Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Few saints captured the spirit and fervor of the Catholic reform of the late 16th century then Charles Borromeo, whose feast the church celebrates today. He was born in 1538 just two years prior to the founding of the Jesuits and died in 1584. Although he had easy access to the corridors of power, thanks to his uncle, Pope Pius IV, Borromeo led a penitential life and put into practice his motto: Humility. Borromeo’s work, along with other reformers such as Ignatius and Philip Neri, helped place the Catholic faith back on track. His concern for correct church teaching was equaled by his concern for the poor. Like Ignatius, he saw that the intellectual life was a true friend to faith and his concern for solid formation of priests provided the needed antidote to many of the abuses current at the time.