Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) — lawyer, teacher, pastor, cardinal, and reformer — was a driving force in the renewal of the Church during the final years of the Council of Trent.

When his uncle was elected Pope Pius IV in 1559, Charles was made cardinal and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan. Though initially a layman, he was ordained at 25 and consecrated bishop. The pope kept him in Rome, where Borromeo encouraged the reopening of the long-suspended Council of Trent in 1562. Under that council, he oversaw the writing of an accurate catechism, revised liturgical texts, and enforced clerical reform.

Once he finally reached Milan, he preached, prayed with the people, and transformed the way the Church listened to those in its care. He founded hospitals, colleges, and orphanages, and established the Confraternities of Christian Doctrine — which grew to 740 schools, three thousand catechists, and forty thousand Sunday school students.

When plague and famine struck in 1576, Borromeo stayed while civil authorities fled, ministering to the sick and dying and borrowing large sums to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. His biographers say his work "gave new confidence to a shaken church."

In the homily during his installation Mass, Pope Francis reminded us: "Today amid so much darkness we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others.”

Along with St. Robert Bellarmine, he is named patron of catechists. In our hurting, searching world what greater gift to share with our learners but a genuine spirit of hope, commitment and enthusiasm because we know – no, more than that, we have experienced - God’s love in us, with us, around us, through us.

Reflections to Hold, Pray, and Live

• When and how does your enthusiasm show through — in how you pray with your learners, speak about God, or respond to their needs?

• How do you encourage your learners to bring resilience and hope to our hurting world?

Author:

Sister Janet Schaeffler, OP
Member, NCCL Board of Directors

Her book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications
[GET YOUR COPY HERE]

Learn more about Janet and her publications at https://www.janetschaeffler.com/