Feast of St. Charles Borromeo
The Feast of St. Charles Borromeo is commemorated on November 4, honoring the legacy of Carlo Borromeo, a prominent figure in the Roman Catholic Church during the 16th century. Born on October 2, 1538, in Arona, Italy, he was a member of a noble family and displayed a profound religious inclination from a young age. Borromeo's ecclesiastical career began early, and he became a cardinal and the archbishop of Milan, where he played a crucial role in the Catholic Counter-Reformation and the Council of Trent. Known for his reformative efforts, he worked diligently to enhance clerical education, establish seminaries, and improve the spiritual life of the laity.
St. Charles Borromeo is celebrated for his commitment to the Church's teachings and his selfless lifestyle, often exemplified by his motto of personal reform. His influence extended beyond Milan, impacting the wider Catholic community in Europe, particularly through his initiatives to educate children in religious matters. He passed away on November 3, 1584, at the age of 46, and was canonized in 1610, with his feast day reflecting his enduring significance in the Catholic faith. The feast is marked by prayers and reflections on his contributions to the Church and society, making it an important occasion for many Catholic communities worldwide.
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Feast of St. Charles Borromeo
Feast of St. Charles Borromeo
The feast of St. Charles Borromeo, one of the most distinguished ecclesiastics in the Roman Catholic Church of the 16th century, takes place on the day after the saint's death on November 3, 1584, namely November 4. Many Catholic churches throughout the world are named for this saint, who is often regarded as the epitome of the ideals of the Catholic Counter-Reformation.
Carlo Borromeo was born at Arona on the shore of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy on October 2, 1538. He belonged to a distinguished family, being a son of a wealthy Lombard count, Gilberto Borromeo, and of Margherita de Medici. The young Borromeo was religiously inclined and entered religious service at the age of 12. Not long afterward, with the backing of his family, he was made the titular abbot of the wealthy monastery of Sts. Gratiano and Felino at Arona. Borromeo then studied under a tutor in Milan and at the age of 14 entered the University of Pavia, where he eventually completed a doctorate in canon law in 1559. His father meanwhile had died in the summer of 1558, and young Borromeo was asked to take charge of the family estates since his older brother Federigo showed little administrative ability.
Pope Paul IV died in the summer of 1559 and the conclave of cardinals elected Borromeo's maternal uncle, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo de Medici, as pontiff after a session lasting nearly three months. He took the name of Pius IV. On January 31, 1560, the new pope gave his young nephew the title of cardinal-deacon of the Church of Sts. Vito and Modesto in Rome. Although Borromeo was not yet a priest, he soon became administrator of the archdiocese of Milan after the resignation of its archbishop. That year his uncle named him archbishop of Milan, a title that was reconfirmed formally in 1564. He received many other church offices as well.
Borromeo proved to be a skillful administrator and diplomat. He successfully handled the difficult negotiations connected with the reassembling of the Council of Trent, one of the most significant councils held by the Catholic Church and certainly important with respect to the reforms that took place following the Protestant Reformation in the early 16th century. Under Borromeo's inspiration and guidance, the council formulated definitive decrees and definitions on such matters as purgatory, the veneration of relics, indulgences, and the doctrine of the Holy Eucharist, making clear what was considered orthodox and what was heretical. After the Council of Trent ended he was preoccupied with affairs of state in Rome, including the death of his uncle and the election of a new pope, until April 1566 when he was finally able to assume his duties as archbishop of Milan.
In line with the recommendations concerning the pressing need for reform of the pastoral episcopate set down at Trent, Charles Borromeo was determined to become a model ecclesiastical administrator in the new style. He was so successful in effecting reform in Milan that his episcopate soon served as an example throughout Catholic Europe. Borromeo was active in correcting abuses in monasteries and convents and instilled in priests a greater appreciation of the importance of the spiritual life. The cardinal instituted a number of colleges and seminaries and was a firm supporter of new religious orders such as the Jesuits.
Borromeo also worked to improve the religious life of the laity. He constantly traveled throughout his vast diocese, which stretched north into what is now Switzerland, preaching and administering the sacraments even in the most isolated Alpine valleys. The revival of Catholicism in the Swiss domains under his jurisdiction ranks as one of his outstanding achievements. In a move to help improve the common people's religious knowledge, Borromeo also strengthened and reorganized the methods for the instruction of children in religious matters, which led to the institution of the first Sunday school.
Borromeo lived by the motto “Reform we must begin by reforming ourselves.” Dispersing his immense private fortune among the needy, he set an example to his congregation by living simply and selflessly. Borromeo became terminally ill in October 1584 and died on November 3 of that year at the age of 46. On November 1, 1610, only 26 years after his death, he was declared a saint by Pope Paul V and his feast day was soon placed in the religious calendar at November 4.