St. Charles Borromeo
Patron of learning and the arts.
Died: 1584
Charles was the son of Count Gilbert Borromeo and Margaret Medici, sister of Pope Pius IV. He was born at the family castle of Arona on Lake Maggiore, Italy on October 2. He received the clerical tonsure when he was twelve and was sent to the Benedictine abbey of SS. Gratian and Felinus at Arona for his education.
In 1559 his uncle was elected Pope Pius IV and the following year, named him his Secretary of State and created him a cardinal and administrator of the see of Milan. He served as Pius' legate on numerous diplomatic missions and in 1562, was instrumental in having Pius reconvene the Council of Trent, which had been suspended in 1552. Charles played a leading role in guiding and in fashioning the decrees of the third and last group of sessions. He refused the headship of the Borromeo family on the death of Count Frederick Borromeo, was ordained a priest in 1563, and was consecrated bishop of Milan the same year. Before being allowed to take possession of his see, he oversaw the catechism, missal, and breviary called for by the Council of Trent. When he finally did arrive at Trent (which had been without a resident bishop for eighty years) in 1556, he instituted radical reforms despite great opposition, with such effectiveness that it became a model see. He put into effect, measures to improve the morals and manners of the clergy and laity, raised the effectiveness of the diocesan operation, established seminaries for the education of the clergy, founded a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the religious instruction of children and encouraged the Jesuits in his see. He increased the systems to the poor and the needy, was most generous in his help to the English college at Douai, and during his bishopric held eleven diocesan synods and six provincial councils. He founded a society of secular priests, Oblates of St. Ambrose (now Oblates of St. Charles) in 1578, and was active in preaching, resisting the inroads of protestantism, and bringing back lapsed Catholics to the Church. He encountered opposition from many sources in his efforts to reform people and institutions.
He died at Milan on the night of November 3-4, and was canonized in 1610. He was one of the towering figures of the Catholic Reformation, a patron of learning and the arts, and though he achieved a position of great power, he used it with humility, personal sanctity, and unselfishness to reform the Church, of the evils and abuses so prevalent among the clergy and the nobles of the times. His feast day is November 4th.
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Dear and most popular Saint, ST.CHARLES BORROMEO!, I hail you for the great contributions you made for the Catholic Church Reforms ,in the capacity of Doctor and Cardinal of the Church,especially during the crucial and bad time of rising Protestantism.Your daring and historical reforms undoubtedly saved and strengthened the Universal Church.Now I pray God for your intersession to renew the reforms suited to the present times as the Church is loosing it's credibility and magnanimity,and facing worldly challenges.Dear St.Charles,B.please pray for me and for my family to be devout Catholics and also pray for the well being of the whole Catholic Church,Amen.
Dear St. Charles Borromeo, I am awe-inspired by your saintly life of faith and commitment to Christ. In this year of Faith, grant that I may never fail to seek and pursue opportunities that God gives me to serve Him well. I know that the calling of many will be in the framework of the work of the Parish. Give me the grace not to dismiss the Holy Spirit's gentle promptings. Grant me the gift of perseverance in prayer, and in work.
St. Charles Borromeo, today, my little grandson is seeking medical help from experts. Guide the hands and minds of the physicians that attend to him, that he may receive the best treatment. That he may be free of seizures, of negative social behaviours. of speech delays etc. Grant this in Jesus name. Also, grant my daughter success in bringing to birth a healthy child. Amen.
PLEASE PRAY FOR JACOB THAT HE FINDS THE RIGHT PATH, FOR HIS PARENTS THAT THEY FIND THE STRENGHT AND WISDOM TO GUIDE HIM AND FOR ALL CANCER PATIENTS THAT THEY DEAL WITH THEIR DISEASE WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY. THANK YOU.
great saint we need more people like you on this earth god bless you
please pray 2 god for all of us sinners Amen
St. Charles Borromeo, Please continue to pray for me to assimilate the virtue of humility in all my human relationships.
ahh my saint at last i will now finish my report
I'm looking for the app in Spanish for the catechism Catholic can someone help me. God BLESS u all!!!
Saint. Charles-please pray for me that i may be converted-thank you.amen.
In your article (second paragraph) you mention that "when he finally arrived at Trent (which had been without a resident bishop for 80 years)", it should be Milan, not Trent, which was without a resident bishop for 80 years.
Otherwise an excellent capture of the essence of this great Saint. Thank You.
I was married in St. Charles Borromeo Church in Woburn Massachusetts in 1969.
St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of learning and the arts. You were outstanding, courageous, and single-minded in your Counter reformation efforts. You stood bravely for Christ, despite all odds. Today, I feel that in my obscure life and simple duties, I take any opposition seriously. What an unworthy follower of Christ, I am. Help me see the larger picture in which Christ is the reason for any good I may do. For it is His Grace that makes all things possible. Help me, dear Saint to be like you, humble and patient. One of your outstanding works was with lapsed Catholics. How much we need you in this era of faithlessness! Dear Saint, help all my children to be true to their baptismal vows. Amen
the beast of saints right here
I love this saint!
My lovely saint, i rely mainly on ur intercession n i need those virtues dat made u a st. I knw dat i won't b disappointed. Amen
Please pray for me St Charels, and for all students that are learning to be of service to others. May we do well enough to be truely helpful.
Help us to be pateint in our studies, and to have trust in God with our assessments and exams. Amen
Dear saint, thank you for making me a part of your form and please make my brother stop being gobby.
i love saints!!!!!
OH dear St.Charles. please pray for peace on earth, help my Mom to recover from muscle pain. please help me in my study,
What a great saint!. We share birthdays, in a sense.
oh dear st Charles pls pray for me n my sick brother. AMEN