Nov 4 – Memorial for St. Charles Borromeo, bishop
St. Charles (1538-1584) was born to a wealthy, noble family, the third of six children, and the son of Count Giberto II Borromeo and Marghertita de’ Medici. He was the nephew of Pope Pius IV. He suffered from a speech impediment, but studied in Milan, and at the University of Pavia, at one point studying under the future Pope Gregory XIII.
He became a civil and canon lawyer at the age of 21, and a cleric at Milan, taking the habit on Oct 13, 1547. He became Abbot of three different abbeys until Jan 13, 1560. He was protonotary apostolic participantium and referendary of the papal court to Pope Pius IV. He was also a member of the counsulta for the administration of the Papal States on Jan 20, 1560. He was appointed abbot commendatario for an abbey in Portugal, and an abbey in Flanders on Jan 27, 1560.
On Jan 31, 1560, he was apostolic administrator of Milan, Italy, then a papal legate to Bologna and Romandiola for two years beginning on Apr 26, 1560. He was made a deacon on Dec 21, 1560 and appointed Vatican Secretary of State. He was made an honorary citizen of Rome on Jul 1, 1561, and founded the ‘Accademia Vaticana’ in 1562.
He was finally ordained on Sep 4, 1563, and helped reopen the Council of Trent, and participated in its sessions during 1562 and 1563. He was ordained Bishop of Milan on Dec 7, 1563 and was President of the commission of theologians charged by the pope to elaborate the Catechismus Romanus. He also worked on the revision of the Missal and Breviary, and was a member of a commission to reform church music.
He participated in the conclave of cardinals in 1565-66 that chose Pope Pius V, and he asked the new pope to take the name. Due to his enforcement of strict ecclesiastical discipline, some disgruntled monks in the order of the Humiliati hired a lay brother to murder him on the evening of Oct 26, 1569. He was shot at, but not hit.
He also participated in the conclave in 1572 that chose Pope Gregory XIII. He worked with the sick, and helped bury the dead during the plague outbreak in Milan in 1576. He established the Oblates of St. Ambrose on Apr 26, 1578, and was a teacher, confessor, and parish priest to St. Aloysius Gonzaga, giving him his first communion on Jul 22, 1580.
Charles spent his life and fortune in the service of the people of his diocese. He directed and fervently enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent, fought tirelessly for peace in the wake of the storm caused by Martin Luther, founded schools for the poor, seminaries for clerics, hospitals for the sick, conducted synods, instituted children’s Sunday school, did great public and private penance, and worked among the sick and dying, leading his people by example.
He is patron saint for bishops, catechists, catechumens, seminarians, spiritual directors, and spiritual leaders.
Prayer to St. Charles Borromeo
O Saintly reformer, animator of spiritual renewal of priests and religious, you organized true seminaries and wrote a standard catechism. Inspire all religious teachers and authors of catechetical books. Move them to love and transmit only that which can form true followers of the Teacher who was divine. Amen.
- Patron Saint Index
Rm 12:3-13
Jn 10:11-16
Each of you must judge himself soberly by the standard of the faith God has given him… Our gifts differ according to the grace given us.
Even in difficulty, I believe it is possible to affirm that God’s timing is perfect. The words may not come easy. I have of course, lamented otherwise as well, when trials come in succession. And the onslaught of waves have indeed come crashing. Yet a life of trying to follow Jesus has taught me that, somehow, things do work out and blessings do abound amidst the storm. God’s lesson plan is always revealed at the exact moment the student is ready to receive instruction and benefit from the revelation.
The readings we use to celebrate the Solemnity of St Charles Borromeo today strike me profoundly. Paul speaks about being honest and humble with recognising and using the unique gifts and talents God has given us. This Solemnity of All Saints’ was special as my son experienced a first — playing on the piano the song “When the Saints go Marching in” for Mass in his school chapel. His initial excitement turned to nervousness and then drudgery, during practice leading up to the day. With encouragement, he overcame these and was able to contribute at Mass that day. I watched him perform with confidence and beaming with pride at the end. “This is the happiest day of my life, Mummy!” He thanked me after, for encouraging him not to give up or back out. That morning’s lesson taught us that it was a great honour to be able to use the gifts God had given us, as a pleasing offering back to God!
At every stage in life, and in every station, we are given the task of applying ourselves and our gifts to the situation or circumstances. As I moved through the seasons of my life, I have moved between different kinds of creative work. While each job title seemed to vary in import and value, and sometimes worldly standards suggest that I have consistently ‘traded down’, I have grown to appreciate that God has given me the due work I, or my family needs, at every juncture — and without fail! The greatest testament to His generous providence is that the best provisions were given when I least expected it and beyond my wildest imaginations.
Though Charles Borromeo was born into privilege (of Medici blood), he never sought power and influence of being a bishop or cardinal — yet he became both. Despite the stigma of the speech impediment he was born with, Charles embraced his gift and love for knowledge, and worked hard, eventually achieving a doctorate in canon and civil law. Unfortunately, his father’s death caused him to take on the heavy burden of providing for his large family. We know St Charles Borromeo today as a humanitarian hero of his times and a great figure of the Catholic Reformation. Little did he know then, how his life would turn out and how he would become a saintly example for you and I today.
God’s call for us today is to live our lives with purpose and a deep humility to recognise our unique gifts. Each of our weaknesses or flaws may at first be a hindering thorn in our flesh, but God gives everything for a reason and while laments are part of life’s trials, it is indeed a great act of love and faith to say to God, “Use me, Lord” despite my imperfections and failings. We never know how God is using our struggles in faith to work wonders in His arc of time and beyond our lives.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: Use me, Lord. I may not like my current station nor situation, but I trust that You are making me new and working in me through tribulation.
Thanksgiving: Thanks be to God for the sanctifying and transforming work of the challenges in life. I know I am worthy and made for more, because You care enough to mould and shape me.
OXYGEN 
Leave a comment