Monday, November 4, 2024

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Philippians 2:1-4; Luke 14:12-14)

St. Charles Borromeo put some teeth in the conciliar decrees of Trent. He exemplified the reform proposals by adopting a simple lifestyle and carrying out visitations and councils in his archdiocese, that of Milan.  He also promoted clerical education by founding seminaries.

As St. Paul exhorts the Philippians in today’s first reading, Charles showed humility. He not only legislated relief to victims of natural disaster but also rolled up his sleeves to help.  These actions were particularly noticed during the famine of 1570 and the plague of 1576.

Coming from a wealthy family, Charles Borromeo had considerable resources at his disposition.  He used many of them to provide physical care for others.  Whether we have many or few resources, we can follow his examples of hands-on charity.

 

Friday, November 4, 2022

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 16:1-8)

The Reformation of the sixteenth century challenged the Church to its core.  Many Europeans joined Protestant communities.  Religious brothers and sisters left their convents in droves.  The laxity of bishops and priests were made manifest.  Long overdue, the Council of Trent dictated the necessary reforms, and bishops like today’s patron saint, Charles Borromeo, made sure that they were carried out.

An extremely capable man, Charles governed the Church in Milan and other parts of northern Italy.  He reorganized Church administration, called provincial councils and diocesan synods, made regular pastoral visits, opened a seminary, employed the reform religious orders and founded one himself, and founded as well various educational and charitable organizations.  During the plague of 1576, which was comparable to Covid-19, Charles spent huge sums of church money to provide for the sick, dying, and dead.  He also nursed the sick himself. Like St. Paul in today’s first reading, Charles encountered severe opposition to his reforms.  He was twice fired upon in Milan. 

We too will meet opposition when trying to fulfill the Lord’s will.  Sometimes those who oppose us think that they are doing what is right. That should neither us nor invite vindictiveness.  There is always some need for evaluation, but we should prayerfully pursue what we know to be good.  It does not matter what others think when we are faithful to him.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

 Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Romans 14:7-12; Luke 15:1-10)

St. Paul asks, perhaps rhetorically, “…why do you look down on your brother and sister?’  The question is not difficult to answer.  People look down on one another in order to make themselves seem superior.  Since others, looking down upon them, made them feel subservient, they want to have the pleasure of looking down upon others.  It seems to be an endless chain of unequal relations.

Paul, however, notes that the vicious cycle has been broken.  Christ has died for all.  Those who believe in him are lifted up so high that they are not subservient to anyone.  Yet they live in humble submission to Christ.  Doing so, they do not insist on their own will, but try accommodating their will to others’.

St. Charles Borromeo at least listened to others.  He is famous for calling many councils and synods as Archbishop of Milan.  His sense of humble service was highlighted in his personal care for plague victims in the sixteenth century.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

 Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Philippians 2:12-28; Luke 14:25-33)

When Jesus says that people must hate their parents in order to follow him, his command must be contextualized.  The Aramaic language, which he spoke, uses “hate” as a way of saying “not love as much.”  In other words, Jesus is telling his disciples that they must love him more than their parents.  Today’s patron, Charles Borromeo, understood what Jesus meant.  He came from some of the most prominent families in Italy.  Yet when his father, Count Borromeo died, Charles declined the headship of his family.  He became a priest and was soon made bishop of Milan.

As a young bishop, Borromeo faced the challenge of the bubonic plague of 1576.  Rather than leave Milan with the city officials, he stayed behind to organize his clergy and religious in the relief effort.  He also personally administered to the sick.   Like bishops have done in the pandemic this year, Charles made the difficult decision to close churches to avoid spread of the disease.

In order to follow Jesus, we must not hate anybody.  On the contrary, we must love all – even those with whom we feel uncomfortable.  This can be a difficult task as is accepting people with different ideas about the danger of Covid.  It helps to talk with the people and to pray for them.  While we are at it, we might ask God to make us closer followers of Jesus.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 16:1-8)

Few churchmen have accomplished as much as Charles Borromeo.  He forsook an aristocratic life to give himself to ecclesiastical reform.  He oversaw the production of the catechism, missal, and breviary which the Council of Trent ordered.  As bishop of Milan, he was frequently challenged by errant clerics and once was wounded in an assassination attempt.  When the plague threatened his city, he was on the front line with relief.  He might be seen as a disciple of St. Paul who pleads for imitators in today’s first reading.

Paul’s labors in preaching the gospel truly elicit admiration.  He not only tirelessly preached and taught the gospel throughout the Asia Minor and Greece; he did so under the severest of conditions.  He suffered shipwreck and beatings multiple times.  But Paul does not ask those to whom he writes to undertake these risks.  But he does insist that they not conform to the times by obsessing over food and sex.

We might see ourselves as reformers like St. Charles and St. Paul.  By gracious care for all we will show the world that God is not just a pious idea but is working in their midst.  The benefits may appear trivial, but they will make a marked difference in a few lives, including our own.

Wednesday, October 4, 2015

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Romans 13:8-10; Luke 14:25-33)

St. Charles Borromeo’s mother was a d’ Medici and his uncle, a pope.  In sixteenth century Italy this might have translated into easy street.  But Charles did not pursue a life of comfort.  Even as the cardinal-archbishop of Milan, it is said that he lived an ascetic life.  Certainly he vigorously implemented the necessary reforms to keep the Church intact.  He may be seen as having taken seriously Jesus’ admonition in today’s gospel.

The passage sounds incredible to many hearers.  Can Jesus really mean what he is saying, they ask? He is telling the people that to be his disciples they must hate even their own parents.  The answer is yes and no.  Luke’s gospel translates an Aramaic expression that literally means hate but more precisely means turn away from.  Actually the expression is not different from colloquial English where people say, “I hate broccoli.”  It means that they turn away from it.  To be Jesus’ disciple then means to leave behind the prejudices that they learned at home. 

The effort sounds easier to do than it is in reality.  We like ridiculing others because it makes us feel better than they.  It is difficult to turn away from our sinfulness and turn to God for mercy.  Yet this is the first step in the walk of discipleship with Jesus.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 15:15-24)

St. Charles Borromeo hailed from a prominent Italian family.  His father was a count and his mother, a Medici.  Yet he did not choose a rich man’s leisure.  Charles worked for Church reform after Trent and cared for victims of the plague which struck Milan.  Charles’ life mirrors that of Jesus’ as described by St. Paul in the first reading.

The passage may have been a hymn to Christ sung in the primitive Church which Paul drafted into his letter to the Philippians.  It expresses the humility of God as his most remarkable characteristic.  More than being almighty or all-knowing, some commentators say that God is God because of his disregard for being important.  God certainly does not care to impress humans.  Indeed, it is often wished that He would be more assertive.

We love Jesus, however, for becoming like us.  But we should not think him weak or simplistic.  Rather He will support us when we turn to him in our need.  Some of his greatest assistance comes from the teachings.  Following his directives and relying on his grace, we will experience his being raised to glory.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Romans 11:29-36; 14:12-14)

When Pope Francis tells bishops to refrain from trips abroad to be with their people, he is echoing an abuse prevalent in the Renaissance church.  Bishops of remote dioceses would live in the great cities of the time spending the money of the people they left behind.  This kind of abuse triggered the Protestant reformation and the vigorous Catholic reform from within directed by the Council of Trent.  St. Charles Borromeo, whom we remember today, was one of the leaders of the latter movement.

In some ways Charles was not a likely candidate for leading reform.  Born into a prominent Italian family, he was chosen by his uncle, Pope Pius IV, to be a cardinal and the administrator of the diocese of Milan at twenty-two years of age – a clear case of nepotism.  However, Charles not only took part in the Tridentine Council but vigorously instituted its reforms by establishing seminaries and religious education for children.  When the plague ravished Milan, he personally saw to the care of the sick-poor.

St. Paul writes in the first reading “how unsearchable are (God’s) ways!”  We should recognize that God often works beyond the norms that we impose on reality to produce good where it is unexpected.  This is not to say that we shouldn’t have norms like “no more nepotism” but to caution us from judging any situation differing with our norms as inherently bad.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Romans 15:14-21; Luke 16:1-8)

Two Protestants visiting Rome were amazed by the immensity of St. Peter’s Basilica. One said to the other, “I wonder how much it cost.” The reply was, “Half of Christendom.” The answer implies the trouble which the granting donations for a fee caused. Unable to stomach the transactions, Martin Luther made his famous protest which led to much of northern Europe seceding from papal authority. The Church badly needed reform from within which men like St. Charles Borromeo carried out.

It does not seem unlikely that Charles Borromeo would make a statement like St. Paul’s in the first reading today. “…I will not dare to say anything except what Christ as accomplished through me…,” Paul writes. Like Paul Charles faced a huge task. Nepotism was rampant in appointing bishops and cardinals. Some clerics not only had children but promoted their advancement. The Council of Trent outlined a program to reestablish right order, but it took intelligent, diplomatic, and holy men like Charles to implement it.

In praying to St. Charles Borromeo we implicitly recognize the Church as an institution. Perhaps some of us are uncomfortable with thinking of the Church in this way. But unless it had a definite structure, it would hardly be able to exist much less administer the needs of more than one billion people. Still it behooves the leaders of the institution not to think of themselves as corporate executives but as servants of the Lord.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Philippians 3:3-8a; Luke 15:1-10)

As much as Paul could boast of his pedigree Hebrew background, St. Charles Borromeo could have basked in the glory of Italian nobility. Charles was born into the Medici family and his uncle was Pope Pius IV, who made him a cardinal of the Church at twenty-two years of age! At the same time, before he was ordained a priest, Charles became administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan. He might have sat on his laurels at this point enjoying the luxury of a prominent public authority but chose a different course.

Charles took seriously the Council of Trent’s reforms bringing the Church more in line with gospel mandates. He founded a seminary in Milan and set up orphanages, hospices, shelters for the homeless, hospital and schools. When epidemic scourged his city, Charles did not lay back in fear but personally visited the parishes most affected by the plague. He distributed money to aid the victims and gave spiritual support. He died several years later, a victim of disease.

Paul tells us in his Letter to the Philippians the motivation of such sacrifice as Charles Borromeo’s. Whatever one has or whatever one does, it is as nothing compared to the glory of Christ. The victory that Christ has won over death is freely shared with us so that whatever achievements we have racked up on our own become as insignificant as drops of water in a river. Rather than boast of the insignificant, we are wise to praise Christ’s infinite accomplishment.