'Fear Will Not Stop Me': The Hidden Note Carlo Acutis Wrote to St. Gemma Galgani After His First Communion

OnAug.6,1998,aseven-year-oldboynamedCarloAcutiskneltinprayeratthetombofSaintGemmaGalganiinLucca,Italy. Itwasasimpleactofdevotion—unnoticedbytheworld,butunforgettabletothePassionistFatherswhotakecareofSt.Gemma’sShrineandwhowouldlaterreadthewordsheleftbehindinthevisitors’book. “Comevedimilascioguidaredate.Hopaura,malapauranonmifermerà!MatuseguitaastarmivicinoinsiemeaPadrePio.Vivogliounsaccodibene.Carlo.”(“Asyoucansee,Iletmyselfbeguidedbyyou.I’mafraid,butfearwillnotstopme!Butstayclosetome,togetherwithPadrePio.Iloveyoubothsomuch.Carlo.”)PassionistFathers,FacebookMorethan25yearslater,thatnote—writteninthecarefulcursivehandwritingofachild—remainspreservedattheShrineofSt.Gemma.Andtheboywhowroteitisabouttobecomethefirstcanonizedmillennialsaint. APilgrimageofLoveandThanksgivingThevisittoLuccawasnotpartofafamilyvacationbutadeliberateactofthanksgiving.Justweeksearlier,onJune16,1998,CarlohadreceivedhisFirst