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Saint Charles Borromeo
 Saint Charles Borromeo (Arona, 1538 – Milan, 1584) was an Italian cardinal, the
first bishop to found seminaries for the formation of future priests; he
promoted diocesan synods; he abounded in catechetical writings and knowledge of
the Catholic doctrine.
He
was the son of Count Gilberto Borromeo and of Margarete de Medici, sister of
Pope Pio IV (1559 – 1659) of whom he was a nephew. Charles received an optimal
human and christian formation, in the form of studying at the University of
Paivia and he stood out in his easy ability to administrate and how to treat
people. Called to Rome by the pope, his uncle, Saint Charles even before
receiving the Sacrment of Holy Orders, accepted the nomination and
responsabilities as Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan at a time when the Church
was opening up to its internal renovation.
A
bishop who became for the Church a model as a pastor and of charity, as he was
completly consumed by guardng and saving souls. Saint Charles, soon after
having helped the Pope and having motivated him to put into practice all the
inspired content of the Council of Trent (1545 -1563), undertook with ardor the
mission to obey the decisions of the Council, which responded to the needs of
the Church of that epoch, and also to take to all the faithful of the Milan
Diocese to Christ. .
Detimined, he was the first bishop to found seminaries for the future priests,
he promoted dicoesan synods, wrote abundant catechetical writings and was
knowledgeable in the Catholic Doctrine, promoted good media and assisted with
his zeal and holy apostolate all in his region besides helping in the
Evangelization of other areas of Europe. in this way he gave his live to God,
spending it totally on the well being of others and the Church.
He
came from a noble Italian family, was made cardinal and archbishop of Milan by
his uncle, Pope Pio IV. Feeling attracted to a contemplative life, he thought
about reunouncing his archdiocese. But his friend the Venerable Bishop
Bartolomey of Martires, Archbishop of Braga, dissuaded him from the idea,
convincing him that, in that century in which the high clergy so many times gave
a bad example, it would be better that he, higlhy placed on the social scale and
whats more the nephew of a pope, give the good example of a holy life as
archpishop. Thats what made Saint Charles Borromeu, a perfect model of a pastor
de zelous souls, which he applied in Milan in the reforms ordered by the Council
of Trent.
Bento XVI in refering to him affirmed: His stands out in the XVI century as a
model of an exemplary pastor in charity, doctrine, apostolic zeal and above all,
in prayer.
He
completely dedicated himself to the Ambrosian Church, he visited it three times.
He convoked six provincial and eleven diocesan synods; founded seminaries to
form a new generation of priests; built hospitals and destined the family riches
for the service of the poor; defended the rights of the Church against the
powerful; renewed religious life and instituted a new congregation of secular
preist , the Oblates. (...) His motto consisted of one word only: “Humilitas”.
Humbleness drove him, like the Lord Jesus, to renounce himself to make himself a
servant of all.
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