ST. CHARLES BORROMEO
Our parish is named after St. Charles Borromeo. Here is a brief history of his life. On October 2, 1538, Charles Borromeo was born in Arona, Italy, of a noble family. When his father died, many people thought Charles would become head of the w e a l t h y and power f u l Borromeo family. He refused and, at the age of 24, was ordained a priest. His uncle, Pope Pius IV, made him a Cardinal. He a s s i s t ed t h e Pope i n administering the affairs of the Holy See and in governing the Church. Soon thereafter he was made Archbishop of Milan (1564 to 1584). His endeavours on behalf of the 19th Ecumenical Council of Trent (1545-1564) were especially meritorious and fruitful. He helped to direct and guide it and brought it to a successful conclusion.
Charles Borromeo was among the great reformers of the troubled sixteenth century and led the movement to combat the inroads of the Protestant Reformation. He was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests. His years of work and travel and his hours of penance and caring for the sick, finally took their toll. On November 4, 1584, the beloved bishop died at the age of forty-six. Canonization followed in 1610. St. Charles Borromeo’s feast day is November 4. He is the patron of bishops, catechists, catechumens and seminarians.
Charles Borromeo is one of only four people mentioned at the beginning of the Catechism of the Catholic Church citing them as responsible for the Council of Trent, which gave way to the modern day catechism.