This saint’s example is especially fitting for today as he is the
patron saint of bishops, seminarians and catechists. It is his life of service,
his love for the priesthood, and his charity to the poor that inspire me. I
especially admire his dedication to the church and his vocation, even in the
face of adversity.
Charles Borromeo was born Oct. 2, 1538, to a wealthy Italian
family near Milan, Italy. Borromeo proved to be hard-working and studious from
a young age, committing himself in service to the church at the age of 12, and
earned a doctorate in canon and civil law from the University of Pavia in 1559.
After Pope Pius IV named him a cardinal as well as administrator of Milan in
1560, Borromeo took this as a sign of his call to the priesthood, and entered
formation. His family pressured him to marry when his brother died in 1562, but
he remained faithful to his call. He was ordained a priest in 1563, and was
consecrated a bishop a few months later. He served as archbishop of Milan for
many years.
Borromeo took his responsibilities seriously and worked diligently
to care for the church. Among his many undertakings were reconvening the
Council of Trent, the reform of clergy and religious orders under his
jurisdiction and the establishment of many seminaries and colleges. He also
displayed great concern for the poor, personally feeding tens of thousands of
poor and suffering citizens during a plague and famine in Milan in 1576. Borromeo
also spent time in Switzerland fighting heresies and educating Swiss Catholics
there. His many labors took a heavy toll on him, and he fell sick eventually
and died Nov. 3, 1584. He was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1610.
St. Charles Borromeo, pray for us.
Kelly, who is from All Saints Church in Manassas, is in
his first year of pre-theology studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in
Wynnewood, Pa.
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2018