Today is September 16, Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs.
We read at today’s Mass, “Beloved, this saying is trustworthy: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money” (1 Tim 3:1-3).
Carlo Acutis valued friendship deeply. He often carried his friends in his heart, prayed for them by name and offered small sacrifices for their well-being. For him, friendship was not just about having fun together or sharing interests; it was about helping one another reach heaven. He understood that to truly care for a friend means to care for their soul.
Carlo was also shaped by his love of “The Little Prince.” He often repeated the fox’s line: “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.” For Carlo, this meant that time spent with friends is what makes them special and unique. Yet he went further: that time only becomes truly meaningful when it is centered on God. Without love for God, time risks becoming shallow or self-serving. With God, time shared becomes transformative, strengthening both souls in faith.
Authentic friendship
This is a vital lesson for us today. Many friendships are built on convenience, entertainment or utility. But Carlo shows us that authentic friendship requires investment — prayer, sacrifice, patience, presence. A real friend is someone who sees beyond the surface, who wants the eternal good of the other. That is why Carlo’s friendships were life-giving; they were filled with God’s love.
Jesus himself called his disciples “friends” and laid down his life for them (Jn 15:13). Carlo imitated this friendship of Christ by seeking the good of others, even in small ways. His example challenges us to examine our own relationships: do we lead our friends closer to Christ, or do we distract them from him?
Let us pray,
O God, who gave Saints Cornelius and Cyprian to your people as diligent shepherds and valiant Martyrs, grant that through their intercession we may be strengthened in faith and constancy and spend ourselves without reserve for the unity of the Church. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
