Book Review: ‘God’s Influencer’

Alleluia! Praise God! Carlo Acutis is now a saint and, according to Pope Leo IV “in the canonization of Carlo Acutis, we have God putting his hand not just on a person but on a way of life.”

“God’s Influencer” provides firsthand insight into Carlo’s life and the nature of his influence. The content of the book comes from an interview conducted by Giorgio Maria Carbone, Order of Preachers, with Carlo’s parents, Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano. The interview consisted of 42 questions and their responses.

Carlo is our first millennial saint. And, because of the lifestyle he chose to live and the use of his own website and social media to spread the “Good News,” with a dedication to the Eucharist, he has been referred to as the “saint in sneakers,” “patron of the Internet,” and as Pope Francis described him, the “saint next door.”
 
Carlo’s time on earth was brief. He died from acute myeloid leukemia at the young age of 15. However, while on earth, he had a powerful influence on people of all ages, different backgrounds, and the marginalized as to how to live as Christians and serve God.

Carlo even influenced his parents, as is clearly evidenced reading their richly insightful responses to the interview questions.

Many of the questions centered around the holy character of Carlo, his spiritual development habits, his relationship with his parents, friends, the public and his “Plan of Life” for living out God’s will.

A few examples of the interview questions:

“During the first years of Carlo’s life, you, Antonia, had an immature faith, and you, Andrea, did not attend church. So, what transmitted the rudiments of the faith to Carlo?”

“How did Carlo live the relationship between innocent suffering and faith?”

“Can you tell us something about Carlo’s other human virtues in daily life?”

While as a child his parents didn’t fully embrace Catholicism, his nanny served as a role model by taking him to daily Mass and answering his many questions about the Catholic faith. As a teenager he lived a somewhat ordinary life, playing sports, going to school, spending time with friends, dressing in blue jeans and spending time on the internet.

The Sophia Institute Press wrote that Carlo “was a brilliant catechist who also created numerous displays about the faith, most notably the Eucharistic Miracles exhibition of worldwide fame.” 

He also created his own website, posting information about holy sites he and his family visited, biographical information about various saints, and his thoughts about various aspects of the Catholic faith.

The reader should find it especially interesting to learn about Carlo’s strong beliefs about the seven Sacraments of the Church. He had special appreciation for the Holy Eucharist, believing “the Eucharist is the highway to heaven,” and he took advantage of every opportunity presented to receive the Body and Blood of his Savior, Jesus Christ.

According to Andrea and Antonia, Carlo would say, “The sacraments are not seven, but six plus one. Six give or restore grace. One, the Eucharist, is the fountain of grace.”

It was also special for me to learn about Carlo’s “Plan for Life” and “how a step in faith is closer to being and a step away from having.”

Carlo was wise and strong in faith well beyond his years. His way of life had an influence on many people during his time on earth. Having read “God’s Influencer,” Carlo has influenced me to pray the Rosary daily and I am confident his influence can touch the reader of this fantastic book.

Saint Carlo is “God’s Influencer,” and I highly recommend this marvelous book to all Catholics.

John H. Dolezal is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.