"Today, our people need supernatural help from God. Angels are God's messengers that bring his help to a defenseless people. Without God's help and protection we are a sure prey for evil. Satan is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
In 1559 his uncle was elected Pope Pius IV and the following year, named him his Secretary of State and created him a cardinal and administrator of the see of Milan. He served as Pius' legate on numerous diplomatic missions and in 1562, was instrumental in having Pius reconvene the Council of Trent, which had been suspended in 1552. Charles played a leading role in guiding and in fashioning the decrees of the third and last group of sessions. He refused the headship of the Borromeo family on the death of Count Frederick Borromeo, was ordained a priest in 1563, and was consecrated bishop of Milan the same year. Before being allowed to take possession of his see, he oversaw the catechism, missal, and breviary called for by the Council of Trent. When he finally did arrive at Milan (which had been without a resident bishop for eighty years) in 1556, he instituted radical reforms despite great opposition, with such effectiveness that it became a model see. He put into effect measures to improve the morals and manners of the clergy and laity, raised the effectiveness of the diocesan operation, established seminaries for the education of the clergy, founded a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the religious instruction of children and encouraged the Jesuits in his see. He increased the systems to the poor and the needy, was most generous in his help to the English college at doubl and during his bishopric held eleven diocesan synods and six provincial councils. He founded a society of secular priests, Oblates of St. Ambrose (now Oblates of St. Charles) in 1578, and was active in preaching, resisting the inroads of Protestantism, and bringing back lapsed Catholics to the Church. He encountered opposition from many sources in his efforts to re-form people and institutions.
Of note, Charles Borromeo was an active defender and promoter of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
He died at Milan on the night of 3-4 November 1584, and was canonized in 1610. He was one of the towering figures of the Catholic Reformation, a patron of learning and the arts, and though he achieved a position of great power, he med it with humility, personal sanctity, and unselfishness to reform the Church of the evils and abuses so prevalent among the clergy and the nobles of the times. His feast day is November 4th.
CCC p334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.
CCC p335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy's In Paradisum deducant te angeli. [May the angels lead you into Paradise..."]). Moreover, in the "Cherubic Hymn" of the Byzantine Liturgy, shecelebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and guardian angels).
CCC p336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
St. Gabriel, St. Rapheal,
and our patron saint St. Charles Borromeo?
ST. CHARLES BORROMEO (our Patron Saint) Charles was the son of Count Gilbert Borromeo and Margaret Medici, sister of Pope Pius IV. He was bom at the family castle ofArona on Lake Maggiore, Italy, on 2 October 1538. He received the clerical tonsure when he was' twelve and was sent to the Benedictine abbey of SS. Gratian and Felinus at Arona for his education.
ST. MICHAEL means "who is like God", which is what he answered when Lucifer chose to rebel against God and asked the other angels to follow him. No one is like God is His almighty power, and most certainly not Lucifer, who fell like lightening from heaven. (Luke 10:18) We ask the Lord to send us protection from the temptations of evil through the intercession of St. Michael, the
head of the heavenly court of angels.
ST. GABRIEL means "strength of God". God's strength is invincible against all attacks. Attacks on the dignity of the human person occur in the form of error in faith and morals, causing many to sin. St. Gabriel brought the message of God's promise of salvation to the Virgin Mary. We need this Word of
God, Jesus Christ, more than ever in our troubled world of disorder and chaos. We ask God to strengthen our faith in Jesus, the Word and Truth of God, through the intercession of St. Gabriel, herald of the Good News of Jesus.
ST. RAPHAEL means "healing of God". Our numerous wounds from battling evil often cause us to despair. We ask for healing of our spiritual, emotional, and spiritual wounds from God through the intercession of St. Raphael. (Tobit 9:15)
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church...
