San Carlo

Today is the feast of St. Charles Borromeo. Born into the noble Borromeo family at their castle of Arona, he was very early enrolled in the clergy. At the young age of 22 when his uncle Pius IV appointed him secretary of state, created him cardinal and gave him the see of Milan. These were some of the stormiest times in Europe, France was a mess, the hopeful restoration of England came to nothing as Mary Tudor died without an heir and the country plunged back into schism and heresy.

St Charles did not have much experience but he had a solid faith and firm principles. He saw that to the torrent of errors, Rome had in the first place to fight for that truth of which she is the guardian. He understood well how the Church, in contest with a movement that in the name of 'reformation' let loose all the passions and spread chaos, could take the chance to strengthen her discipline and reinvigorate her sancity. This was not an original idea, the council of Trent had been gathered for this purpose but had at the time of St. Charles's appointment been suspended for 8 years. He dedicated all his energy to have the council resume its work and in 2 years managed to have it gather again. Much of the councils later work owes its success to St Charles. He it was who caused the liturgical books to be revised and who oversaw the compilation of the Roman Catechism.

With the death of his uncle, he refused all entreties to remain at Rome instead taking possesion of his episcopal see of Milan. He worked tirelessly to reform the clergy and people of the long neglected city. He gave himself completely to the care of souls without care for himself, without a thought for the judgements of others. When the plague ravaged the city he went out himself to take care of the sick. In the midst of all his work he wrote volumes dedicated to the running of the church and her internal life.

Zeal, uncompromising, tireless zeal for souls, for the house of God marked him. Unlike many others, both then and today, making compromises with the powerful or pandering to the popular would not enter his mind. Truly a saint and model for bishops today in our time of decadence.