The Little Way and the Digital Way: A Century of Childlike Trust in God

Thanks to a partnership between DBIMA Paris and XIC Mumbai, I had the opportunity to accompany a group of students on a short exchange programme to Europe. Amidst the busy schedule, I managed to make time for two deeply meaningful pilgrimages. The first was to Lisieux, to visit Les Buissonnets - the childhood home of Saint Thérèse - and the second to Assisi, including the charming town of Spello. Sitting quietly in the garden where Thérèse once played as a little girl, and later, standing before the casket containing the mortal remains of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi, I found myself reflecting on these two lives - and unexpectedly, searching for the thread that might connect them.

Exactly 100 years apart, on May 17 and September 7 respectively, the Church canonized two seemingly very different individuals. Thérèse of Lisieux, who died virtually unknown and whose own religious sisters wondered what made her life extraordinary, and Carlo Acutis, a teenager and computer enthusiast of our times, now celebrated across the world. When we consider Carlo's life in the broader context of the Church's saints - especially when we recall how long it took to canonize someone as remarkable as Charles de Foucauld - we may naturally ask: What was the “extra” in Carlo?

But perhaps that’s precisely the point. If we take a step back and view these saints through the lens of Gen Z and the challenges of our current age, their relevance becomes even more striking. In doing so, we find not just inspiration, but a renewed understanding of holiness - one that bridges centuries and speaks directly to the world we live in today.

Let us deep dive a bit to see what is common to both of them and just how they fit into the languid thinking of postmodern times. We could take a few aspects and see how they pan out. CONFIDENCE IN GOD

The spirituality of St Therese is largely portrayed as radical yet childlike, with a profound dependence on God’s compassionate love and infinite mercy. She was aware of her physical limitations and took the road of absolute surrender just as a child lives out this trust in its parent. Such was her trust in God that she writes that “even if she commits every imaginable crime” she would not lose hope but rather throw herself into the arms of her Jesus. She went on to say that “Jesus does not demand great actions from us, but only surrender and gratitude.”

Carlo Acutis, too, was someone who, by choice, did not rely on his own strength and capabilities. He took the path of virtue with abundant confidence that he could reach greater heights only with the gift of God’s love. EUCHARISTIC PRESENCE

Therese did not study theology and so her spirituality could be termed as deeply Eucharistic. Her First Communion was a super charged moment in her life, she referred to it as “a fusion” where “Jesus and poor little Therese were no longer two, but one.” The Eucharist propelled her into the discovery of the Little Way. Her dismal health and the challenging practices of the Cloister prevented her from receiving Communion frequently. This was indeed a suffering which she called a “martyrdom of love”.

Carlo also from his early days was passionate about the Eucharist and attended Mass almost daily. He spent a humongous amount of time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He eventually utilised his technical skills to compile all the Eucharistic miracles from around the world into a website for everyone to view. For him the Eucharist was “the highway to heaven”

SUFFERING

Both Thérèse of Lisieux and Carlo Acutis endured serious illnesses that, in their respective eras, were largely incurable. Thérèse suffered from tuberculosis which later led to gangrene of the intestine - both of which, in the early 20th century, offered little hope of recovery. Carlo was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia, a condition that, even today, carries a low survival rate.

When Thérèse first coughed up blood, she instinctively knew her end was near. Yet she continued writing The Story of a Soul, persevering even when holding a pen became nearly impossible. Alongside her physical suffering, she experienced deep emotional anguish, primarily upon learning of her beloved father’s mental breakdown - news that tormented her, knowing only her sister Céline remained to care for him. Yet, through it all, Thérèse remained remarkably strong in spirit. She famously declared, “All suffering is sweet,” having offered her pain for the conversion of unbelievers.

Carlo, too, was struck with a terminal illness at a young age of 15 years. He responded to his diagnosis with similar serenity. Embracing his suffering, he offered it up for the Church, the Pope, and his Lord. Like Thérèse, he understood suffering not as a curse, but as a mysterious grace a means of communion with Christ. Neither of them, however, approached their pain with a masochistic mindset. Instead, they accepted it as part of the journey toward eternal life.

This simple comparative reflection reveals the timeless relevance of certain spiritual truths. Though separated by a century and born into vastly different families, socio-political, and economic contexts, both Thérèse and Carlo exemplified a childlike trust in God and a profound ability to find Him in both the ordinary and extraordinary. Their lives reaffirm the inclusive and loving nature of God. In doing so, they have effectively democratized holiness showing that sanctity is not reserved for the few, but is a path open to all who walk in faith, hope and love. -Dr. Fr. Conrad Pesso S.J. Director XIC, Chairman XIMR, Treasurer St. Xavier’s College