Charles Borromeo (; ; 2 October 1538 – 3 November 1584) was an

Italian Catholic The Italian Catholic Church, or Catholic Church in Italy, is part of the worldwide Catholic Church in communion with the Pope in Rome, under the Conference of Italian Bishops. The pope serves also as Primate of Italy and Bishop of Rome. In add ...

prelate who served as

Archbishop of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan (; ) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has long maintained its own Latin liturgical rite usage, the Amb ...

from 1564 to 1584. He was made a

cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal most commonly refers to * Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of three species in the family Cardinalidae ***Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'', the common cardinal of ...

in 1560. Borromeo founded the

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) is an association established in Rome in 1562 for the purpose of providing religious education. In modern usage, it refers to the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., which owns the copyright on t ...

and was a leading figure of the

Counter-Reformation The Counter-Reformation (), also sometimes called the Catholic Revival, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to, and as an alternative to or from similar insights as, the Protestant Reformations at the time. It w ...

together with

Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola ( ; ; ; ; born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Basque Spaniard Catholic priest and theologian, who, with six companions, founded the religious order of the S ...

and

Philip Neri Saint Philip Neri , born Filippo Romolo Neri, (22 July 151526 May 1595) was an Italian Catholic priest who founded the Congregation of the Oratory, a society of secular clergy dedicated to pastoral care and charitable work. He is sometimes refe ...

. In that role, he was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of

seminaries A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clerg ...

for the education of priests. He was canonized in 1610 and his

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...

is 4 November.

Early life

Borromeo was a descendant of nobility; the

Borromeo family The House of Borromeo is an Italian noble family. They started as merchants in San Miniato around 1300 and became bankers in Milan after 1370. Vitaliano de' Vitaliani, who acquired the name of Borromeo from his uncle Giovanni, became the count ...

was one of the most ancient and wealthy in

Lombardy The Lombardy Region (; ) is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in northern Italy and has a population of about 10 million people, constituting more than one-sixth of Italy's population. Lombardy is ...

, made famous by several notable men, both in the church and state. The family

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

included the

Borromean rings In mathematics, the Borromean rings are three simple closed curves in three-dimensional space that are link (knot theory), topologically linked and cannot be separated from each other, but that break apart into two unknotted and unlinked loops wh ...

, which are sometimes taken to symbolize the

Holy Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three ...

. Borromeo's father Gilbert was Count of Arona. His mother Margaret was a member of the Milanese branch of the

House of Medici The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo de' Medici, Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first h ...

. The second son in a family of six children, he was born in the castle of Arona on

Lake Maggiore Lake Maggiore (, ; ; ; ; literally 'greater lake') or Verbano (; ) is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland. The lake and its shoreline are divided be ...

36 miles from

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

on 2 October 1538.Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "St. Charles Borromeo". ''Encyclopedia Britannica''
/ref> Borromeo received the

tonsure Tonsure () is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility. The term originates from the Latin word ' (meaning "clipping" or "shearing") and referred to a specific practice in ...

when he was about twelve years old. At this time his paternal uncle Giulio Cesare Borromeo turned over to him the income from the rich

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

abbey of Sts. Gratinian and Felin, one of the ancient perquisites of the family. Borromeo made plain to his father that all revenues from the abbey beyond what was required to prepare him for a career in the church belonged to the poor and could not be applied to secular use. The young man attended the

University of Pavia The University of Pavia (, UNIPV or ''Università di Pavia''; ) is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. There was evidence of teaching as early as 1361, making it one of the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest un ...

, where he applied himself to the study of civil and canon law. Due to a slight speech impediment, he was regarded as slow but his thoroughness and industry meant that he made rapid progress. In 1554 his father died, and although he had an elder brother, Count Federico, he was requested by the family to take the management of their domestic affairs. After a time, he resumed his studies, and on 6 December 1559, he earned a doctorate in canon and civil law.

Period in Rome

On 25 December 1559 Borromeo's uncle Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Medici was elected as

Pope Pius IV Pope Pius IV (; 31 March 1499 – 9 December 1565), born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 December 1559 to his death, in December 1565. Born in Milan, his family considered itself a b ...

. The newly elected pope required his nephew to come to Rome, and on 13 January 1560 appointed him protonotary apostolic. Shortly thereafter, on 31 January 1560, the pope created him

, and thus Borromeo as

cardinal-nephew A cardinal-nephew (; ; ; ; )Signorotto and Visceglia, 2002, p. 114. Modern French scholarly literature uses the term "cardinal-neveu'". was a Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal elevated by a pope who was that cardinal's relative. The practice of c ...

was entrusted with both the public and the privy seal of the ecclesiastical state. He was also brought into the government of the

Papal States The Papal States ( ; ; ), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th c ...

and appointed a supervisor of the

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

Carmelites The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (; abbreviated OCarm), known as the Carmelites or sometimes by synecdoche known simply as Carmel, is a mendicant order in the Catholic Church for both men and women. Histo ...

and

Knights of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, and commonly known as the Order of Malta or the Knights of Malta, is a Catholic Church, Cathol ...

. During his four years in Rome, Borromeo lived in austerity, obliged the

Roman Curia The Roman Curia () comprises the administrative institutions of the Holy See and the central body through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted. The Roman Curia is the institution of which the Roman Pontiff ordinarily makes use ...

to wear black, and established an academy of learned persons, the Academy of the Vatican Knights, publishing their memoirs as the ''Noctes Vaticanae''. Borromeo organized the third and last session of the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent (), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation at the time, it has been described as the "most ...

, in 1562–63. He had a large share in the making of the Tridentine Catechism (''Catechismus Romanus''). In 1561, Borromeo founded and endowed a college at

Pavia Pavia ( , ; ; ; ; ) is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, in Northern Italy, south of Milan on the lower Ticino (river), Ticino near its confluence with the Po (river), Po. It has a population of c. 73,086. The city was a major polit ...

, today known as Almo Collegio Borromeo, which he dedicated to

Justina of Padua Justina of Padua (; ) is a Christian saint and a patroness of the city of Padua. Her feast day is October 7. She was devoted to religion from her earliest years and took the vow of perpetual virginity. When she was brought before Maximian the pr ...

. On 19 November 1562, his older brother, Federico, suddenly died. His family urged Borromeo to seek permission to return to the lay state ( laicization), to marry and have children so that the family name would not become extinct, but he decided not to leave the ecclesiastic state. His brother's death, along with his contacts with the

Jesuits The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

and the

Theatines The Theatines, officially named the Congregation of Clerics Regular (; abbreviated CR), is a Catholic order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men founded by Archbishop Gian Pietro Carafa on 14 September 1524. Foundation The order wa ...

and the example of bishops such as

Bartholomew of Braga Bartholomew of Braga (3 May 1514 – 16 July 1590), born Bartolomeu Fernandes and in religious Bartolomeu dos Mártires, was a Portuguese Catholic and a professed member from the Order of Preachers as well as the Archbishop Emeritus of Braga. Fe ...

, were the causes of the conversion of Borromeo towards a more strict and operative Christian life, and his aim became to put into practice the dignity and duties of the bishop as drafted by the recent Council of Trent.

Archbishop of Milan

Borromeo was appointed the administrator of the

Archdiocese of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan (; ) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has long maintained its own Latin liturgical rite usage, the Ambr ...

on 7 February 1560. To this end, he was ordained a

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian denominations, such as the Cathol ...

on 21 December of that same year. After his decision to stay in the service of the Church, he was ordained a

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

(4 September 1563) and on 7 December 1563 he was consecrated as a

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

in the

Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel ( ; ; ) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the ''Cappella Magna'' ('Great Chapel'), it takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and ...

by Cardinal Giovanni Serbelloni. Borromeo was formally appointed

archbishop of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan (; ) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has long maintained its own Latin liturgical rite usage, the Amb ...

on 12 May 1564, after the former archbishop

Ippolito II d'Este Ippolito (II) d'Este (25 August 1509 – 2 December 1572) was an Italian cardinal (Catholic), cardinal and statesman. He was a member of the House of Este, and nephew of the other Ippolito d'Este, also a cardinal. He despoiled the then 1,400-year ...

waived his claims on that archbishopric, but he was only allowed by the pope to leave Rome one year later. Borromeo made his formal entry into Milan as archbishop on 23 September 1565.

Reform in Milan

After the death of his uncle, Pius IV (1566), Borromeo sent a galley to fetch Cardinal Ugo Boncompagni, the Nuncio in Spain, but he did not arrive in time to be considered at the conclave. Borromeo then reached an agreement with Alessandro Farnese, who held a significant number of votes, to support Antonio Ghislieri, who was rumored to have the support of

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

. Ghislieri was elected and took the name Pius V. Before Borromeo went to Milan, while he was overseeing reform in Rome, a nobleman remarked that the latter city was no longer a place to enjoy oneself or to make a fortune. "Carlo Borromeo has undertaken to remake the city from top to bottom," he said, predicting that the reformer's enthusiasm "would lead him to correct the rest of the world once he has finished with Rome." Subsequently, he devoted himself to the reformation of his diocese which had deteriorated in practice owing to the 80-year absence of previous archbishops."Saint Charles Borromeo"
''Catholic Online'', accessed 14 Dec 2008 Milan was the largest archdiocese in Italy at the time, with more than 3,000 clergy and 800,000 people. Both its clergy and laity had drifted from church teaching. The selling of indulgences and ecclesiastical positions was prevalent; monasteries were "full of disorder"; many religious were "lazy, ignorant, and debauched".Swetnam, Susan H., ''My Best Teachers Were Saints'', Loyola Press
/ref> Borromeo made numerous pastoral visits and restored dignity to divine service. He urged churches to be designed in conformity with the decrees of the

, which stated that sacred art and architecture lacking adequate scriptural foundation was in effect prohibited, as was any inclusion of classical pagan elements in religious art.Blunt, Anthony, Artistic Theory in Italy, 1450–1660, chapter VIII, especially pp. 107–128, 1940 (refs to 1985 edn), OUP, He divided the nave of the church into two compartments to separate the sexes at worship. He extended his reforms to the collegiate churches, monasteries and even to the

Confraternities of Penitents Confraternities of penitents (; ; ) are Christian religious congregations, with statutes prescribing various penitential works; they are especially popular in the Catholic Church. Members of the confraternities of penitents practice mortificati ...

, particularly that of

St. John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...

. This group was to attend to prisoners and those condemned to death, to give them help and support. Borromeo believed that abuses in the church arose from ignorant clergy. Among his most important actions, he established seminaries, colleges, and communities for the education of candidates for holy orders. His emphasis on Catholic learning greatly increased the preparation of men for the priesthood and benefited their congregations. In addition, he founded the fraternity of

Oblates In Christianity (specifically the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist traditions), an oblate is a person associated with a Benedictine monastery or convent who is specifically dedicated to God and service. Oblates are i ...

of St. Ambrose, a society of secular men who did not take orders, but devoted themselves to the church and followed a discipline of monastic prayers and study. They provided assistance to parishes when so directed. The new archbishop's efforts for catechesis and the instruction of youth included the initiation of the first "Sunday School" classes and the work of the Confraternity for Christian Doctrine. Borromeo's diocesan reforms faced opposition from several religious orders, particularly that of the

Humiliati The Humiliati (Italian ) were an Italian religious order of men formed probably in the 12th century. It was suppressed by a papal bull in 1571 though an associated order of women continued into the 20th century. Origin The origin of the order of ...

(Brothers of Humility), a penitential order which, although reduced to about 170 members, owned some ninety monasteries. Some members of that society formed a conspiracy against his life, and a shot was fired at him with an

arquebus An arquebus ( ) is a form of long gun that appeared in Europe and the Ottoman Empire during the 15th century. An infantryman armed with an arquebus is called an arquebusier. The term ''arquebus'' was applied to many different forms of firearms ...

in the archepiscopal chapel. His survival was considered miraculous. In 1576 there was famine at Milan due to crop failures, and later an outbreak of the plague. The city's trade fell off, and along with it the people's source of income. The Governor and many members of the nobility fled the city, but the bishop remained, to organize the care of those affected and to minister to the dying. He called together the superiors of all the religious communities in the diocese and won their cooperation. Borromeo tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. He used up his own funds and went into debt to provide food for the hungry. Finally, he wrote to the Governor and successfully persuaded him to return.

Influence on English affairs

Borromeo had also been involved in English affairs when he assisted Pius IV. Many English Catholics had fled to Italy at this time because of the persecutions under

Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...

. He gave pastoral attention to English Catholics who fled to Italy to escape the new laws against the Catholic faith.

Edmund Campion Edmund Campion, SJ (25 January 15401 December 1581) was an English Jesuit priest and martyr. While conducting an underground ministry in officially Anglican England, Campion was arrested by priest hunters. Convicted of high treason, he was ...

, a Jesuit, and Ralph Sherwin visited him at Milan in 1580 on their way to England. They stayed with him for eight days, talking with him every night after dinner. A Welshman, Grudfydd Robert, served as his canon theologian and an Englishman,

Thomas Goldwell Thomas Goldwell C. R. (15013 April 1585) was an English Catholic clergyman, Bishop of Saint Asaph, the last of those Catholic bishops who had refused to accept the English Reformation. Life Thomas Goldwell was the son of William Goldwell of Gr ...

, as vicar-general. The archbishop carried on his person a small picture of

John Fisher John Fisher (c. 19 October 1469 – 22 June 1535) was an English Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Rochester from 1504 to 1535 and as chancellor of the University of Cambridge. He is honoured as a martyr and saint by the Catholic Chu ...

, who with

Thomas More Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, theologian, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VII ...

had been executed during the reign of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

and for whom he held a great veneration. During the 19th century Catholic restoration in England,

Nicholas Wiseman Nicholas Patrick Stephen Wiseman (3 August 1802 – 15 February 1865) was an English Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Westminster upon the re-establishment of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales in 1 ...

was to institute an order of Oblates of St Charles, led by

Henry Edward Manning Henry Edward Manning (15 July 1808 – 14 January 1892) was an English prelate of the Catholic Church, and the second Archbishop of Westminster from 1865 until his death in 1892. He was ordained in the Church of England as a young man, but co ...

, as a congregation of secular priests directly supporting the Archbishop of Westminster.

Persecution of religious dissidents

Though the Diet of

Ilanz Ilanz () is a former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Surselva (district), Surselva in the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of the Grisons. The former municipality of Ilanz was congruent with the town ...

of 1524 and 1526 had proclaimed freedom of worship in the

Three Leagues The Three Leagues, sometimes referred to as Raetia, was the 1471 alliance between the League of God's House, the League of the Ten Jurisdictions, and the Grey League. Its members were all Swiss Associates, associates of the Old Swiss Confederacy, ...

, Borromeo repressed Protestantism in the Swiss valleys. The Catholic Encyclopedia relates: "In November

583 __NOTOC__ Year 583 ( DLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 583 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Eur ...

he began a visitation as Apostolic visitor of all the cantons of

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

and the

Grisons The Grisons (; ) or Graubünden (),Names include: * ; *Romansh language, Romansh: ** ** ** ** ** **; * ; * ; * . See also list of European regions with alternative names#G, other names. more formally the Canton of the Grisons or the Canton ...

, leaving the affairs of his diocese in the hands of Monsignor Owen Lewis, his vicar-general. He began in the

Valle Mesolcina The ''Valle Mesolcina'', also known as the ''Val Mesolcina'' or ''Misox'' (German), is an Swiss Alps, alpine valley of the Grisons, Switzerland, stretching from the San Bernardino Pass to Grono, Switzerland, Grono where it joins the Val Calanca, C ...

; here not only was there heresy to be fought, but also witchcraft and sorcery, and at

Roveredo Roveredo is a municipality in the Moesa Region in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. Geography Roveredo has an area, , of . Of this area, 8.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 75% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 3.1% i ...

it was discovered that 'the provost or rector, was the foremost in sorceries'". During his pastoral visit to the region, 150 people were arrested for practicing witchcraft. Eleven women and the provost were condemned by the civil authorities to be burned alive. Reacting to the pressure of the

Protestant Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the papacy and ...

, Borromeo encouraged

Ludwig Pfyffer Ludwig Pfyffer von Altishofen (Lucerne, 1524 – Lucerne, 17 March 1594) was a Swiss military and political leader, spokesman for Roman Catholic interests in the cantons, chief magistrate of Lucerne, and probably the most important Swiss political ...

in his development of the "Golden League" but did not live to see its formation in 1586. Based in

Lucerne Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...

, the organization (also called the Borromean League) linked activities of several Swiss Catholic cantons of

, which became the centre of Catholic Counter-Reformation efforts and was determined to expel heretics. It created severe strains in the Swiss civil administration and caused the break-up of

Appenzell Appenzell () was a cantons of Switzerland, canton in the northeast of Switzerland, and entirely surrounded by the canton of St. Gallen, in existence from 1403 to 1597. Appenzell became independent of the Abbey of Saint Gall in 1403 and entered ...

canton along religious lines.

Controversy and last days

Charged with implementing the reforms dictated by the Council of Trent, Borromeo's uncompromising stance brought him into conflict with secular leaders, priests, and even the Pope. He met with much opposition to his reforms. The governor of the province and many of the senators addressed complaints to the courts of

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

and

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

. In 1584, during his annual retreat at Monte Varallo, he fell ill with "intermittent fever and ague", and on returning to Milan grew rapidly worse. After receiving the

last rites The last rites, also known as the Commendation of the Dying, are the last prayers and ministrations given to an individual of Christian faith, when possible, shortly before death. The Commendation of the Dying is practiced in liturgical Chri ...

, he quietly died on 3 November at the age of 46.

Veneration

Following his death, popular devotion to Borromeo arose quickly and continued to grow. The Milanese celebrated his anniversary as though he were already a saint, and supporters in a number of cities collected documentation to support his

canonization Canonization is the declaration of a deceased person as an officially recognized saint, specifically, the official act of a Christianity, Christian communion declaring a person worthy of public veneration and entering their name in the canon ca ...

. In 1602

Clement VIII Pope Clement VIII (; ; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 30 January 1592 to his death in March 1605. Born in Fano, Papal States to a prominen ...

beatified Beatification (from Latin , "blessed" and , "to make") is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. ''Beati'' is the ...

Borromeo. In 1604 his case was sent to the

Congregation of Rites The Sacred Congregation of Rites was a congregation of the Roman Curia, erected on 22 January 1588 by Pope Sixtus V by ''Immensa Aeterni Dei''; it was divided into two separate congregations by Pope Paul VI on 8 May 1969. The Congregation was cha ...

. On 1 November 1610,

Pope Paul V Pope Paul V (; ) (17 September 1552 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death, in January 1621. In 1611, he honored Galileo Galilei as a mem ...

canonized Borromeo. Three years later, the church added his feast to the

General Roman Calendar The General Roman Calendar (GRC) is the liturgy, liturgical calendar that indicates the dates of celebrations of saints and Sacred mysteries, mysteries of the Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, wherever this liturgic ...

for celebration on 4 November. Along with Guarinus of Palestrina and perhaps

Anselm of Lucca Anselm of Lucca (; ; 1036 – 18 March 1086), born Anselm of Baggio ('), was a medieval bishop of Lucca in Italy and a prominent figure in the Investiture Controversy amid the fighting in central Italy between Matilda, countess of Tuscan ...

, he is one of only two or three

s to have been canonized. Charles Borromeo is the patron saint of bishops, catechists and seminarians.

Iconography

Borromeo's emblem is the Latin word ''humilitas'' (humility), which is a portion of the Borromeo shield. He is usually represented in art in his robes, barefoot, carrying the cross as archbishop, a rope around his neck, one hand raised in blessing, thus recalling his work during the plague.

Sources

Borromeo' biography was originally written by three of his contemporaries: Agostino Valerio (afterwards cardinal and Bishop of Verona) and Carlo Bascape (General of the

Barnabites The Barnabites (), officially named as the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (), are a religious order of clerics regular founded in 1530 in the Catholic Church. They are associated with the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul and the members of the Ba ...

, afterwards Bishop of Novara), who wrote their contributions in Latin, and Pietro Giussanno (a priest), who wrote his in Italian. Giussanno's account was the most detailed of the three.

Legacy

Borromeo's correspondence shows his influential position in Europe during his lifetime. The popes under whom he served sought his advice. The Catholic sovereigns of Europe –

Henry III of France Henry III (; ; ; 19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589) was King of France from 1574 until his assassination in 1589, as well as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575. As the fourth son of King Henry II of France, he ...

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

– and others showed how they valued his influence. Cardinal Valerio of Verona said of him that Borromeo was "to the well-born a pattern of virtue, to his brother cardinals an example of true nobility."

Cardinal Baronius Cesare Baronio, C.O. (as an author also known as Caesar Baronius; 30 August 1538 – 30 June 1607) was an Italian Oratorian, cardinal and historian of the Catholic Church. His best-known works are his ''Annales Ecclesiastici'' ("Ecclesiast ...

styled him "a second

Ambrose Ambrose of Milan (; 4 April 397), venerated as Saint Ambrose, was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promoting Roman Christianity against Ari ...

, whose early death, lamented by all good men, inflicted great loss on the Church." Late in the sixteenth or at the beginning of the seventeenth century, Catholics in England circulated among themselves a "Life of St. Charles".Giussano, G.P., ''Vita di S. Carlo Borromeo'' (1610, England, HE Manning, ed., reprinted, London: 1884)

Monuments

* Contrary to Borromeo's last wishes, the

Duomo di Milano Milan Cathedral ( ; ), or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary (), is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary (), it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Archbi ...

created a memorial crypt to honour him at the church. * His relative

Federico Borromeo Federico Borromeo (; 18 August 1564 – 21 September 1631) was an Italian cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan, Archbishop of Milan, and prominent figure of the Counter-Reformation in Italy. His acts of charity, ...

and admirers commissioned a statue 20 m high that was erected on the hill above Arona, as they regarded him an important leader of the Counter-Reformation.

Writings

* Besides the ''Noctes Vaticanae'', to which he appeared to have contributed, Borromeo's written legacy consisted only of some homilies, discourses and sermons, with a collection of letters. Borromeo's sermons have been translated into many languages.

Music

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'' ''H.146, Marche en rondeau''. This theme is st ...

composed a motet, ''Pestis Mediolanensis'', commemorating Borromeo's work during the plague of 1576.

Churches

A large number of churches dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo exist, including:

Europe

Karlskirche The Karlskirche (English: Charles Church) is a Baroque architecture, Baroque church in the Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria. The church is dedicated to Charles Borromeo, Saint Charles Borromeo, a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation.Brook 201 ...

, Vienna, Austria * St Charles Borromeo Church, Sheffield * St Charles Borromeo Church,

Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull, usually shortened to Hull, is a historic maritime city and unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Est ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

* St. Charles Borromeo RC Church, Hampton Magna, England * St. Charles Borromeo RC Church, Aigburth, Liverpool, England * Our Lady and St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Wisbech, England * St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Oratory, North Kelvinside, Glasgow, Scotland *

St. Charles Borromeo Church, Antwerp St. Charles Borromeo Church () is a Roman Catholic church in central Antwerp, Belgium, located on the Hendrik Conscienceplein. It was built in 1615–1621 as the Jesuit church of Antwerp, which was closed in 1773. It was rededicated in 1779 to Sai ...

, Belgium *

San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane The church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (Saint Charles at the Four Fountains), also called , is a Roman Catholic church in Rome, Italy. The church was designed by the architect Francesco Borromini and it was his first independent commission. ...

, Rome, Italy * St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Pancevo, Vojvodina, Serbia * Church of St. Charles Borromeo (Warsaw, Poland) * Chiesa San Carlo Borromeo, Biasca, Ticino, Switzerland * St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church, Vienna * St. Charles Borromeo Church,

Leixlip Leixlip ( or ; , ) is a town in north-east County Kildare, Ireland. Its location on the confluence of the River Liffey and the Rye Water has marked it as a frontier town historically: on the border between the ancient kingdoms of Leinster and ...

, Ireland

North America

* St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Peru, Indiana * Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Grand Coteau, Louisiana * St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée) Joliette Quebec Canada * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Fermeuse, Newfoundland, Canada * Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Read, Ontario, Canada * Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, North Hollywood, California * St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Visalia, California * Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, California *

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo (English language, English: The Mission of Saint Charles Borromeo of the Carmel River), first built in 1797, is one of the Conservation and restoration of immovable cultural property, most authentica ...

, California * St. Charles Borromeo Parish Church, Sacramento, California * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and Academy (Pt. Loma, California) * St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Port Charlotte, Florida * St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Hampshire, Illinois *

St. Charles Borromeo Church (Destrehan, Louisiana) St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church is a Catholic church and second-oldest ecclesiastical parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The church and grounds are located at 13396 River Road in Destrehan, Louisiana. Early ecclesiastical parish his ...

* St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brooklyn New York * St. Charles Borromeo Church (New York City), New York * St. Charles's Church (Staten Island, New York) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (

Nederland, Texas Nederland ( ) is a city in Jefferson County, Texas, Jefferson County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,856 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city was settled in 1897 along what became Boston Avenue and was incorporated ...

) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Charles, Missouri * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Oakes, North Dakota) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Kettering, Ohio) * St. Charles Borromeo (Lima, Ohio) * St. Charles Borromeo Church (Parma, Ohio) * The neighborhood of Pointe-Saint-Charles * St. Charles Borromeo (South Charleston, Ohio) * St. Charles Borromeo in Pikesville, Maryland * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Pittsfield, MA) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Woburn, Massachusetts) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (

Picayune, Mississippi Picayune ( ) is the largest city in Pearl River County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 11,885 at the 2020 census. The city is located approximately from New Orleans, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport–Biloxi. The Stennis Space Cen ...

) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Gretna, Nebraska) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Skillman, New Jersey) * St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Greece, New York * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Syracuse, New York) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Ahoskie, North Carolina) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Morganton, North Carolina) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania) * St Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church ( Fermeuse, Newfoundland and Labrador) * St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, est. 1846, Woonsocket, Rhode Island * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (

Milan, Indiana Milan ( ) is a town in Franklin Township, Ripley County, Indiana, Franklin and Washington Township, Ripley County, Indiana, Washington townships, Ripley County, Indiana, Ripley County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,899 at the ...

), in Ripley County * St. Charles Church (Arlington, Virginia) * St. Charles Parish, Spokane, Washington * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Oklahoma City, OK) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Du Bois, Illinois) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Meredith, NH) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Kingsland, TX) * St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Philadelphia, Pa) * Parroquia San Carlos Borromeo (Aguadilla, PR)

South America

* Cathedral of San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina * St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral, São Carlos, Brazil * Cathedral Basilica of San Carlos Borromeo (Puno), Peru * San Carlos Borromeo, San Carlos, Uruguay * Cathedral of San Carlos (Cojedes), Venezuela * Church of Chonchi, Chiloé, Chile (UNESCO

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

)

Seminaries

* St Charles Borromeo Seminary of the Archdiocese of Košice, in

Košice Košice is the largest city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary. With a population of approximately 230,000, Košice is the second-largest cit ...

, Slovakia * St. Charles Borromeo Seminary of the

Archdiocese of Philadelphia The Archdiocese of Philadelphia () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia originally included all of Pennsylvania and Dela ...

, Pennsylvania, United States *

San Carlos Seminary The Royal and Conciliar San Carlos Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila. It was established in the year 1702, by decree of King Philip V of Spain. At present, the institution houses seminarians belonging to various ...

of the

Archdiocese of Manila In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

Makati Makati ( ; ), officially the City of Makati (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, known for being one of the leading financial centers in the country. As of 2013, the city has the highest concent ...

, Philippines *

Colegio San Carlos Colegio San Carlos is an all-male, private, bilingual (Spanish and English) school in Bogotá, Colombia. The school has been recognized as one of the sources of many national leaders. The school works under the auspice of the local Roman Catholi ...

, a recognized primary and secondary school in

Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...

, Colombia, and home for a Benedictine community of priests * Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibanda in Rwanda * St Charles' Seminary in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, Australia * Borromeo Seminary in

Wickliffe, Ohio Wickliffe is a city in western Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,652 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. A suburb of Cleveland, it is part of the Greater Cleveland, Cleveland metropolitan area. History A post offi ...

* St. Charles Seminary in

Carthagena, Ohio Carthagena ( ) is an unincorporated community in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. Established by African Americans, it was home to an agricultural and industrial boarding school for African American and Indian orphans. It is located at and h ...

, now a retirement home * St. Charles Seminary (Staten Island, New York), closed and slated for private homes *St. Charles Seminary (SVD), Goden Rock, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India *St Charles Borromeo Minor Seminary Senior High School, Tamale, Ghana

Other

* His nephew,

(1564–1631), was archbishop of Milan from 1595 and founded the

Ambrosian Library The Biblioteca Ambrosiana is a historic library in Milan, Italy, also housing the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the Ambrosian art gallery. Named after Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan, it was founded in 1609 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, whose agen ...

in that city. He donated his collection of art and literature to the library. He appeared as a character in

Alessandro Manzoni Alessandro Francesco Tommaso Antonio Manzoni (, , ; 7 March 1785 – 22 May 1873) was an Italian poet, novelist and philosopher. He is famous for the novel ''The Betrothed (Manzoni novel), The Betrothed'' (orig. ) (1827), generally ranked among ...

's novel '' The Betrothed'' (''I promessi sposi''). * Sint. Carolus hospital, first Catholic hospital in Indonesia founded by Perkumpulan Perhimpunan St. Carolus Vereeniging (PPSC). It is managed by Kongregasi Suster-Suster Cinta Kasih St. Carolus Borromeus ( Sisters of Mercy of St. Borromeo) since its foundation in 1913. * Borromeo was crucial in furthering the career of composer Orfeo Vecchi. * Borromeo is one of four people mentioned at the beginning of the

Catechism of the Catholic Church The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' (; commonly called the ''Catechism'' or the ''CCC'') is a reference work that summarizes the Catholic Church's doctrine. It was Promulgation (Catholic canon law), promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992 ...

, as responsible for the Council of Trent, which gave way to the modern-day catechism. The others are

Peter Canisius Peter Canisius (; 8 May 1521 – 21 December 1597) was a Dutch Jesuit priest known for his strong support for the Catholic faith during the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Switzerland and the British Isles. The ...

Turibius of Mongrovejo Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo (16 November 1538 – 23 March 1606) was a Catholic Church in Spain, Spanish Catholic prelate who served as Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima, Archbishop of Lima from 1579 until his death. He first studied in the ...

and

Robert Bellarmine Robert Bellarmine (; ; 4 October 1542 – 17 September 1621) was an Italian Jesuit and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was canonized a saint in 1930 and named Doctor of the Church, one of only 37. He was one of the most important figure ...

. *

Saint Charles Preparatory School Saint Charles Preparatory School is a four-year Catholic College-preparatory school, college preparatory school in Columbus, Ohio, US. It was founded in 1923 by the fourth bishop of Columbus, James Joseph Hartley, James J. Hartley, as a Roman Cat ...

, a former college seminary now a four-year Catholic college preparatory school in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...

Lewis University Lewis University is a private Lasallian university in Romeoville, Illinois, United States. It enrolls around 6,600 students in more than 80 undergraduate programs, 35 graduate programs, and accelerated programs for working adults. It is al ...

, a Catholic and Lasallian University, St. Charles Borromeo North Campus *

St. Charles, Missouri Saint Charles (commonly abbreviated St. Charles) is a city in, and the county seat of, St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 70,493 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making St. Charles the List of cities in ...

* St. Charles, Illinois * St. Charles, Minnesota *

São Carlos São Carlos (Saint Charles, in English, ; named after Charles Borromeo, Saint Charles Borromeo) is a Brazilian city and municipality in the Interior of São Paulo, interior of the state of São Paulo, 254 kilometers from the city of São Paulo. ...

, Brazil * Saint-Charles-Borromée, Quebec, Canada * St. Charles Academy in

San Carlos City, Pangasinan San Carlos, officially the City of San Carlos (; ; ), is a component city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 205,424 people. It is the most populated city in Pangasinan and the enti ...

, Philippines * The San Carlos de Borromeo Fortress on Margarita Island, state of Nueva Esparta, Venezuela, completed in 1684, intended to help protect settlements in the Bay of Pampatar area against the constant threat of piracy *

University of San Carlos The University of San Carlos (USC or colloquially San Carlos) is a private, Catholic, research, coeducational basic and higher education institution administered by the Philippine Southern Province of the Society of the Divine Word missionarie ...

Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu, is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 964,169 people, making ...

, PhilippinesUniversity of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines Official Site
/ref> *

Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala The Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC, ''University of San Carlos of Guatemala'') is the largest and oldest university of Guatemala; it is also the fourth founded in the Americas. Established in the Kingdom of Guatemala during the Spa ...

Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...

, originally named "Royal and Pontifical University of San Carlos Borromeo"

References

Sources

* * * A Sala, ''Documenti circa la vita e la gesta di Borromeo'' (4 vols., Milan: 1857–1859) * Chanoine Silvain, ''Histoire de St Charles Borromeo'' (Milan: 1884) * A Cantono, "Un grande riformatore del secolo XVI" (Florence: 1904); "Borromus" in Herzog-Hauck, ''Realencyklopädie'' (Leipzig: 1897).

External links

Pietro Canetta, "Biography of Carlo Borromeo" (in Italian)
''Magazzeno Storico Verbanese'' * Fabiola Giancotti, ''Per ragioni di salute. San Carlo Borromeo nel quarto centenario della canonizzazione 1610-2010'',
Spirali
2010)

* Saint Charles Borromeo,
Aphorisms 1561-1584
', ,

2012) *
Epistolario di San Carlo
Digital edition of the manuscript and letters of Carlo Borromeo
Website of St Charles Church,Volders in Tirol

Birgit Heß-Kickert: Architekturtheorie der italienischen Renaissance. Die Instructiones fabricae et supellectilis ecclesiasticae des Carlo Borromeo. Saarbrücken, 1999
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borromeo, Carlo 1538 births 1584 deaths People from Arona, Piedmont

Carlo Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: *Carlo (name) *Monte Carlo *Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince Char ...

16th-century Italian cardinals Archbishops of Milan 16th-century Italian Roman Catholic archbishops Participants in the Council of Trent São Carlos Cardinal-nephews Burials at Milan Cathedral Cardinal Secretaries of State Members of the Sacred Congregation of the Council Major Penitentiaries of the Apostolic Penitentiary Incorrupt saints University of Pavia alumni Witch hunters Witch trials in Italy