Should we believe in miracles? After Pope Leo canonised a young Catholic teenager on Sunday, some people argued that the idea of sainthood is out of date.
Gamer becomes first millennial saint
‘God’s influencer’: Carlo Acutis helped to spread Roman Catholic teaching online before his death aged 15 in 2006. Comprehension quiz
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The word “canonised” in this context means:
A: To be officially declared a saint by the Church
B: To be buried in a special tomb
C: To begin the process towards sainthood
D: To have died from a serious illness
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Which word is the closest synonym for “exemplary”?
A: Ancient
B: Perfect
C: Faithful
D: Famous
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According to the article, why does the Catholic Church hope that making Carlo Acutis a saint will appeal to more young people?
A: Because he travelled to many different cities.
B: Because he was a Millennial who had ordinary interests like football and the internet.
C: Because he performed two miracles after his death.
D: Because a famous biographer wrote a book about him.
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According to the text, which of the following is a criticism of the Church’s focus on miracles?
A: It is too difficult to find proof of two miracles.
B: It takes too long for the Pope to approve them.
C: The tradition is superstitious and outdated in a world of medical science.
D: Young people are not interested in reading about miracles.
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Identify two things that Carlo Acutis liked to do when he was alive.
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In your own words, summarise the two miracles linked to Carlo Acutis described in the article.
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. A 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. Any two of: Football, computer games, spending time on the Internet 6. The first miracle involved a student who recovered from a very serious head injury after her mother prayed at Carlo's tomb. The second involved a young boy in Brazil who was cured of a problem with his pancreas after touching one of Carlo’s shirts.
1. A 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. Any two of: Football, computer games, spending time on the Internet 6. The first miracle involved a student who recovered from a very serious head injury after her mother prayed at Carlo's tomb. The second involved a young boy in Brazil who was cured of a problem with his pancreas after touching one of Carlo’s shirts.
Glossary
Haemorrhage - Severe blood loss from a damaged blood vessel.
Catholic Church - The word Catholic means "universal". A Christian denomination with over a billion followers worldwide, led by the Pope.
Leukaemia - Cancer of the white blood cells.
Pancreas - An organ that forms part of the digestive system.
Canonised - In the Catholic Church, to officially declare someone a saint.
Middle Ages - The Middle Ages was the period in European history that came between ancient and modern times. It lasted from about 500 to about 1500.
Superstitious - Believing in old ideas about luck and magic, instead of ideas based on human reason or scientific knowledge.