Sixteenth-century archbishop of Milan who led Church reform and the formation of priests after the Council of Trent.
Life
Saint Charles Borromeo was born in 1538 into a noble family in Arona, Italy. When his uncle became Pope Pius IV, he was made a cardinal at a young age, and he played a major role in bringing the final sessions of the Council of Trent to completion.
As archbishop of Milan he renewed his diocese in the spirit of the Council. He founded seminaries to form priests, organized catechesis and reformed the lives of clergy and religious houses. When plague struck Milan in 1576, he stayed rather than flee, caring for the sick and giving away what he had.
He died in 1584 at the age of forty-six and was canonized in 1610. The Church remembers him on November 4.
Spirituality
Charles Borromeo's spirituality is a shepherd's responsibility and renewal. He accepted a position gained through privilege as a weighty mission for God's people. He believed that to renew the Church, one must first be renewed oneself through prayer and self-discipline.
Reflection
The renewal of the Church begins with the renewal of my own heart. Hoping for a better parish, what is one small habit I should change in myself first, starting today?