruit. His dream became a reality: a traveling exhibition that has been touring the world ever since.

“At the entrance to the basilica, there are between 60 and 65 paintings that present Eucharistic miracles, which, in fact, represents only a little more than 50% of Acutis’ work,” explains Louise Normandeau, who is responsible for the exhibition in Quebec.

Guided tours

A teacher at the Commission scolaire des Trois-Lacs in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, Normandeau leads guided tours of the exhibition. “A visit lasts about an hour, during which I tell them the story of the Eucharistic miracles that have been authenticated by the Church.”

To facilitate the visit, Normandeau has grouped the Eucharistic miracles by theme. Visitors move from one section to another, discovering the miracles that are related to each.

This traveling exhibition is attracting more and more visitors throughout Quebec. “It's extremely popular,” says Normandeau. Over the next few months, it will be presented in l'Assomption, Terrebonne and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. 

Parishes and groups who want to present it during the fall must act quickly. “It's largely booked until October,” she says.

What explains the popularity of such an exhibition? Normandeau offers a few explanations. According to her, the personality of Acutis, this young beatified person, is an important part of the attraction. “He is sympathetic. He touches people. He is the one who really attracts. Pope Francis likes him a lot! He thinks Acutis may one day become the saint of youth and internet users.”

An email address in heaven

"You know," Normandeau continues passionately, “we are talking about a young person who died in 2006 when he was 15 years old. We are talking about a young person who, fourteen years later, was beatified in front of his mother, father, and two twin brothers who were born after his death. A young man who had an email address! He is the only beatified person to have an email address in heaven!”

During her guided tours, she points out that young Carlos would now be 31 years old. “This could be your son, your grandson, your brother. We're talking about accessible holiness. We are talking about a young person! This is really what touches people. He upsets our usual patterns of holiness. And he's so handsome,” she says, laughing.

Acutis had a specific goal in creating the exhibit. “He wanted visitors to change their view of the Eucharist,” says Normandeau. “Yes, there is interest in Carlos. However, this interest is directed towards his passion, which is the Eucharist. Carlos' mission was to bring people to the Eucharist. He is still doing it in heaven.”

Faced with such a profusion of miracles, some visitors may feel uncomfortable. Faced with objections that might arise, Normandeau does not shy away. “What is the purpose of the Eucharistic miracle? It is to revive faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. We must avoid making this exhibition into something extraordinary. It is true that prudence is required. Today, the Church calls on teams of scientists before authenticating miracles.”

As a good pedagogue, she reminds us that the miracle of the Eucharist is daily: “You know that this miracle does not exist at just one moment in history.”

“This miracle,” she continues, “is for you every time you attend the Eucharist.”

The exhibit created by Blessed Carlos Acutis travels the world thanks in part to the support of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist, based in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon in France. It has been translated into 17 languages.

As part of the exhibition, a Mass was celebrated, during which a relic of Carlos Acutis was presented. “This relic belongs to us now,” said Father Emmanuel Zetino, vicar of the Montreal Cathedral.

Like many others, the vicar was impressed by the youth and depth of the Blessed's spiritual life: “What is surprising is to see him with his jeans and cotton sweaters!”

He emphasizes that thanks to this exhibition, families become aware “that the Eucharist becomes flesh, that the Eucharist becomes blood in a real way.”

Yves Casgrain