Saint Charles Borromeo
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St. Charles Borromeo — Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal-Priest of the
Title of St. Prassede, Papal Secretary of State under Pius IV, and one of the
chief factors in the Catholic
Counter-Reformation — was born in the Castle of Arona, a town on the
southern shore of the Lago Maggiore in northern Italy, 2 October, 1538;
died at Milan,
3 November, 1584. His emblem is the word humilitas crowned, which is a
portion of the Borromeo shield. He is usually represented in art in his cardinal's robes,
barefoot, carrying the cross
as archbishop; a rope
round his neck, one hand raised in blessing, thus recalling
his work during the plague. His feast is kept on 4
November.
His father was Count Giberto Borromeo, who, about
1530, married Margherita de Medici. Her younger brother was Giovanni Angelo,
Cardinal de' Medici, who became pope in 1559 under the title
of Pius IV. Charles
was the second son, and the third of six children, of Giberto and Margherita.
Charles' mother died about the year 1547, and his father married again.
His early years were passed partly in the Castle
of Arona, and partly in the Palazzo Borromeo at Milan. At the age of
twelve his father
allowed him to receive the tonsure,
and, upon the resignation of his uncle, Julius Caesar Borromeo, he became
titular Abbot
of Sts. Gratinian and Felinus at Arona.
When he received the tonsure he was sent by his
father to Milan, where he studied Latin under J.J. Merla. In
October, 1552, he left Arona for the University of Pavia, where
he had as his tutor Francesco Alciato, afterwards cardinal. His
correspondence shows that he was allowed a small sum by his father, and that often he
was in straitened circumstances, which caused him considerable inconvenience.
It was not only that he himself suffered, but that his retinue also were not
suitably clothed. Charles evidently felt bitterly his humiliation, but he does
not seem to have shown impatience. Leaving Pavia to meet his uncle,
Cardinal de' Medici, at Milan,
he was, within a few weeks called upon to attend the funeral of his father, who died early in
August, 1558, and was buried in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.
Fresh responsibilities at once came to Charles,
for though he was not the elder son, yet, at the request of his family, including even his
brother, he assumed charge of all the family business. The
question of possession of the Castle of Arona was one of great difficulty, as
it was claimed by both France
and Spain.
Charles conducted the negotiations with great energy and diplomatic skill, and
as a consequence of the Peace of Cambrai (3 April, 1559)
the castle was handed over to Count Francesco Borromeo, in the name of his
nephew, Federigo Borromeo, to be held by him for the King of Spain. He also did much to
restore to their ancient monastic discipline the religious of his Abbey of Sts.
Gratinian and Felinus. Though his studies were so often interrupted, yet his
seriousness and attention enabled him to complete them with success, and in
1559 he maintained his thesis for the doctorate of civil and canon law.
In the summer of 1559, Paul IV died, and the conclave for the election
of his successor, which began on 9 September, was not concluded till December,
when Cardinal Giovanni Angelo de' Medici was elected and took the name of Pius IV. On the 3rd of
January, 1560, Charles received a message by a courier from the pope, asking him to
proceed at once to Rome.
He started immediately for the Eternal City, but though
he travelled rapidly he was not in time for the pope's coronation (6 January). On
22 January he wrote to Count Guido Borromeo that the pope had given him the
charge of the administration of all the papal states. On 31
January he was created cardinal-deacon,
together with Giovanni de' Medici, son of the Duke of Florence, and Gianantonio
Serbellone, cousin of the pope.
Charles was given the title of Sts. Vitus and Modestus, which was in the August
following changed to that of St. Martino-ai-Monti. He wished for no rejoicings
at Milan; all the
celebration was to be at Arona, where were to be said ten Masses de Spiritu
Sancto. At this time Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, of Ferrara, resigned the Archbishopric of Milan, and on 8 February
the pope
named Charles as administrator of the vacant see. In succession he was named
Legate of Bologna, Romagna, and the March of Ancona. He was
named Protector of the Kingdom of Portugal, of Lower Germany, and the Catholic cantons of Switzerland. Under his
protection were placed the orders of St. Francis, the Carmelites, the Humiliati, the Canons Regular of the Holy
Cross of Coimbra, the Knights of
Jerusalem (or Malta), and those of the Holy Cross of Christ in Portugal. By a motu
proprio (22 January, 1561) Pius IV gave him an annual
income of 1000 golden crowns from the episcopal mensa of Ferrara.
Charles' office of secretary of state and his
care for the business of the family did not prevent him
from giving time to study, and even to recreations in the form of playing the
lute and violoncello, and a game of ball. He lived at first at the Vatican, but
in July, 1562, removed to the Palazzo Colonna, Piazza Sancti Apostoli. Soon
after his arrival in Rome
he founded at the Vatican an academy, which was a way of providing, by literary
work, a distraction from more serious occupations. The members, whether ecclesiastics or laymen, met nearly every
evening, and many of their contributions are amongst the works of Charles as
"Noctes Vaticanae". Charles was very soon occupied as secretary of
state in using his influence to bring about the re-assembling of the Council of Trent, which
had been suspended since 1552. The state of Europe was appalling from
an ecclesiastical
point of view. Many were the difficulties that had to be overcome — with the
emperor, with Philip II of
Spain, and, greatest of all, with France, where the demand
was made for a national council. Still, in spite of obstacles, the work went on
with the view of re-assembling the council, and for the most part it was Charles'
patience and devotion that accomplished the object.
It was not until 18 January, 1562, that the
council resumed at Trent,
with two cardinals,
106 bishops,
4 mitred abbots,
and 4 generals of religious
orders present. The correspondence which passed between Charles and the cardinal legates at Trent is enormous, and the
questions which arose many times threatened to bring about the breaking-up of
the council. Difficulties with the emperor, the national principles put forward
on behalf of France
by the Cardinal Charles of Lorraine, Archbishop of Reims, required from
Charles constant attention and the greatest delicacy and skill in treatment.
The twenty-fifth, and last, session of the council was held 3 and 4 December,
1563; at it were present 255 Fathers. At a consistory on the 26th of January,
1564, Pius IV
confirmed the decrees of the council, and later appointed a congregation of
eight cardinals
to see to the execution of these decrees. During the sitting of the
re-assembled council Charles' elder brother, Count Federigo, had died (28
November, 1562). This event had a very determining result as to Charles, for he
immediately resolved to give himself with greater strictness to spiritual
matters, and he looked upon his brother's death as a warning to him to give up all
worldly things. His resolution was well needed, for, as he was now head of the family, great pressure was
brought to bear upon him to give up the ecclesiastical state and
to marry. This view was even suggested to him by the pope at the instance of
other relatives. Some months passed in these efforts to influence Charles, but
finally he resolved to definitely fix himself in the ecclesiastical state by
being secretly ordained
priest. The ordination took place, by
the hands of Cardinal Federigo Cesa, in Santa Maria Maggiore, on the 4th of
September, 1563. He writes that he celebrated his first Mass on the Assumption,
in St. Peter's, at the altar of the Confession. He said his second Mass at his
house, attached to the Gesu, in an oratory where St. Ignatius had been
accustomed to celebrate. Charles at this time had as his confessor Father
Giovanni Battista Ribera, S.J. On the 7th of December, 1563, the feast of St. Ambrose, he was consecrated bishop in the Sistine
Chapel; on the 23rd of March, 1564, he received the pallium, and was preconized on the 12th of
May. In the following June his title was changed to that of Santa Prassede.
Meanwhile Charles had provided for the spiritual
wants of his diocese.
Antonio Roberti, in May, 1560, has, as his vicar, taken possession of his archbishopric, and Charles
sent Monsignor Donato, Bishop
of Bobbio, as his
deputy for episcopal functions. Monsignor Donato soon died, and in his place,
Charles commissioned Monsignor Girolamo Ferragato, O.S.A., one of his
suffragans, to visit the diocese,
and to report on its needs. Ferragato entered Milan, 23 April, 1562; on
24 June of the same year Charles sent to Milan Fathers Palmio and
Carvagial, S.J., with the object of preparing the faithful of the diocese, both clergy and laity, for the carrying
out of the reforms prescribed by the Council of Trent. While
anxious for the spiritual welfare of his flock, he was no less solicitous for
his own. There came to him the thought of what was the will of God concerning him, and
whether he was to continue as the spiritual father of his diocese or retire to a monastery. It happened in
the autumn of 1563, between the sessions of the Council of Trent, that the
Cardinal of Lorraine went
to Rome, accompanied
by Ven. Bartholomew of the
Martyrs, O.P., Archbishop
of Braga, in Portugal. Bartholomew had
already shown himself to be of a like spirit to Charles, and when Pius IV introduced them,
and suggested that he should begin the reform of the cardinals in the person of Charles,
Bartholomew answered that if the princes of the Church had
all been like Cardinal Borromeo, he would have proposed them as models for the
reform of the rest of the clergy.
In a private interview, Charles opened his heart to Bartholomew and told him of
his thought of retiring to a monastery. Bartholomew
applauded his desire, but at the same time declared his opinion that it was God's will that he should
not abandon his position. Charles was now assured that it was his duty to remain in the
world; but all the more he felt he ought to visit his diocese, though the pope always opposed his
departure. Bartholomew counselled patience, and represented the assistance he
could give to the pope
and the whole Church
by remaining in Rome.
Charles was satisfied, and stayed on, doing the great work necessary by sending zealous deputies. After
the Council of Trent
he was much occupied with the production of the catechism embodying the
teaching of the council, the revision of the Missal and Breviary. He also was a
member of a commission for the reform of church music, and chose Palestrina to compose
three masses; one of these is the "Missa Papae Marcelli".
Pastoral solicitude, which is the characteristic
chosen for mention in the collect of his feast, made him ever
anxious to have the most suitable representatives in Milan. He heard of the
excellent qualities of Monsignor Nicolò Ormaneto, of the diocese of Verona, and succeeded in
obtaining the consent of his bishop to his transference
to Milan. Ormaneto
had been in the household of Cardinal Pole, and also
the principal assistant of the Bishop of Verona. On the 1st of July,
1564, Ormaneto reached Milan,
and at once carried out Charles' instructions by calling together a diocesan synod for the promulgation of the
decrees of the Council of Trent.
There were 1200 priests
at the Synod. It was with the clergy that Charles began
the reform, and the many abuses needed skilful and tactful treatment. Father
Palmio contributed much in bringing the clergy to a sense of the
necessity for reform. The synod was followed by a visitation of the diocese by Ormaneto. In
September Charles sent thirty Jesuit Fathers to assist
his vicar; three of these were placed over the seminary, which was opened
on the 11th of November (feast
of St. Martin of Tours).
Charles was constantly directing the work of restoration of ecclesiastical discipline,
and the education
of the young, even down to minute details, was foremost in his thoughts. The
manner of preaching, repression of avaricious priests, ecclesiastical ceremonies,
and church music
are some of the subjects on which Charles wrote many letters. The revival of
strict observance of rule in the convents of nuns was another matter to
which Charles urged Ormaneto's attention; the setting up of grilles in the convent parlours was
ordered, and, to remove material difficulties, Charles ordered his agent,
Albonese, to pay the cost of this where the convents, through poverty,
were unable to bear the expense. This order brought difficulties with his own
relations. Two of his aunts, sisters of Pius IV, had entered the Order of St. Dominic; they
resented the setting up of the grilles as casting a slur on their convent. Charles, in a
letter (28th of April, 1565) displaying much thought and great tact, strove to
bring his aunts to see the good purpose of the order, but without success, and
the pope
wrote on the 26th of May, 1565, telling them that he had given general orders
for the setting up of the grilles, and that it would be pleasing to him that
those united to him by ties of blood and affection should set a good example to
other convents.
Notwithstanding the support which Charles gave,
Ormmaneto was discouraged by the checks with which he met, and wished to return
to his own diocese. Charles pressed the pope to allow him to leave
Rome, and at the same time
encouraged Ormaneto to remain. At last the pope gave his consent to
Charles visiting his flock and summoning a provincial council; but, desiring
his stay to be short one, he created Charles legate a latere for
all Italy.
Charles prepared to start, chose canonists to help the council, and wrote to
the Court of Spain
and Philip II.
He left Rome
1 September, and, passing through Florence, Bologna, Modena, and Parma, he made his solemn
entry into Milan
on Sunday, 23 September, 1565. His arrival was the occasion of great
rejoicings, and the people did their utmost to welcome the first resident archbishop for eighty
years. On the following Sunday he preached in the Duomo, on the words:
"With desire I have desired to eat this pasch with you" (Luke 22:15).
On the 15th of October the first provincial
council met. It was attended by ten out of the fifteen bishops of the province, those
absent being represented by their procurators. Three of these prelates were cardinals, and one, Nicolò
Sfondrato of Cremona,
was afterwards pope
with the title of Gregory XIV.
Charles announced that the reform must begin with the prelates: "We ought
to walk in front, and our spiritual subjects will follow us more easily."
He commenced by fulfilling all things required in himself, and his wonderful clergy astonished the prelates. The council was
finished on the 3rd of November, and Charles sent a minute report to the pope. On the 6th of
November he went to Trent
as legate, to meet
the Archduchesses Giovanna and Barbara, who were to be married to the Prince of
Florence and the Duke of Ferrara. Charles conducted
Barbara to Ferrara
and Giovanna to Tuscany,
where at Fiorenzuola, he received the news of the pope's serious illness. He
reached Rome
to find that the pope's
condition was hopeless, and he at once bade the Holy Father turn all his
thoughts to his heavenly home. On the 10th of December Pius IV died, assisted by
two saints,
Charles and Philip Neri. On the 7th of January, 1566, the conclave for the election
of his successor was concluded by the election of Cardinal Michele Ghislieri,
O.P., of Alessandria,
Bishop of Mondovì, who, at the
request of Charles, took the name of Pius V. It had been
maintained that Charles at first favoured Cardinal Morone, but his
letter to the King of Spain
(Sylvain, I,309) seems to prove that he did his utmost to secure the election
of Cardinal Ghislieri. Pius V
wished to keep Charles to assist him in Rome; but though Charles delayed
his departure for some time, in the end his earnest representations obtained
permission for him to return to Milan, at least for the
summer. He returned to his see,
5 April, 1566, having made a detour to visit the sanctuary of Our Lady of
Loreto. Charles showed admirably how the Church had the power to
reform from within, and, though the task he had to do was gigantic, he set
about its execution with great calmness and confidence. He began with his
household, gave up much of his property to the poor, and insisted that in
all that concerned him personally the greatest economy should be used; for his
position as archbishop
and cardinal
he required due respect. He practised great mortification, and
whatever the Council of Trent
or his own provincial council had laid down for the life of the bishops he carried out,
not only in the letter, but also in the spirit.
The rules for the management of his household,
both in spiritual and temporal affairs, are to be found in the "Acta
Ecclesiae Mediolanensis". The result of the care that was taken of his
household was seen in the many members of it who became distinguished bishops and prelates. More than twenty
were chosen while members of the cardinal's household; one
of these was Dr. Owen Lewis, fellow of New College, Oxford, who taught at
Oxford and Douai,
and after being vicar-general
to St. Charles was made Bishop
of Cassano in Calabria.
The administration of the diocese needed to be
perfected; he therefore chose a vicar-general of exemplary
life, learned in law and ecclesiastical
discipline. He also appointed two other vicars, one for civil and
the other for criminal causes. He associated with them other officials, all
chosen for their integrity, and took care that they should be well paid, so as
to preclude all suspicion of venality. Corruption in such matters was specially
distasteful to him. Whilst providing for upright officials, the needs of the prisoners were not
forgotten, and in time his court was known as the holy tribunal. He so
organized his administration that by means of reports and conferences with the
visitors and the vicars forane, his pastoral visits were productive of great
fruit. The canons of his cathedral
chapter were in turn the object of his reforming care. He put before them his
plan of giving them definite work in theology and in connexion
with the Sacrament of
Penance. They welcomed his reforms, as he wrote to Monsignor Bonome:
"The result of the way I have taken is very different to that in vogue
today" (27 April, 1566). Pius V congratulated
Charles on his success and exhorted him to continue the work.
Another great work which was begun at this time
was that of the Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, in order that the children might be carefully
and systematically instructed. This work was really the beginning of what is
now known as the Sunday school,
and there is a remarkable testimony to this in an inscription under a statue outside the Essex Unitarian Church,
Kensington, London, where Cardinal Borromeo is mentioned in connexion with the
work. The visitation of his flock was steadily carried out and various pious foundations were
made to succour the needy and sinners. In 1567 opposition began to be made to
his jurisdiction.
The officials of the King of Spain announced that they
would inflict severe penalties on the archbishop's officers if
they imprisoned
more laymen,
or carried arms. The matter was referred to the king, and finally to the pope, who counselled the
Senate of Milan
to support the ecclesiastical
authority. Peace was not restored; and the bargello, or sheriff, of the archbishop was imprisoned. The archbishop announced
sentence of excommunication
on the captain of justice
and several other officials. Much trouble followed, and again the matter was
laid before the pope,
who decided in favour of the archbishop.
In October, 1567, Charles started to visit three Swiss valleys, Levantina,
Bregno, and La Riviera. In most parts, indeed, there was much to reform. The clergy especially were in
many cases so lax and careless, and even living scandalous lives, that the
people had grown to be equally negligent and sinful. The hardships of
this journey were great; Charles travelled on a mule, but sometimes on foot,
over most difficult and even dangerous ground. His labours bore great fruit,
and a new spirit was put into both clergy and laity. In August, 1568,
the second diocesan
synod was held, and it was followed in April, 1569, by the second provincial
council. In August, 1569, matters came to a head in connexion with the
collegiate church of Santa Maria
della Scala. This church had been declared by Clement VII, in 1531,
exempt from the jurisdiction
of the Archbishop
of Milan, provided
that the consent of the archbishop
was obtained; but this consent had never been obtained, and consequently the
exemption did not take effect. Now the governor, the Duke of Albuquerque, had
been induced by the opponents of the archbishop to issue an
edict declaring that all who violated the king's jurisdiction should
receive severe punishment. The canons of La Scala claimed exemption from the archbishop and relied on
the secular power
to support them. Charles announced his intention of making his visitation in
accordance with the wishes of the pope, by sending Monsignor
Luigi Moneta to the canons. He was met with opposition and open insult. Early
in September Charles himself went, vested for a visitation. The same violent
demeanour was again shown. The archbishop took the cross into his own hands
and went forward to pronounce the sentence of excommunication. The armed
men raised their weapons; the canons closed the door of the church against
Charles, who with eyes fixed on the crucifix, recommended
himself and these unworthy men to the Divine protection. Charles was indeed in
danger of his life, for the canons' supporters opened fire, and the cross in his hand was
damaged. His vicar-general
then put up the public notice that the canons had incurred censures. This act
was followed by blows and cries, removal of the notices, and the declaration
that the archbishop
was himself suspended from his office. Pius V was shocked at this
incident, and only with very great difficulty allowed Charles to deal with
these rebellious canons, when they repented.
In October, 1569, Charles was again in great
danger. The Order of the
Humiliati, of which he was protector, had by his persevering care
been induced to accept certain reforms, in 1567. But some of its members strove
to bring about a return to their former condition. As Charles would not consent
to this, some of the order formed a conspiracy to take his life. On the 26th of
October, whilst Charles was at evening prayer with his household,
a member of the Humiliati,
dressed as a layman,
having entered with others of the public who were admitted to the chapel, took his stand
four or five yards from the archbishop.
The motet
"Tempus est ut revertar ad eum qui me misit", by Orlando Lasso, was
being sung; the words "Non turbetur cor vestrum, neque formidet" had
just been sung, when the assassin fired his weapon, loaded with ball, and
struck Charles, who was kneeling at the altar. Charles, thinking himself mortally
wounded, commended himself to God. A panic arose, which
allowed the assassin to escape, but Charles motioned to his household to finish
the prayers.
At their conclusion it was found that the ball had not even pierced his
clothes, but some of the shot had penetrated to the skin, and where the ball
had struck a slight swelling appeared, which remained through his life.
It was seen how far the unruly-minded had gone,
and the serious turn affairs had taken. At once the governor took prompt steps
to assure Charles of his sympathy and his wish to find the assassin. Charles
would not allow this, and asked the governor to use his efforts to prevent the rights of the Church being infringed. In
some measure this occurrence led the canons of La Scala to sue for pardon, and
on the 5th of February, 1570, Charles publicly absolved them before the door of
his cathedral.
Notwithstanding his wish to forgive those who had attempted his life, and his
efforts to prevent their prosecution, four of the conspirators (amongst them
Farina, who actually fired) were sentenced to death. All being of the clergy, they were handed
over to the civil power
(29 July, 1570); two were beheaded; Farina and another were hanged.
Charles at this time made a second visit to Switzerland, first
visiting the three valleys of his diocese, then over the
mountains to see his half-sister Ortensia, Countess d'Altemps. Afterwards he
visited all the Catholic
cantons, everywhere using his influence to remove abuses both among the clergy and laity, and to restore religious
observance in monasteries
and convents.
He visited Altorf, Unterwalden, Lucerne, Saint Gall, Schwyz, Einsiedeln, where he said
that he nowhere except at Loreto, experienced a greater religious feeling (10
September, 1570). Heresy had spread in many of these parts, and Charles sent to
them experienced missionaries to win back those who had embraced it.
At this time Pius V came to the
conclusion that nothing less than the suppression of the Order of the Humiliati was
adequate. He therefore issued a Bull (7 February, 1571)
suppressing the order and providing for its property. This same year,
owing to the short harvest, the whole province suffered from a terrible famine,
during which Charles worked with unceasing toil to help the starving, relieving
at his own expense as many as 3000 daily for three months. His example induced
others to help, the governor, especially, giving large alms. In the summer of
1571 Charles was for somme time seriously ill, in the month of August; having
partly recovered, he was making his visitation when he heard of the serious
illness of the governor, the Duke of Albuquerque. Charles returned to Milan only in time to
console the duchess. He made use of the prayers ordered by Pius V for the success of
the Christians
against the Turks,
to urge on his flock the necessity of averting God's anger by penance. Great
were the rejoicings at the victory of Lepanto (7 October, 1571).
Charles was especially interested in this expedition by reason of the papal ships being
commanded by Marco Antonio Colonna, whose son Fabricio was married to his
sister, Anna Borromeo.
The archbishop remained in bad
health, suffering from low fever and catarrh. It was feared that consumption
would set in; in spite of his illness he prepared for the third diocesan synod, which was
held in his absence in April, 1572. He soon afterwards heard of the death of Pius V (1 May, 1572), and,
though feeble, he started for the conclave, which lasted one
day and resulted in the election of Cardinal Ugo Buoncompagni, with the title
of Gregory XIII, 13
May, 1572. As medical treatment had not restored Charles to health, he now
abandoned it and returned to his ordinary rule of life, with the result that he
was before long quite well. On his homeward journey he again visited Loreto, in
November, and reached Milan
on 12 November. He at this time resigned the offices of Grand Penitentiary,
Archpriest of Santa Maria
Maggiore, and other high dignities. In April, 1573, he held his third
provincial council.
The new governor of Milan was Don Luigi di
Requesens, who had known Charles in Rome. However, as soon as
he took office, being urged by the opponents of Charles, he published some
letters falsely incriminating Charles in questions of the royal authority and
containing much that was contrary to the rights of the Church. Charles protested
against their publication; with great reluctance, and after much anxious
deliberation, he publicly pronounced, in August, sentence of excommunication explicitly
against the grand Chancellor and implicitly against the governor. As a
consequence of this, libels
were published in the city against Charles. The governor showed his displeasure
by placing restrictions on the meetings of the confraternities, also depriving
Charles of the Castle of Arona. Various rumours were in circulation of more
wicked plans against Charles, but his tranquillity was maintained, and he
carried on his work with his usual care, despite the fact that the governor had
placed an armed guard to watch his palace. None of the governor's actions
succeeding, the governor was led to ask for absolution, which he
obtained by deception. When Gregory XIII
learned of this, he compelled the governor to make satisfaction to Charles.
This was done, and on 26 November Charles announced that the governor was
absolved from all penalties and censures. In this year Charles founded a college for the nobility
at Milan.
In August, 1574, Henry III of France was passing through
the Diocese of Milan
on his way from Poland
to take the French throne. Charles met him at Monza. The fourth diocesan synod was in
November, 1574. Gregory XIII
proclaimed a jubilee for 1575, and on the 8th of December, 1574, Charles left
for Rome.
He visited many shrines and, having reached Rome, performed the
required devotions and started for Milan, in February. He
assisted at the death-bed of his brother-in-law, Cesare Gonzaga, and continued
the visitation of his province. In 1576 the jubilee was kept in the Diocese of Milan. It began
on the 2nd of February. Whilst the jubilee was being celebrated, news came of
the outbreak of plague in Venice
and Mantua.
The fourth provincial council was held in May. In August, Don John of Austria, visited Milan. Religious exercises
were being carried out, and his arrival was made the occasion of rejoicings and
spectacular effects. All at once everything was changed, for the plague
appeared in Milan.
Charles was at Lodi,
at the funeral of the bishop.
He at once returned, and inspired confidence in all. He was convinced that the
plague was sent as a chastisement for sin, abd sought all the
more to give himself to prayer.
At the same time he thought of the people. He prepared himself for death, made
his will (9 September, 1576), and then gave himself up entirely to his people.
Personal visits were paid by him to the plague-stricken houses. In the hospital of St. Gregory
were the worst cases; to this he went, and his presence comforted the
sufferers. Though he worked so arduously himself, it was only after many trials
that the secular clergy
of the town were induced to assist him, but his persuasive words at last won
them so that they afterwards aided him in every way. It was at this time that,
wishing to do penance for his people, he walked in procession, barefooted, with
a rope round his neck, at one time bearing in his hand the relic of the Holy Nail.
At the beginning of 1577 the plague began to
abate, and though there was a temporary increase in the number of cases, at
last it ceased. The Milanese
vowed to build a church dedicated to St. Sebastian, if he would deliver them.
This promise was fulfilled. Charles wrote at this time the
"Memoriale", a small work, addressed to his suffragans, which had for
its object to recall the lessons given by the cessation of the plague. He also
compiled books of devotion for persons of every state of
life. By the beginning of 1578 the plague had quite disappeared from all parts.
At the end of 1578 the fifth diocesan synod was held.
It lasted three days. Charles endeavoured at this time to induce the canons of
the cathedral
to unite with himself in community life. In this year, on the 16th of August,
he began the foundation of the congregation of secular priests under the
patronage of Our Lady
and St. Ambrose, giving it the title of the Oblates of St. Ambrose. Though he
had been helped by various orders of religious, especially by the Jesuits and the Barnabites, one of whom
(now Bl. Alexander
Sauli) was for many years his constant adviser, yet he felt the need
of a body of men who could act as his assistants and, living in community,
would be more easily impressed by his spirit and wishes. He was the master mind
of this new congregation, and he ever insisted on the need of complete union
between himself and its members. It was his delight to be with them, and,
looking to him as a father, they were ready to go where he wished, to undertake
works of every kind. He placed them in seminaries, schools, and
confraternities. The remaining synods were held in 1579
and succeeding years, the last (the eleventh) in 1584.
His first pilgrimage to Turin, to visit the Holy
Shroud, was in 1578. About this time he first visited the holy mountain of
Varallo to meditate
on the mysteries of the Passion in the chapels there. In 1578-9
the Marquis of Ayamonte, the successor of Requesens as governor, opposed the jurisdiction of the archbishop, and in
September of the latter year Charles went to Rome to obtain a decision
on the question of jurisdiction.
The dispute arose in consequence of the governor ordering the carnival to be
celebrated with additional festivities on the first Sunday of Lent, against the archbishop's orders. The pope confirmed the decrees
of the archbishop,
and urged the Milanese
to submit. The envoys sent by them were so ashamed that they would not
themselves present the pope's
reply. Gregory XIII
had welcomed Charles and rejoiced at his presence. Charles did much work during
his stay for his province, especially for Switzerland. In connexion
with the rule which Charles drew up for the Oblates of St. Ambrose, it is to be
noted that when in Rome
he submitted it to St. Philip Neri,
who advised Charles to exclude the vow of poverty. Charles
defended its inclusion, so St. Philip said, "We will put it to the
judgment of Brother Felix". This brother was a simple Capuchin lay brother at the Capuchins, close to the
Piazza Barberini. St. Philip and St. Charles went to him, and he put his finger
on the article dealing with the vow of poverty, and said,
"This is what should be effaced". Felix was also a saint, and is known as St.
Felix of Cantalicio. Charles returned to Milan by Florence, Bologna, and Venice, everywhere
reviving the true ecclesiastical spirit.
When he reached Milan
the joy
of his people was great, for it had been said he would not return. After the
beginning of Lent
(1580), Charles began his visitation at Brescia; soon after, in
April, he was called back to Milan to assist at the
death-bed of the governor, Ayamonte. In this year Charles visited the
Valtelline valley in the Grisons. In July he was brought to know a youth who
afterwards reached great sanctity.
He was invited by the Marquis Gonzaga to stay with him, and refused, but while
staying at the archpriest's
house he met the eldest son of the marquis, Luigi Gonzaga, then twelve years
old, now raised to the altars of the Church as St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J..
Charles gave him his first Communion.
The next year (1581) Charles sent to the King of Spain a special envoy in
the person
of Father Charles Bascape of the Barnabites, charging him
to endeavour to come to an understanding on the question of jurisdiction. The result
was that a governor, the Duke of Terra Nova, was sent, who was instructed to
act in concert with Charles. After this no further controversy arose.
In 1582 Charles started on his last journey to Rome, both in obedience to
the decrees of the Council of Trent,
and to have the decrees of the sixth provincial council confirmed. This was his
last visit, and during it he resided at the monastery attached to his
titular church of Santa Prassede, where still are shown pieces of furniture
used by him. He left Rome
in January, 1583, and travelled by Sienna and Mantua, where he had been
commissioned by the pope
to pronounce a judgment. A great portion of this year was taken up by
visitations. In November he began a visitation as Apostolic visitor of all
the cantons of Switzerland
and the Grisons, leaving the affairs of his diocese in the hands of
Monsignor Owen Lewis, his vicar-general.
He began in the Mesoleina Valley; here not only was there heresy to be fought, but
also witchcraft
and sorcery,
and at Roveredo it was discovered that the provost, or rector, was the foremost
in sorceries. Charles spent considerable time in setting right this terrible
state of things. It was his especial care to leave holy priests and good religious
to guide the people. Next he visited Bellinzona and Ascona, working strenuously
to extirpate heresy,
and meeting with much opposition from the Bishop of Coire. The
negotiations were continued into the next year, the last of Charles on earth.
All his work bore fruit, and his efforts in these part ensured the preservation
of the Faith. The heretics
spread false
reports that Charles was really working for Spain against the
inhabitants of the Grisons. In spite of their falsehoods Charles continued to
attack them and to defend Catholics,
who had much to suffer.
At the end of 1584 he had an attack of erysipelas
in one leg, which obliged
to remain in bed. He however has a congress of the rural deans, sixty in
number, with whom he fully discussed the needs of the diocese. He also made
great exertions to suppress the licentiousness of the carnival. Knowing the
needs of the invalids who left the great hospital he determined to
found a convalescent hospital.
He did not live to see it completed, but his immediate successor saw that the
work was executed. During September and early October he was at Novara, Vercelli, and Turin. On the 8th of
October he left Turin
and thence travelled to Monte Varallo. He was going to prepare for death. His
confessor, Father Adorno,
was told to join him. On 15 October he began the exercises by making a general
confession. On the 18th the Cardinal
of Vercelli summoned
him to Arona to discuss urgent and important business. The night before Charles
spent eight hours in prayer
on his knees. On the 20th he was back at Varallo; on the 24th an attack of
fever came on; he concealed it at first, but suffering from sickness he was obliged to declare his
state. For five days this state lasted, but still he said Mass and gave Communion daily, and
carried on his correspondence. He seemed to know that death was at
hand and determined to work as long as he had strength left. The foundation of
the college at Ascona was not completed, and it was urgent that it should be
finished in a short time, so Charles pressed on and started, in spite of his
sufferings, on 29 October, having previously paid a farewell visit to the chapels. He was found
prostrate in the chapel
where the burial of Our Lord
was represented. He rode to Arona, thence went by boat to Canobbio, where he
stayed the night, said Mass
on the 30th, and proceeded to Ascona. He visited the college, and afterwards
set out at night for Canobbio, staying a short time at Locarno, where he
intended to bless
a cemetery, but, finding himself without his pontifical vestments, he abandoned
the idea.
When he reached Canobbio the fever was decreasing, and he was very weak. The
next day he took the boat for Arona and stayed there with the Jesuits, at the novitiate he had founded,
and on All Saints' Day
he said Mass
for the last time, giving Communion
to the novices
and many of the faithful.
The next day he assisted at Mass and received Holy Communion. His
cousin, Rene Borromeo, accompanied him on the boat, and that evening he reached
Milan. It was not known
there that he was ill. He at once was visited by doctors, whose orders he
obeyed. He would not allow Mass to be said in his room. A picture of Our Lord in the tomb was before him,
together with two others of Jesus
at Gethsemani and the body of the dead Christ. The physicians regarded the
danger as extreme, and though there was a slight improvement, it was not
maintained, and the fever returned with great severity. The archpriest of the cathedral gave him the Viaticum, which he
received vested in rochet
and stole. The administration of extreme unction was suggested. "At
once", Charles replied. It was at once given, and afterwards he showed but
little sign of life. The governor, the Duke of Terra Nova, arrived after great
difficulty in getting through the crowds which surrounded and had entered the
palace. The prayers
for a passing soul
were said, the Passion was read, with Father Bascapè and Father Adorno at the
bedside, the words "Ecce venio" (Behold I come) being the last words
he was heard to utter (3 November, 1584). On the 7th of November his requiem
was sung by Cardinal Nicolò Sfondrato, Bishop of Cremona, afterwards Gregory XIV. He was buried at night in the
spot which he had chosen.
Devotion to him as a saint was at once shown and
gradually grew, and the Milanese
kept his anniversary as though he were canonized. This
veneration, at first private, became universal, and after 1601 Cardinal Baronius wrote that it was
no longer necessary
to keep his anniversary by a requiem Mass, and that the solemn Mass of the day
should be sung. Then materials were collected for his canonization, and
processes were begun at Milan,
Pavia, Bologna, and other
places. In 1604 the cause was sent to the Congregation of Rites. Finally, 1
November, 1610, Paul V
solemnly canonized
Charles Borromeo, and fixed his feast for the 4th day of
November.
The position which Charles held in Europe was indeed a very
remarkable one. The mass of correspondence both to and by him testifies to the
way in which his opinion was sought. The popes under whom he lived
— as has been shown above — sought his advice. The sovereigns of Europe, Henry III of France, Philip II, Mary Queen of Scots, and
others showed how they valued his influence. His brother cardinals have written in
praise of his virtues. Cardinal Valerio of Verona said of him that he
was to the well-born a pattern of virtue, to his brother cardinals an example of true nobility. Cardinal Baronius styled him
"a second Ambrose, whose early death, lamented by all good men, inflicted
great loss on the Church".
It is a matter of interest to know that Catholics in England late in the
sixteenth or at the beginning of the seventeenth century had circulated some
life of St. Charles in England.
Doubtless some knowledge
of him had been brought to England
by Blessed Edmund Campion, S.J.,
who visited him at Milan
in 1580, on his way to England,
stopped with him some eight days, and conversed with him every day after
dinner. Charles had much to do with England in the days of his
assistance to Pius IV,
and he had a great veneration for the portrait of Bishop Fisher. Charles also had much to do with Francis Borgia, General of the Jesuits, and with Andrew of Avellino of the Theatines, who gave great help to his work in Milan.
