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.
When my father was recovering from a stroke and a long-term hospitalisation stint, my brother and I convinced my mother to renovate their home so that they could live more comfortably and safely when dad returned. What seemed like a logical decision was a long-drawn persuasion journey . She was resistant to change. In hindsight, grief and depression, as well as old age, are great impediments during such seasons in the family. If you (like me) find yourself in this phase, pray for supernatural patience, wisdom, and kindness when navigating the emotional and literal mess. Thank God we finally had a go-ahead.
During the major overhaul of my parents’ belongings in order to make home renovations, I had to contend with several ‘mountains’. The first mountain was decades of stored items, functional and faulty possessions, trinkets and trash. In short, clutter. The second mountain was sentimental memorabilia of both parents — those that belonged to my dad became harder to decide as he was not around and we grieved the things he used to enjoy doing (hobbies and half-started DIY projects, newspaper cuttings, and books) but could not anymore. The third mountain was unopened and unused gifts. Some of these items were shocking to behold. My mother kept a gift-set of wedding pots, pans and electronic bread-maker from my grandmother, from their housewarming party three decades ago (!!!), and even gifts from me which I proudly bought with my first salary and other life events. Does this sound familiar to some of us?
As I looked on, I grieved the wasted opportunity to enjoy these items and the convenience and fun some of them might have offered. When questioned, my mother had one reply, “sayang” (a word in Malay). This word holds multiple meanings and I think it aptly captured the moment: sayang can be a term of affection for loved ones, and is also an expression of pity, regret, or loss. Because of its duality, this term can mean both endearment and sorrow — which was truly how that we both felt.
With the home finally partially-renovated, my dad back home to live together, and their appreciation of the bettered domestic arrangement, I heaved another sigh of “sayang”. Why? Throughout my education and training as an architect, I had tried to persuade my parents to allow me to renovate their home, both as piety and practice. But I was met with refusal. At the same time, it was ironic: I was no longer living with them. I had a career pivot to become an educator. Yet, now I was permitted to help them rebuild their lives in some sense.
In today’s scripture for the Memorial of St Charles Borromeo, St Paul urges the new Christians to use the gifts you have been given; not to overstate one’s importance in the overall scheme of community and life, but to humbly apply oneself as the moment calls one to.
“Just as each of our bodies has several parts and each part has a separate function, so all of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other” (Rm 12:4-5). St Paul reminds us that our unique gifts (the skills and tools God blesses us with whether by innate ability, talent, training or education) are to be used “as your faith suggests; if administration, then use it for administration; if teaching, then use it for teaching.“ (Rm 12:7)
The sweet irony is my gifts had never left me, so to speak. The skills of design, project planning and stakeholder management, knowledge and strategic problem-solving were still relevant, though applied in an unexpected capacity and season. In hindsight, I was able to attend to my entire family’s needs, and also design and manage both my parents’ and my own home renovation during this season, precisely as I was now an educator with a flexible work arrangement. I certainly could not have imagined a life like this before. Only God knew.
In short, St Paul exults us: “Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying.” (Rm 12:11-12).
We have all been given gifts and abilities — let us use them wisely. One greatest gift which few fully appreciate until it is untimely snatched away, is the gift of time, will and energy. These precious gifts of the living are not to be stored away dustily, but used abundantly and with great reverence for their rarity. Otherwise, one day the look and sigh of “sayang” might be ours to have. Even so, rejoice always in the Lord, for He is good and can turn every thing to good for His own sake.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: We pray for our parents who are advanced in their years and need our steadfast love, care and assurance. We pray too for those in the sandwich generation who are struggling to juggle life’s many demands — grant us discernment and the grace of love, hope, perseverance, trust and joy.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, gracious Father, for the gift of time, will and energy. Help us to give glory to you by our choices and actions.
OXYGEN 
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