Statue of St Charles in Marseilles where St Eugene was bishop and where he prayed for help to serve the people In order to become an abbot at the age of 12 one needed to come from aristocratic family, in order to become a cardinal at the age of 21 one needed to have a pope for his uncle, in order to die at the age of 46 as a great reformer of one of the biggest dioceses in the Catholic world one needed grace of God and a constant commitment to the episcopal ministry. This is the story of today’s saint – Charles Borromeo. Born in sixteenth century to a noble Italian family was already seen for a great career. It was how his life started. As a teenager he became an abbot, as a young man he was made a cardinal. There was no much vocation story in that business, it was very financial path. Those titles gave the young man a high income to support his high class life style. However in the midst of the balls and hunting games God’s grace had reached the cardinal. His decision to commit himself to be a bishop who actually serves his people shocked everyone including his own diocese of Milan. When he arrived in the diocese he was the first bishop in 80 years to reside in Milan. However those who hoped they were going to have a good entertainment in the bishop’s house got greatly disappointed. Charles wasn’t interested in balls and hunting games. His interest was in brining Jesus Christ into the lives of the people of the local Church where he was bishop. Inspired by the Council of Trent, which he himself brought to a happy conclusion due to his organisation skills, he had thrown himself into implementing the decisions of the Council Fathers. He was the first bishop to open a seminary to educate and form the future clergy. He convoked nearly 20 local synods to promote the reform of the Church. However he was accessible to his people. The noble man was their bishop in such a way that even the beggars from the streets didn’t feel any social distance between them and the cardinal archbishop of Millan. He had completely transformed the image of a bishop people had in their minds. He was their shepherd not a ruler. He guided them to Jesus Christ whom he never lost from his sight.
One could only wander that so much was achieved in such a short life. However St Charles has left us a great example of how much grace of God can accomplish in the person who unselfishly gives life to the Lord.
St Charles was also a beloved patron for our Founder, St Eugene de Mazend, who at the baptism was given names of Charles Joseph Eugene. In his life St Eugene was not only inspired by the pastoral commitment of the Italian cardinal but also he lived in deep devotion to the saint. In fact when the Missionaries of Provence founded by Eugene de Mazenod in 1825 opened the first house outside the region of Provence Eugene changed the name of the Congregation to the Oblates of St Charles. It lasted only a few months as during his visit to Rome to have the Congregation approved Eugene changed the name to the Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. However in the Oblate tradition there has been always a devotion to the great reformer of the Church in the time of the Protestant Reformation.
Saint Charles Borromeo was also the patron of John Paul II who was given the name of the Italian saint at his baptism.
One could only wander that so much was achieved in such a short life. However St Charles has left us a great example of how much grace of God can accomplish in the person who unselfishly gives life to the Lord.
St Charles was also a beloved patron for our Founder, St Eugene de Mazend, who at the baptism was given names of Charles Joseph Eugene. In his life St Eugene was not only inspired by the pastoral commitment of the Italian cardinal but also he lived in deep devotion to the saint. In fact when the Missionaries of Provence founded by Eugene de Mazenod in 1825 opened the first house outside the region of Provence Eugene changed the name of the Congregation to the Oblates of St Charles. It lasted only a few months as during his visit to Rome to have the Congregation approved Eugene changed the name to the Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. However in the Oblate tradition there has been always a devotion to the great reformer of the Church in the time of the Protestant Reformation.
Saint Charles Borromeo was also the patron of John Paul II who was given the name of the Italian saint at his baptism.
Painting of St Charles Borromeo in the Shrine of St John Paul II in Cracow in Poland
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