Homily: Feast of St. Charles Borromeo

Feast of St. Charles Borromeo (1538-84)

Charles Borromeo was one of the towering figures during the Reformation. He received tonsure when he was only twelve years old. He was not ordained a priest until he was twenty-five. He had quite a career in between. His uncle Pius IV advanced his career.

Charles received his doctorate and civil law degree when he was in his teens and early twenties. He was administrator of the Diocese of Milan for a while. Then he became his uncle’s secretary. He convinced his uncle to reopen the Council of Trent. And he was one of the most important people influencing the last part of that ecumenical council. He wrote the catechism that the council approved.

When a dear friend died, he decided to be ordained a priest because he wanted to live a holier life. He was ordained a bishop just two months later. He later became bishop of Milan which was one of the most prominent dioceses in Italy.

As a bishop, he did become holier. He insisted on living a simple lifestyle. He gave most of his revenue to the poor. In times of famine he would lead relief efforts for the poor.

He was ever the reformer. When he tried to reform a corrupt lay movement known as the Humiliati they hired someone to murder him. Fortunately, he survived. He was made apostolic visitor to Switzerland when the Protestant reformation was happening there. All his pastoral activity wore him down and he died at the young age of 46.

St. Charles life teaches us two important lessons. One lesson is that it is important to have young and idealistic leaders in the church. Too often when we get older, we start to comprise our values. The other lesson we learn is lay people can have a profound impact on the church. Before Charles was ever ordained he was a wonderful church leader. Vatican II called for the laity to use their gifts in service of the church. St. Charles was an exemplary lay leader before he ever became a bishop. We could speculate that if he had not become a bishop he still would have been an important figure in church history.

Reflection Questions:

1.     Does it seem like lay people have much influence in the church? Can you think of a lay person who has had great influence in the church?

2.    Does one need to be ordained to be holy? Was St. Charles a holy man before he became a bishop?

 Dear Parishioners,

           This Sunday at our 9:15 Mass we will be having a children’s liturgy. Once a month our religious education students engage in ministries at our Sunday Mass and the homily is geared to them.

          One of the things that young Catholic families want is for the church to be more welcoming to children. This is Sacred Heart’s attempt to show that we want youngsters to worship with us. If they learn to pray with the community when they are young then hopefully they will continue throughout their life.

          Everyone is welcome to take part in this liturgy. Sometimes the adults among us say that they get more from these Masses than from any others.

          May Our Lady pray for our war-torn world.

          Fr. Mark