Saint Borromeo, Gives Up Wealth to Become a Zealous Shepherd

November 4th is the Feast Day of Saint Charles Borromeo. He founded the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation together with Ignatius of Loyola and Philip Neri. He was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests. He was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1610

On March 23 in 1564 Charles Borromeo received his pallium as Archbishop of Milan. He was not only the Cardinal/Archbishop of Milan but the most significant person of the Counter-pReformation. He is the patron saint of bishops, cardinals, seminarians, and spiritual leaders.


The Catholic Church honors Saint Borromeo for his holiness, love of God, piety, humility, and devotion. Many Catholic charity organizations, schools, and religious education efforts can trace their origins to St. Charles Borromeo.

You have heard it say: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
And “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Matthew Chapter 19

Saint Charles Borromeo was born to a wealthy family and his uncle, Pope Pius IV made Charles, aged 22, a Cardinal of the Church. A skeptic might say thar Charles becoming a Cardinal at such a young age, was purely nepotism. But recall Gamaliel, a Pharisee and teacher of the law, respected by all the people, ehen he stood up, said to the Sanhedrin, "For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them (The Apostles) you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts Chapter 5





Education matters.
While Charles Borromeo was the second son of distinguished and wealthy parents, and seemed like a typical child - had friends, played the violin, went hunting and enjoyed his life - they raised him in an extremely religious atmosphere. When he was twelve, he was given tonsur - shaving the top of a priest or monk's head. This marked him for the priesthood and he was educated with that goal in mind.

Charles studied theology and also earned his degree in law at the University of Pavia in Milan. Because of his organizational and social skills, the Pope promoted Charles to the office of Secretary of State, the Cardinal Protector of several countries and of six religious orders as well as naming him Archbishop of Milan.


In 1562, Charles was appointed to help organize the upcoming Council of Trent. During this planning, Charles’ brother died. This event was life-changing as Charles was forced to look at the meaning and purpose of his life. He decided to reform the Church. He 1) rewrote the catechism 2) started reforms in the preparation of candidates for the priesthood; 3) ordered changes in the prayer book of the Church; and 4) asked the Pope to decree that political appointments could no longer be made in the Church. Many of these reforms, and others with which Charles is credited, grew out of the Council of Trent.




After the Council of Trent, back to Milan as full-time Archbishop, Charkes continued his work with the poor, caring for them in the streets when the plague hit Milan. His heroic behavior during the plague of 1576–78 won him much respect, as he gave away his wealth to feed the hungry and care for the sick in Milan. even saw that the curtains in his palace, his clothes and other possessions were turned into money for medicine for the poor. Charles, the Archbishop of Milan, was usually seen in rags. He taught catechism, found the sick and elderly places to stay, established schools and ran the diocese. He lived a life of prayer, slept little and ate less. He once said, “Here all kinds of poor will be housed, outsiders as well as Milanese; men, women, children because charity knows no distinction of nations, and we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord.”

Toward the end of October in the year 1584, Charles fell ill with a heavy fever and died a few days later.

Prayer to Saint Charles Borromeo

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Charles: R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Ever keep Thy Church, O Lord, we beseech Thee, under the protection of blessed Charles Thy Confessor and Bishop; that through the intercession of him who became glorious by his watchful care over his flock, we may ever burn with love for Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.