Charles Borromeo
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Charles Borromeo (
Early life
Borromeo was a descendant of nobility; the
Borromeo received the
Rome period
On 25 December 1559 Borromeo's uncle Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Medici was elected as
During his four years in Rome, Borromeo lived in austerity, obliged the Roman Curia to wear black, and established an academy of learned persons, the Academy of the Vatican Knights, publishing their memoirs as the Noctes Vaticanae.[5]
Borromeo organized the third and last session of the
On 19 November 1562, his older brother, Federico, suddenly died. His family urged Borromeo to seek permission to return to the lay state (
Archbishop of Milan
Borromeo was appointed an administrator of the
Reform in Milan
After the death of his uncle, Pius IV (1566), Borromeo sent a galley to fetch Cardinal Ugo Boncompagni, the Nuncio in Spain, but he did not arrive in time to be considered at the conclave. Borromeo then reached an agreement with Alessandro Farnese, who held a significant number of votes, to support Antonio Ghislieri, who was rumored to have the support of Philip II of Spain. Ghislieri was elected and took the name Pius V.[8]
Before Borromeo went to Milan, while he was overseeing reform in Rome, a nobleman remarked that the latter city was no longer a place to enjoy oneself or to make a fortune. "Carlo Borromeo has undertaken to remake the city from top to bottom," he said, predicting that the reformer's enthusiasm "would lead him to correct the rest of the world once he has finished with Rome."[9]
Subsequently, he devoted himself to the reformation of his diocese which had deteriorated in practice owing to the 80-year absence of previous archbishops.[10] Milan was the largest archdiocese in Italy at the time, with more than 3,000 clergy and 800,000 people. Both its clergy and laity had drifted from church teaching. The selling of indulgences and ecclesiastical positions was prevalent; monasteries were "full of disorder"; many religious were "lazy, ignorant, and debauched".[9]
Borromeo made numerous pastoral visits and restored dignity to divine service. He urged churches to be designed in conformity with the decrees of the
Borromeo believed that abuses in the church arose from ignorant clergy. Among his most important actions, he established seminaries, colleges, and communities for the education of candidates for holy orders.
Borromeo's diocesan reforms faced opposition from several religious orders, particularly that of the Humiliati (Brothers of Humility), a penitential order which, although reduced to about 170 members, owned some ninety monasteries. Some members of that society formed a conspiracy against his life, and a shot was fired at him with an arquebus in the archepiscopal chapel. His survival was considered miraculous.[12]
In 1576 there was famine at Milan due to crop failures, and later an outbreak of the plague. The city's trade fell off, and along with it the people's source of income. The Governor and many members of the nobility fled the city, but the bishop remained, to organize the care of those affected and to minister to the dying. He called together the superiors of all the religious communities in the diocese and won their cooperation. Borromeo tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. He used up his own funds and went into debt to provide food for the hungry. Finally, he wrote to the Governor and successfully persuaded him to return.[13][4]
Influence on English affairs
Borromeo had also been involved in English affairs when he assisted Pius IV. Many English Catholics had fled to Italy at this time because of the persecutions under
Persecution of religious dissidents
Though the Diet of Ilanz of 1524 and 1526 had proclaimed freedom of worship in the Three Leagues, Borromeo repressed Protestantism in the Swiss valleys. The Catholic Encyclopedia relates: "In November [1583] 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 Valle Mesolcina; 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'".[15] During his pastoral visit to the region, 150 people were arrested for practicing witchcraft. Eleven women and the provost were condemned by the civil authorities to be burned alive.[16]
Reacting to the pressure of the
Controversy and last days
Charged with implementing the reforms dictated by the Council of Trent, Borromeo's uncompromising stance brought him into conflict with secular leaders, priests, and even the Pope.[9] He met with much opposition to his reforms. The governor of the province and many of the senators addressed complaints to the courts of Rome and Madrid.[2]
In 1584, during his annual retreat at Monte Varallo, he fell ill with "intermittent fever and ague", and on returning to Milan grew rapidly worse. After receiving the Last Rites, he quietly died on 3 November at the age of 46.[13]
Veneration
Following his death, popular devotion to Borromeo arose quickly and continued to grow. The Milanese celebrated his anniversary as though he were already a saint, and supporters in a number of cities collected documentation to support his
Charles Borromeo is the patron saint of bishops, catechists and seminarians.[18]
Iconography
Borromeo's emblem is the Latin word humilitas (humility), which is a portion of the Borromeo shield. He is usually represented in art in his robes, barefoot, carrying the cross as archbishop, a rope around his neck, one hand raised in blessing, thus recalling his work during the plague.[15]
Sources
Borromeo' biography was originally written by three of his contemporaries:
Legacy
Borromeo's correspondence shows his influential position in Europe during his lifetime. The popes under whom he served sought his advice. The Catholic sovereigns of Europe –
Late in the sixteenth or at the beginning of the seventeenth century, Catholics in England circulated among themselves a "Life of St. Charles".[8]
Monuments
- Contrary to Borromeo's last wishes, the Duomo di Milanocreated a memorial crypt to honour him at the church.
- His relative Federico Borromeo and admirers commissioned a statue 20 m high that was erected on the hill above Arona, as they regarded him an important leader of the Counter-Reformation.
Writings
- Besides the Noctes Vaticanae, to which he appeared to have contributed, Borromeo's written legacy consisted only of some homilies, discourses and sermons, with a collection of letters. Borromeo's sermons have been translated into many languages.[2]
Churches
A large number of churches dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo exist, including:
Europe
- Karlskirche, Vienna, Austria
- St Charles Borromeo Church, Sheffield
- St Charles Borromeo Church, Kingston upon Hull, England
- St. Charles Borromeo RC Church, Hampton Magna, England
- St. Charles Borromeo RC Church, Aigburth, Liverpool, England
- Our Lady and St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Wisbech, England
- St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Oratory, North Kelvinside, Glasgow, Scotland
- St. Charles Borromeo Church, Antwerp, Belgium
- San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Rome, Italy
- St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Pancevo, Vojvodina, Serbia
- Church of St. Charles Borromeo (Warsaw, Poland)
- Chiesa San Carlo Borromeo, Biasca, Ticino, Switzerland
- St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church, Vienna
- St. Charles Borromeo Church, Leixlip, Ireland
North America
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Peru, Indiana
- Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Grand Coteau, Louisiana
- St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée) Joliette Quebec Canada
- Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, North Hollywood, California
- St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Visalia, California[20]
- Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, California
- Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, California
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and Academy (Pt. Loma, California)[21]
- St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Port Charlotte, Florida[22]
- St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Hampshire, Illinois
- St. Charles Borromeo Church (Destrehan, Louisiana)
- St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brooklyn New York[23]
- St. Charles Borromeo Church (New York City), New York
- St. Charles's Church (Staten Island, New York)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church[24] (Nederland, Texas)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Charles, Missouri
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota[25]
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Oakes, North Dakota)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Kettering, Ohio)
- St. Charles Borromeo (Lima, Ohio)
- St. Charles Borromeo Church (Parma, Ohio)
- The neighborhood of Pointe-Saint-Charles
- St. Charles Borromeo (South Charleston, Ohio)
- St. Charles Borromeo[26] in Pikesville, Maryland
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Woburn, Massachusetts)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church[27] (Picayune, Mississippi)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Gretna, Nebraska)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Skillman, New Jersey)
- St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church[28] in Greece, New York
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Syracuse, New York)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Ahoskie, North Carolina)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Morganton, North Carolina)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania)
- St Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church (Fermeuse, Newfoundland and Labrador)
- St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, est. 1846, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Milan, Indiana), in Ripley County
- St. Charles Church (Arlington, Virginia)
- St. Charles Parish, Spokane, Washington[29]
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Oklahoma City, OK)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Du Bois, Illinois)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Meredith, NH)
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Kingsland, TX)[30]
South America
- Cathedral of San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
- St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral, São Carlos, Brazil
- Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (Chillán), Chile
- Cathedral Basilica of San Carlos Borromeo (Puno), Peru
- San Carlos Borromeo, San Carlos, Uruguay
- Cathedral of San Carlos (Cojedes), Venezuela
Seminaries
- Archdiocese of Košice, in Košice, Slovakia
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States[31]
- Archdiocese of Manila in Makati, Philippines
- Colegio San Carlos, a recognized primary and secondary school in Bogotá, Colombia, and home for a Benedictine community of priests
- Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibandain Rwanda
- St Charles' Seminary in Perth, Australia
- Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio
- St. Charles Seminary in Carthagena, Ohio, now a retirement home
- St. Charles Seminary (Staten Island, New York), closed and slated for private homes
- St. Charles Seminary (SVD), Goden Rock, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
- St Charles Borromeo Minor Seminary Senior High School, Tamale, Ghana
Other
- His nephew, Ambrosian Library in that city.[2] He donated his collection of art and literature to the library. He appeared as a character in Alessandro Manzoni's novel The Betrothed(I promessi sposi).
- Sint. Carolus hospital, first Catholic hospital in Indonesia founded by Perkumpulan Perhimpunan St. Carolus Vereeniging (PPSC). It is managed by Kongregasi Suster-Suster Cinta Kasih St. Carolus Borromeus (Sisters of Mercy of St. Borromeo ) since its foundation in 1913.
- Borromeo was crucial in furthering the career of composer Orfeo Vecchi.[32]
- Borromeo is one of four people mentioned at the beginning of the Turibius of Mongrovejo and Robert Bellarmine.
- Saint Charles Preparatory School, a former college seminary now a four-year Catholic college preparatory school in Columbus, Ohio
- Lewis University, a Catholic and Lasallian University, St. Charles Borromeo North Campus
- St. Charles, Missouri
- St. Charles, Illinois
- St. Charles, Minnesota
- São Carlos, Brazil
- Saint-Charles-Borromée, Quebec, Canada
- San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines
- The San Carlos de Borromeo Fortress on Margarita Island, state of Nueva Esparta, Venezuela, completed in 1684, intended to help protect settlements in the Bay of Pampatar area against the constant threat of piracy
- University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines[33]
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala in Guatemala, originally named "Royal and Pontifical University of San Carlos Borromeo"
Music
- Marc-Antoine Charpentier has composed a dramatic motet, Pestis Mediolanensis H.398 & H.398 a, for soloists, double chorus, two flutes, double string orchestra, and continuo (1670?)
See also
- Catholicism portal
- Italy portal
- Saints portal
- Guastallines
- Saint Charles Borromeo, patron saint archive
- Order of Saint Carlo [nl]
- Silent preaching
- Sancarlone
- Oblates of Saints Ambrose and Charles
References
- ^ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "St. Charles Borromeo". Encyclopedia Britannica
- ^ a b c d e f g Chisholm 1911, p. 274.
- OCLC 53276621.
- ^ a b c "Saint Charles Borromeo". Franciscan Media. 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
- ^ a b De Certau, Michel (1977). "Carlo Borromeo, santo". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). Vol. 20. Treccani.
- ^ ISBN 88-7030-891-X.
- ^ "St. Charles Cardinal Borromeo". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 20 Jan 2013.
- ^ a b Giussano, G.P., Vita di S. Carlo Borromeo (1610, England, HE Manning, ed., reprinted, London: 1884)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8294-2329-7
- ^ a b "Saint Charles Borromeo", Catholic Online, accessed 14 Dec 2008
- ISBN 0-19-881050-4
- ^ a b c "St. Charles Borromeo". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
- ^ a b "St. Charles Borromeo". www.ewtn.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
- ^ Lytton Strachey, 1918, Eminent Victorians, Folio Society edition 1979 p. 69.
- ^ a b c "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Charles Borromeo". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
- ^ Kenny, Louise M. Stacpoole (Louise Mary Stacpoole); Pius X, Pope (1911). Saint Charles Borromeo : a sketch of the reforming cardinal. Kelly - University of Toronto. London : Washbourne. pp. 214–215.
- ^ "Nov 4 – St Charles Borromeo, (1538-1584), Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, Patron of Catechists, Great Catholic Reformer". ADULT CATECHESIS & CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LITERACY IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITION. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ^ "Remembering St. Charles Borromeo". National Catholic Reporter. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
- ^ "St Charles Borromeo". www.ewtn.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
- ^ "Home". stcharlesvisalia.org.
- ^ "Home". www.saintcharlespl.com.
- ^ "St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church". St. Charles Borromeo. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ "Home". stcharlesbklyn.org.
- ^ "St. Charles New Website 2021". www.stcharlesnederland.org.
- ^ "St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church". St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
- ^ "St. Charles Borromeo". St. Charles Borromeo Parish.
- ^ "St. Charles Borromeo". scborromeo2.org.
- ^ "St. Charles Borromeo Church|".
- ^ "St. Charles Parish". St. Charles Parish.
- ^ "St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church - Kingsland, TX". Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
- ISBN 9780754651215.
- ^ University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines Official Site
Sources
- Media related to Charles Borromeo at Wikimedia Commons
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Borromeo, Carlo". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 274–275.
- A Sala, Documenti circa la vita e la gesta di Borromeo (4 vols., Milan: 1857–1859)
- Chanoine Silvain, Histoire de St Charles Borromeo (Milan: 1884)
- A Cantono, "Un grande riformatore del secolo XVI" (Florence: 1904); "Borromus" in Herzog-Hauck, Realencyklopädie (Leipzig: 1897).
External links
- Pietro Canetta, "Biography of Carlo Borromeo" (in Italian), Magazzeno Storico Verbanese
- Fabiola Giancotti, Per ragioni di salute. San Carlo Borromeo nel quarto centenario della canonizzazione 1610-2010, 2010)
- Colonnade Statue in St Peter's Square
- Saint Charles Borromeo, Aphorisms 1561-1584, ISBN 9788897618133, (Il Club di Milano, 2012)
- Literature by and about Charles Borromeo in the German National Library catalogue
- Epistolario di San Carlo: Digital edition of the manuscript and letters of Carlo Borromeo
- Website of St Charles Church,Volders in Tirol
- Birgit Heß-Kickert: Architekturtheorie der italienischen Renaissance. Die Instructiones fabricae et supellectilis ecclesiasticae des Carlo Borromeo. Saarbrücken, 1999