Serve until it is completely consumed
A reformer of the Milanese clergy in the heart of the 16th century, Charles Borromeo embodies the union of rigor and pastoral charity in Counter-Reformation Italy.
Destined for a brilliant career in the upper echelons of the Church, Charles Borromeo (1538–1584) chose the demanding path of pastoral service. At the heart of the religious turmoil of the 16th century, he reformed the clergy, supported the poor, and faced the plague of 1576 alongside his people. His enduring legacy challenges our understanding of the relationship between authority, humility, and consistency in Christian life.
Reforming out of love for Christ
Born in Arona, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, Charles Borromeo grew up in a noble family connected to Pope Pius IV, his uncle. Introduced to canon law at a young age in Pavia, he was appointed cardinal at twenty-two, before even becoming a priest. A rigorous administrator in Rome, he actively participated in the resumption of the Council of Trent, ensuring doctrinal clarity and the reform of institutions.
The sudden death of his elder brother in 1563 presented Charles with a crucial choice: inherit the family estate or answer his inner calling. He chose ordination and devoted all his energy to ecclesiastical service. Becoming Archbishop of Milan in 1564, he initiated a profound reform of the clergy. He founded seminaries for the spiritual and intellectual formation of priests, reorganized rural parishes, and promoted catechesis for the faithful. His quiet authority was based on the consistency between his words and his actions.
During the plague of 1576, he remained in Milan despite the risks. He transformed convents into hospitals, prayed among the dying, and took a vow of radical poverty. He wrote: "To give light, the candle must burn itself out." His loved ones suggested he rest; he responded with total self-sacrifice. Exhausted, he died at the age of forty-six, surrounded by his clergy. Canonized in 1610, Charles Borromeo became the patron saint of the diocese of Milan and a model of the charitable reforming pastor.
The cardinal at the crucifix
A tradition recounts that while crossing Milan during the plague, Charles, barefoot and carrying a crucifix, blessed the sick street after street. It is said that no one turned away from him, even though he risked death. Historians confirm his commitment but do not know if the scene unfolded exactly as described. This image of the pastor walking in the night symbolizes the faith that illuminates dark times: not through power, but through the light of a life given.
Spiritual message
Charles Borromeo reminds us that spiritual reform always begins with oneself. His example invites us to combine inner rigor with concrete compassion. The image of the burning candle encapsulates this spirituality: burning without brilliance, yet illuminating with constancy. To live truthfully before God, to serve unconditionally, and to recognize in every act the opportunity to love: such was his path. Even today, his spirit of service inspires every community called to be reborn in the unity of Christ.
Prayer
Lord, you who have made your servant Charles faithful to the point of exhaustion,
Grant us the grace to serve with integrity and courage.
Teach us to begin our reform with our own hearts.
Make us attentive to the poor, humble before the cross,
and faithful in the little things of everyday life.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
To live
- Visiting someone who is isolated or sick, even with just a phone call.
- To offer a meal or discreet material assistance to someone in need.
- Read for 10 minutes the passage from John 13:1-15: meditate on the gesture of the washing of the feet.
Places
Milan keeps alive the memory of its reforming archbishop. His relics rest in the crypt of the Duomo, within a finely crafted silver tomb. The Ambrosian Academy houses his portrait by Giovanni Battista Crespi. Every November 4th, the city celebrates, with processions and charitable works, the man it calls the “father of the poor.” In Arona, his monumental statue overlooks Lake Maggiore: thirty meters of copper, a reminder of the spiritual stature of a man who remained a servant.
Liturgy
- Readings/psalm: Philippians 2:12-18; Matthew 5:13-16 – to work for his salvation, to be the light of the world.
- Song/hymn: Ubi caritas et amor – where charity and love reign, God dwells.
