FEAST AND BIOGRAPHY OF SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO

         Saint Charles Borromeo

Also known as

• Apostle to the Council of Trent
• Carlo Borromeo
• Father of the Clergy

Memorial

• 4 November
• formerly 5 November
• 3 November (Milan, Italy)

Profile

Born to a wealthy, noble family, the third of six children, son of Count Giberto II Borromeo and Margherita de’ Medici. Nephew of Pope Pius IV. Suffered with a speech impediment. Studied in Milan, and at the University of Pavia, studying at one point under the future Pope Gregory XIII. Civil and canon lawyer at age 21. Cleric at Milan, taking the habit on 13 October 1547. Abbot commendatario of San Felino e San Graziano abbey in Arona, Italy, on 20 November 1547. Abbot commendatario of San Silano di Romagnano abbey on 10 May 1558. Prior commendatario of San Maria di Calvenzano abbey on 8 December 1558. Protonotary apostolic participantium and referendary of the papal court to Pope Pius IV on 13 January 1560. Member of the counsulta for the administration of the Papal States on 22 January 1560. Appointed abbotcommendatario of Nonatola, San Gallo di Moggio, Serravalle della Follina, San Stefano del Corno, an abbey in Portugal, and an abbey in Flanders, Belgium on 27 January 1560. Created cardinal on 31 January 1560 at age 22.

Apostolic administrator of Milan, Italy on 8 February 1560. Papal legate to Bologna and Romandiola for two years beginning on 26 April 1560. Deacon on 21 December 1560. Vatican Secretary of State. Governor of Civita Castellana,Italy in 1561. Governor of Ancona on 1 June 1561. Made an honorary citizen of Rome, Italyon 1 July 1561. Founded the Accademia Vaticana in 1562. Governor of Spoleto, Italy on 1 December 1562. Ordained on 4 September 1563. Helped re-open the Council of Trent, and participated in its sessions during 1562 and 1563. Named prince of Orta in 1563. Member of the Congregation of the Holy Office. Bishop of Milan on 7 December 1563. President of the commission of theologians charged by the pope to elaborate the Catechismus Romanus. Worked on the revision of the Missal and Breviary. Member of a commission to reform church music. Archbishop of Milan on 12 May 1564. Governor of Terracina, Italy on 3 June 1564. Archpriest of the patriarchal Liberian basilica in Rome in October 1564. Count of the Palatine in 1564. Prefect of the Tridentine Council from 1564 until September 1565. Papal legate in Bologna, Romandiola, legate a latere, and vicar general in spiritualibus of all Italy on 17 August 1565. Grand penitentiary on 7 November1565. Participated in the conclave of cardinals in 1565 to 1566 that chose Pope Pius V; he asked the new pope to take the name. Protector of the Swiss Catholic cantons; he visited them all several times worked for the spiritual reform of both clergy and laymen. Due to his enforcement of strict ecclesiastical discipline, some disgruntled monks in the Order of the Humiliati hired a lay brother to murder him on the evening of 26 October 1569; he was shot at, but was not hit. Participated in the conclave in 1572 that chose Pope Gregory XIII. Member of the Apostolic Penitentiary in May 1572. Worked with the sick, and helped bury the deadduring the plague outbreak in Milan in 1576. Established the Oblates of Saint Ambrose on 26 April 1578. Teacher, confessor and parish priest to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, giving him his first communion on 22 July1580. To help the Swiss Catholics he founded the Collegium Helveticum.

Saint Charles spent his life and fortune in the service of the people of his diocese. He directed and fervently enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent, fought tirelessly for peace in the wake of the storm caused by Martin Luther, founded schools for the poor, seminaries for clerics, hospitals for the sick, conducted synods, instituted children‘s Sunday school, did great public and private penance, and worked among the sick and dying, leading his people by example.

Born

• the morning of Wednesday 2 October 1538 in the castle at Aron, diocese of Novara, Italy

Died

• 8:30pm on 3 November 1584 of a fever at Milan, Italy
• his will named the Hospital Maggiore of Milan as his heir
• buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Milan
• relics transferred to a chapel built by Count Renato Borromeo in Piazza San Maria Podone, Milan on 21 September1751

Beatified

• 1602 by Pope Clement VIII

Canonized

• 1 November 1610 by Pope Paul V

Patronage

• against abdominal pain
• against colic
• against intestinal disorders
• against stomach diseases
• against ulcers
• apple orchards
• bishops
• catechists
• catechumens
• seminarians
• spiritual directors
• spiritual leaders
• starch makers
• Ancud, Chile, diocese of
• Joliette, Québec, diocese of
• Monterey, California, diocese of
• Acquarica del Capo, Italy
• Lombardy, Italy
• Rocca di Papa, Italy

Representation

• cardinal wearing a cord around his neck; it symbolizes the cord or halter worn around his neck during the plague of Milan, Italy in 1575
• bishop wearing a cord around his neck
• cleric curing the sick
• Holy Communion
• coat of arms bearing the word Humilitas

Storefront

• medals, statues, pendants

Readings

If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honor. – Saint Charles Borromeo

He who desires to advance in the knowledge of God, ought to begin each day of his life with renewed vigor; he should hold himself in the presence of God, as much as possible, and desire no other end, in all his actions save the glory of God. – Saint Charles Borromeo

I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily. Would you like me to teach you how to grow from virtue to virtue and how, if you are already recollected at prayer, you can be even more attentive next time, and so give God more pleasing worship? Listen, and I will tell you. If a tiny spark of God‘s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out. Keep the stove tightly shut so that it will not lose its heat and grow cold. In other words, avoid distractions as well as you can. Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter. If teaching and preaching is your job, then study diligently and apply yourself to whatever is necessary for doing the job well. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head. We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: “I will pray, and then I will understand.” This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work. In meditation we find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in other men. – Saint Charles Borromeo

CONFESSION

Confession

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.Psalm 19:12-14

Each of us has blind spots and lacks knowledge about all the sins and hidden faults in our lives, particularly those “lurking” in our hearts. But thank God that we have a Savior whose blood was spilt at Calvary for those very sins so that we can ask him to cleanse us from hidden faults and not allow deliberate sins to control our lives.

Both our hidden faults and our deliberate sins are the reasons we need to make time in our prayer and devotions for confession—for asking the Holy Spirit to search our hearts, to show us the behaviours and thoughts for which we need cleansing and that left unconfessed, can keep us from experiencing his grace.

Then what freedom, what joy Christ offers us—the breastplate of righteousness, the cleansing of our consciences, and right standing with God the Father, based not on our own works but on the grace of God alone. What hidden faults and sins are working in your heart? Spend some time in reflection today, writing down whatever the Spirit shows you and giving these to God.

LORD, I am blind to so much. There is no way I can know all the sins lurking in my heart. But you know them. I ask your Holy Spirit to shine your light on my blind spots, to cleanse me from hidden faults so that I can confess my sin and receive your forgiveness. Help me to grow in transparency and openness before you so that I might walk in your freedom and grace.

GOD IN HIS WISDOM ONLY GIVES THE GRACE OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE GRADUALLY. . . . BUT AS WE PERCEIVE AND CONQUER THE MORE GLARING FAULTS, HIS GRACIOUS LIGHT SHOWS US THE SUBTLER, MORE HIDDEN IMPERFECTIONS; AND THIS SPIRITUAL PROCESS LASTS ALL THROUGH LIFE.Jean Nicolas Grou (1731–1803)

MY SOUL IS THIRSTING FOR THE LIVING GOD

FEAST AND BIOGRAPHY OF SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES

                     Saint Martin de Porres

Also known as

• Martín de Porres Velázquez
• Martin of Charity
• Martin the Charitable
• Saint of the Broom (for his devotion to his work, no matter how menial)

Memorial

• 3 November

Profile

The illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman, Juan, and a young freed black slave, Anna Velasquez, Martin grew up in poverty. He spent part of his youth with a surgeon–barber from whom he learned some medicine and care of the sick. At age 11 he became a servant in the Holy Rosary Dominican priory in Lima, Peru. Promoted to almoner, he begged more than $2,000 a week from the rich to support the poor and sick of Lima. Placed in charge of the Dominican‘s infirmary; known for his tender care of the sick and for his spectacular cures. His superiors dropped the stipulation that “no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our Order” and Martin took vows as a Dominican brother in 1603. Established an orphanage and children‘s hospital for the poor children of the slums. Set up a shelter for the stray cats and dogs and nursed them back to health. Lived in self-imposed austerity, never ate meat, fasted continuously, and spent much time in prayer and meditation with a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Friend of Saint John de Massias.

He was venerated from the day of his death. Many miraculous cures, including raising the dead attributed to Brother Martin. First black saint from the Americas.

Born

• 9 December 1579 at Lima, Peru

Died

• 3 November 1639 in Lima, Peru of fever

Venerated

• 27 February 1763 by Pope Clement XIII (decree on heroic virtues)

Beatified

• 29 October 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI

Canonized

• 6 May 1962 by Pope John XXIII

Patronage

• African-Americans
• against rats
• barbers
• bi-racial people
• black people
• for inter-racial justice
• for social justice
• hair stylists
• hairdressers
• hotel-keepers
• innkeepers
• mixed-race people
• mulattoes
• Negroes
• paupers
• Peru
• poor people
• public education
• public health
• public schools
• race relations
• racial harmony
• state schools
• television
• —
• Accra, Ghana, archdiocese of
• Biloxi, Mississippi, diocese of

Representation

• broom
• crucifix
• dog, cat, bird, and mouse eating together from the same dish
• rosary

Storefront

• medals, holy cards, statues

Readings

The example of Martin’s life is ample evidence that we can strive for holiness and salvation as Christ Jesus has shown us: first, by loving God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and second, by loving your neighbor as yourself.” When Martin had come to realize that Christ Jesus “suffered for us and that he carried our sins on his body to the cross, he would meditate with remarkable ardor and affection about Christ on the cross. He had an exceptional love for the great sacrament of the Eucharist and often spent long hours in prayer before the blessed sacrament. His desire was to receive the sacrament in Communion as often as he could. Saint Martin, always obedient and inspired by his divine teacher, dealt with his brothers and with that profound love which comes from pure faith and humility of spirit. He loved men and because he honestly looked on them as God’s children and as his own brothers and sisters. Such was his humility that he loved them even more than himself, and considered them to be better and more righteous than he was. He did not blame others for their shortcomings. Certain that he deserved more severe punishment for his sins than others did, he would overlook their worst offenses. He was tireless in his efforts to reform the criminal, and he would sit up with the sick to bring them comfort. For the poor he would provide food, clothing and medicine. He did all he could to care for poor farmhands, blacks, and mulattoes who were looked down upon as slaves, the dregs of society in their time. Common people responded by calling him, “Martin the charitable.” He excused the faults of others. He forgave the bitterest injuries, convinced that he deserved much severer punishments on account of his own sins. He tried with all his might to redeem the guilty; lovingly he comforted the sick; he provided food, clothing and medicine for the poor; he helped, as best he could, farm laborers and Negroes, as well as mulattoes, who were looked upon at that time as akin to slaves: thus he deserved to be called by the name the people gave him: ‘Martin of Charity.’ It is remarkable how even today his influence can still move us toward the things of heaven. Sad to say, not all of us understand these spiritual values as well as we should, not do we give them a proper place in our lives. Many of us, in fact, strongly attracted by sin, may look upon these values as of little moment, even something of a nuisance, or we ignore them altogether. It is deeply rewarding for men striving for salvation to follow in Christ’s footsteps and to obey God’s commandments. If only everyone could learn this lesson from the example that Martin gave us. – from a homily by Blessed Pope John XXIII given at the canonization of Saint Martin de Porres

INCREASE OUR FAITH

Increase Our Faith

Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a terrible storm came up, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” And Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”Matthew 8:23-26

The storm that came up that night struck terror in these veteran fishermen’s hearts. Would they be shipwrecked? Would they perish? They panicked and doubted whether Jesus was aware of or even cared if they drowned. Like the disciples, we sometimes get into troubles that feel so overwhelming, storms that rage so furiously, that we’re sure our boat is about to be swamped and we’ll drown. It may seem to us—as it did to the disciples in today’s verses—that Jesus is sleeping, that he is unconcerned and unaware of our plight, and we cry, “Lord, save us!” When we are panicked and overwhelmed, Jesus asks us as he did that day on the Sea of Galilee, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

Though the storms will come again and again, Jesus is always with us and is working within us through these experiences to develop a faith that can withstand any tumultuous trial, any waves of difficulty.

OH, LORD, we forget that you are in the boat with us, that you rule over the wind and waves and storms in our lives. Increase our faith so that even in the midst of great turbulence we will not panic but will trust you to care for us. Let our spirits be able to rest at all times because your presence is always greater than any stormy circumstance we will face.

IT IS FAITH THAT BRINGS POWER, NOT MERELY PRAYING AND WEEPING AND STRUGGLING, BUT BELIEVING, DARING TO BELIEVE THE WRITTEN WORD WITH OR WITHOUT FEELING.Catherine Booth (1829–1890)

LOVING KINDNESSES OF THE LORD

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

FEAST OF ALL SOULS

                Feast of All Souls

Memorial

• 2 November
• 3 November (see below)

About the Feast

Feast in commemoration of the faithful departed in Purgatory. Abbot Odilo of Cluny instituted it in the monasteries of his congregation in 998, other religious orders took up the observance, and it was adopted by various dioceses and gradually by the whole Church. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy on this day, and Pope Benedict XV granted to all priests the privilege of saying three Masses of requiem

• one for the souls in Purgatory
• one for the intention of the Holy Father
• one for the priest‘s

If the feast should fall on Sunday it is kept on 3 November.

Patronage

• Monselice, Italy