A Joyous Day with the Great Archbishop of Milan

Well, my apologies for another long, undeserved sabbatical!  I think it's safe to say I'm basically the world's worst blogger.... Anyhow, I figured a good time to get back into it would be on the wonderful feast of my home parish patron, as well as the patron of seminarians, St. Charles Borromeo.

"He loved God and man."

St. Charles was a truly incredible man, chosen by God at a very turbulent time in the Church's history to undertake several monumental tasks on her behalf.  He was raised in the midst of great nobility, wealth, and power, and was even made a Cardinal at the young age of 21, according to the common nepotistic norms of the time (his uncle was the Pope Pius IV).  However, rather than allow himself to be consumed by the culture of his time, Charles dedicated his entire life to the service of God and neighbor.  He attended the closing sessions of the Council of Trent, and worked tirelessly to implement the conciliar reforms in the Archdiocese of Milan, of which he became the archbishop at the age of 25!  In Milan, Charles became known and loved as a true shepherd, as he traveled across countless miles to visit the diocese's outermost parishes, and sold all his possessions to help the poor during times of famine.

I was certainly fortunate enough to be formed by St. Charles' prayers and presence throughout my childhood at that beautiful parish in Northeast Minneapolis, but I didn't really know much about him until I came to seminary and learned that he is the patron of seminarians!  Participating in the 40-hour Eucharistic celebrations every year at St. Paul Seminary allowed me to draw closer to this inspiring man, and now, in Rome, I get to be very close to his heart.  As in, literally, his heart is venerated in the church of Sant' Ambrogio, a roughly 20 minute walk from the NAC!  So today, after class, I had the joy of visiting the heart of St. Charles Borromeo, to pray for my parish back home, and also for all of my brother seminarians.  There even happened to be Mass starting just as we got there!

One funny story about St. Charles is that he had a remarkably large nose.  

Since he was well aware of this fact, he made sure that every depiction of him be done from the side, so that he might never be overcome by vanity!  And when you consider the fact that St. Charles' episcopal motto was "Humilitas, Humilitas, Humilitas" ("Humility, Humility, Humility"), this humorous self-criticism makes a lot of sense!  May we all be filled with this great humility which so filled St. Charles, and which allowed him to love God with an undivided heart and his neighbor with all his strength.

Preserve in the midst of your people,

we ask, O Lord, the spirit with which you filled

the Bishop Saint Charles Borromeo,

that your Church may be constantly renewed

and, by conforming herself to the likeness of Christ,

may show his face to the world.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit,

One God for ever and ever. Amen.