Heroes for Each Other

National Heroes Day, or as Filipinos phrase it, ‘Araw ng Mga Bayani,’ is a day to honor the courageous and noble acts of the people who served and fought for the country. People in the Philippines are familiar with Jose Rizal, Juan Luna, Andres Bonifacio, and many more, primarily through the internet. However, some do not know that saints and blessed, regardless of where they come from, are also heroes.

Among them died at the age of fifteen and was recently beatified because of doing little things with great love. Blessed Carlo Acutis was a programmer who built a website cataloging and promoting Eucharistic miracles, mentioning that the more people would receive the Eucharist, the more people would become like Jesus.

Carlo was also known to defend others from bullying or getting picked on. He also tried to include other kids in his family whenever they needed someone to lean on. Like any other kid, he was also obsessed with games. In his case, he loved his playstation, but he only allowed himself an hour a week as penance and spiritual discipline. He had his own devotions to multiple Saints and offered every hardship he had to God.

During his teenage years, he was diagnosed with leukemia and offered up all his suffering, saying, “I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, for the Pope and the Church.” He lived his life for others and never forgot where everything came from. Carlo always felt grateful for his life’s blessings and used them as instruments of love.

Carlo Acutis was a hero to those he defended from bullying; he was a hero to the Church – a hero to everyone. It shows that no matter your age, you can always be a hero to others. The little things we do every day with great love as Mother Teresa said, might not change the world but could mean the world to others.

This National Heroes Day is not just to celebrate the heroes of the past but also to appreciate the people around us whom we call heroes. It may be our family, friends, or even strangers who show kindness in the street. It is a time to reflect on how we too, could be heroes and inspiration for others, even in our own little ways. (Yvana Sulit)