St. Charles Borromeo

His example still burns bright after 400 years!

SAINT CHARLES was born into the noble family of the Borromeos on October 2, 1538. His father was a count and his mother was of the powerful de'Medici family. Both of his parents were devout and very charitable, and it was by following their example that young Charles would become such a model of virtue. From an early age St. Charles was destined for service in the Church, and at twelve years, he received the tonsure. He completed his studies at the University of Pavia in 1559, earning the doctorate in civil and canon law.

The Young Cardinal

Upon the ascension of his maternal uncle, Giovanni Angelo de'Medici, on December 25, 1559, to the Papal Throne under the name of Pius IV, St. Charles was summoned to Rome and created a Cardinal and Papal Secretary on January 31, 1560, though he was yet a subdeacon and only 21 years of age! Eight days later he was made Administrator for the Archdiocese of Milan (since not yet being a priest, he could not yet be archbishop of that See). This indeed was nepotism on the part of Pius IV, yet it turned out to be a great step toward reform in the Church rather than a hindrance.

The new Cardinal understood well the need of reform, and hence he used all his influence and energies to have the Council of Trent reassemble and finish the good work it had already begun. In January, 1562, the Council did reopen after a ten year suspension, it would continue on without any more interruptions until its close in December of 1563.

Though many suggested, following the death of his brother, that he return to the lay state and raise a family St. Charles refused and was ordained a priest in August, 1563. On December 7, the feast of St. Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan, St. Charles was consecrated archbishop of that See. Along with St. Philip Neri, St. Charles had the happiness of assisting Pius IV at that Pontiff's death in December of 1565. In the ensuing Conclave, although so young, Cardinal Borromeo held great sway and he helped secure the election of Pope Saint Pius V. Though Pius V would have liked St. Charles continue his duties as Papal Secretary, the saint earnestly desired to return to Milan, which he did in 1566.

The Reformer of Milan

When he arrived at Milan, St. Charles found the moral condition to be terrible, abuses were many. Among the laity there was much ignorance concerning the Faith, superstition was quite common and the Sacraments were neglected. There were debauched, slothful priests and the monasteries were full of disorders. To correct this sad condition of his diocese and to introduce the reforms of the Council of Trent, St. Charles knew that his own home must first set the example. He himself was a model for all the priests of his diocese; he went to confession every morning before he said Mass and twice a year he made a spiritual retreat and a general confession. He also did much penance for his flock, especially in regard to food. At first moderate in his fasts, he every week increased it until for several years before he died he ate nothing except bread and water, and that only once a day. Yet despite his fasts, St. Charles's strength never failed him for his many functions of state. He led such an edifying life that one observer remarked, "Borromeo does more good by his example than all the decrees of a Council." In his family (that is, the priests and servants around the Cardinal Archbishop), he formed a regular community, much like the seminaries he was to found later on.

To correct the abuses in his diocese, St. Charles divided it into four districts with a visitor in each who would send reports to the Cardinal. He also held eleven diocesan synods and six provincial councils, making by his pastoral instructions and mandates excellent regulations for the reform of both priests and people. That all children might be well instructed in the Faith, he established the Society of Schools of Christian Doctrine which was a great success and numbered 740 schools. St. Charles was most zealous in carrying out the reforms of the Council of Trent, and to the end he erected three theological seminaries at Milan and three preparatory seminaries in other parts of his diocese; he also founded the Swiss College at Milan. For these institutions St. Charles drew up a set of regulations which have ever since been an inspiration and model for all founders of seminaries. This great bishop also made several complete visitations of his large diocese, ordered his bishops and priests to stay in residence, and founded several convents, a hospital for beggars and another for convalescents.

Monastery Reform

St. Charles had much to suffer from the many religious institutions which he eventually reformed. In the following incident, he almost lost his life because of the reforms he made.

The Humiliati, (a sort of third order Benedictines) to whom St. Charles had given many rules for reform, wanted the Pope to annul the regulations but St. Pius V quickly refused. In rage of their despair, three dignitaries of the Humiliati conspired to murder Cardinal Borromeo and drew others into this diabolical plot, engaging a priest of this order to murder him for a sum of money. On October 26, 1569, this villain placed himself at the door of the chapel in the Archbishop's palace, and while St. Charles was praying with his family on his knees before the altar, the would-be assassin approached and fired at St. Charles from only five or six steps away. Everyone jumped up when the shot was fired, but St. Charles had them all kneel back down and continue their prayers, enabling the killer to get away. St. Charles, who thought he was mortally wounded, thanked God for granting him the gift of martyrdom. However, by divine intervention the bullet, though it struck the Cardinal in the middle of the back, only bruised him and fell to the floor at his feet! He did not want this attempt on his life to be looked into, but the conspirators were eventually discovered and put to death, regardless of St. Charles's pleading for them.

His Prayer Life

What sustained St. Charles through these times was his intense prayer life, by it he was always able to keep his peace of soul and strength of mind. He never said any prayer nor performed any ceremony with haste, no matter how much he was pressed for time or whatever business of importance he had on his hands. His motto in life was, "to treat of the interests of Jesus Christ in the spirit of Jesus Christ." Like all the saints he greatly loved Mary, and he had a particular devotion to St. Ambrose and to St. John Fisher, whose picture he often carried with him and whose life he much admired. His favorite topic for meditation was the passion of Christ and he sometimes became so lost in prayer and contemplation that once near the end of his life he was on his knees for eight straight hours, his priests having trouble to convince him that he had been so long in prayer.

St. Charles was well aware of the great calling to which he was raised and he told his priests: "Never did Israel hear a more awful threat than this: 'the law shall perish from the priest.' Priests are divine instruments, upon whom stands the welfare of the world; their abundance is the riches of all, their default is the ruin of nations." Hence he took the greatest care of his priests, making sure they were entirely given over to God. To procure this St. Charles founded a congregation of secular priests—the Oblates of St. Ambrose, who swore obedience to the Archbishop. His reverence and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament was great. Once through the fault of his server he let the Host drop; for which accident he with great sorrow fasted for eight days and abstained four days from saying Mass. He always said the Divine Office on his knees, and never asked to be excused from it no matter how sick or busy he was.

Though from a rich family St. Charles was no friend of money, but gave away in alms to the poor large sums of money, and during a famine in 1570 he procured abundant supplies for the poor. In 1576 a plague hit the area and St. Charles spent himself in relieving the sick by speaking with them and administering the sacraments. He also preached every day, exhorting the people to do penance to turn away this punishment from God. Three general processions were held by him to beg God's mercy. The Cardinal further melted down and sold all his precious metals and gave away all his furniture, even his straw bed, to care for the stricken, and turned his palace into a hospital.

His Untimely End

In late October of 1584, during his semi-annual retreat, Cardinal Borromeo became ill with fever, chills and sweating, but still finished the rigorous retreat. His sickness became much worse after All Saints Day when he returned to Milan. When he realized his end was near he received the holy Viaticum with great devotion, and saying the words "Ecce venio" (behold, I come) St. Charles Borromeo expired. It was the evening hours of the third of November 1584, St. Charles being only 46 years old. Cardinal Baronius, a famous Church historian, wrote of him that he was "a second Ambrose, whose early death, lamented by all good men, inflicted great loss on the Church." When Pope Gregory XIII heard of the death of the holy Cardinal he exclaimed, "A light has been extinguished in Israel."

St. Charles was canonized in 1610, only 26 years after his death, by Pope Paul V and his feast is kept on November 4th. Let us pray on this 400th Anniversary of his holy death that God re-enkindle His Church with many lights—priests like St. Charles Borromeo.