* September 14 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Our Lady of the Three Ears of Grain (Alsace, France, 1491)   * "We have always been programmed for Heaven" --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association  September 14 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Our Lady of the Three Ears of Grain (Alsace, France, 1491)   "We have always been programmed for Heaven" Our Lady of the Three Ears of Grain Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), a former student of the Jesuit college in Milan (Italy), died of leukemia, offering his suffering "for the Church and Pope Benedict XVI." Since the day of his first communion at the age of 7, Carlo never missed daily Mass and he often spent time in front of the tabernacle to adore the living presence of Christ in the Eucharist. At 11, he wrote: “The more we receive the Eucharist, the more we become like Jesus and the more we already have a foretaste of heaven on earth.” His great confidante was the Virgin Mary and, for her, he prayed the Rosary every day. He said: “Our goal is to be part of the Infinite, not the finite. The Infinite is our true homeland. We have always been programmed for Heaven." He added: "We are all born with our originality, but many of us die like photocopies." In order not to "die like a photocopy," Carlo used the Word of God as his compass. Highly gifted, especially with computers, he devoted his free time to volunteer work for people in need. The steps for Carlo’s beatification were approved on February 15, 2013, by the Diocese of Milan. Source: ZENIT.org, Rome, July 21, 2015  Carlo Acutis MEDITATION BY HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.