St. Charles Borromeo 

This can be a busy and stressful time for young people who plan to go off to college next year.  For those who are going through the process (and their parents), St. Charles Borromeo (1538-84) might be a fitting patron saint to turn to for help in making a good decision. That’s because St. Charles understood the world and what life is about. A son of one of the most prestigious aristocratic families of his day, he had been blessed with enormous wealth and opportunities for worldly success. But St. Charles did not see these things as worthy of his highest aspirations. He sought to do God’s will above all else, even at personal sacrifice. Rather than pursue a military career, St. Charles wanted to be a priest. Incredibly, he became the Archbishop of Milan at the age of 25. In those days, well-connected bishops from the aristocracy became enormously rich from revenues generated by monasteries under their patronage. Having decided as an adolescent that he would live a very simple life, St. Charles dedicated all such revenues to care for the poor. In fact, he exhausted his personal fortune feeding 70,000 Milanese each day during the terrible famine of 1576. For young people thinking about their future, St. Charles reminds us that material success is not of primary importance – fidelity to the gospel is.  

But to be faithful, we must be formed in the faith. This was at the heart of St. Charles’ commitment to implement the reforms of the Council of Trent (1545-63), which was called to address the civilizational trauma of the Protestant Reformation. St. Charles believed the scandal of theologically ignorant and morally lax clergy had led to the Reformation. And so, he established the seminary system in Milan, where future priests would be well-educated and well-formed to serve the faithful well and protect them from being led astray. In our age of confusion, something like this is needed for everyone.  

It’s no secret, however, that the culture at most American colleges and universities – including Catholic ones – is toxic to religious faith and the moral formation of students. Therefore, when deciding on a college, families should give serious thought as to whether a particular school offers solid opportunities for students to grow in their relationship with Christ and love for the Church. The faith of a young person can be a delicate thing. St. Charles once wrote to the priests of Milan: “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.” St. Charles was a good father to his priests. Similarly, parents must be mindful of the faith of their children, ensuring they go to a place where they will encounter others who also have that spark within them, that together they might grow into something bigger and hotter, strong enough to spread. 

St. Charles Borromeo’s feast day is Monday, November 4. 

posted 11/2/24