Miracles in the life of Saint Charles Borromeo

He found himself at odds with the Spanish governors of Milan over matters of a jurisdictional and secular nature. He got into some pretty tough confrontations. In one case, it was only through the diplomatic resources of the Pope and Prince Philip II of Spain that a kind of peace and arbitration was executed. But then he had problems with the clerical communities over the same thing, jurisdictional and disciplinary authority. Actually, the canons of the Church forbade him to enter a church. When San Carlos did not agree and persisted in his right to make an episcopal visit to the Church, the soldiers of one of the Spanish dukes, the Duke of Albuquerque, shot him with a musket. Thank God for the soldier’s poor aim, or for the lack of precision of the firearms, or for the intervention of the Angels, but San Carlos was not hit. However, the Crucifix he was holding was dented.

In another separate situation, St. Charles was at home, praying with his family members, when he was shot at point blank range by a hit man, it could only have been the wings of the Angels that caused the bullet to fire. brush it lightly. Civil authorities hanged the alleged murderer. We are not sure if he was a punishment for the crime committed or for not having successfully completed the task he had been entrusted with and paid for.

In any case, it became very obvious to the powers that be that this was a man to be reckoned with. He wasn’t about to back down on anything, when it came to his Church and his God. Furthermore, his reputation grew outside the diocese of Milan as well. He began to make apostolic trips to other dioceses, such as Brescia, Cremona and Bergamo, all east of Milan. He made mission trips to the Italian and German Alps to bring the Word of God to many who fell victim to the widespread lies of Protestantism. Furthermore, in some of these areas that had never had anyone there to minister to them, witchcraft and sorcery were also prevalent. You must remember that this time was when the greatest spread of Calvinism took place. On his trips to Switzerland, he discovered that although John Calvin had died before that time, his heresies were firmly rooted there. Saint Charles took his life into his hands to evangelize there, but he did it!

Saint Charles Borromeo was considered slow in speech and gait, from what we can deduce, yet he ran all his life. He was burned at a young age, forty-six years old. He was in retirement, when he fell ill with a fever at the end of October 1584. He was carried back to Milan in a litter. Within three days, he was dead. We believe that he had done everything the Lord wanted him to accomplish in a very short period of time. Twenty-six years after his death, in 1610, he was canonized by Pope Paul V.

The life of San Carlos was one of great spirituality and dedication to the Church. There were no apparitions of which we are aware, nor stigmata. He was just a solid worker in the Vineyard of the Lord. There were many miracles during his life and also obviously due to the intercession of San Carlos Borromeo. The most powerful miracles were those of changing the hearts of men, of defending the Truths of our Church and of producing radical reforms in our Church. He was a man of great wealth, who used his wealth to benefit those less fortunate than himself. He was very focused on bringing God’s people back into the fold, especially those of his beloved Archdiocese of Milan.

Saint Charles Borromeo was a majestic role model, a very special role model, a role model for bishops and cardinals. Everyone needs role models! But especially those in authority who have been entrusted by God to shepherd his children. They are responsible; because to the extent that we have been hurt, to that extent we are responsible. Possibly more than anyone, the bishops and cardinals need our prayers. Pray to San Carlos Borromeo for his intercession for your bishop or cardinal. He was above all a prelate and Defender of the Church. Now, like a saint in heaven, he prays for his fellow bishops who are called to take up the torch from him and defend the faith.

Dear bishops of the world, your dear brother bishop and cardinal did not give in to the pressures of the day. He fought against the stresses of his day; if it was not the secular government that disputed his jurisdiction, it was the priesthood that confronted him for the disciplinary actions he imposed, especially those who complained that the Church’s teaching on Jesus was outdated in his day. He did not bring the Church and its wonderful traditions down to the levels perceived by the people. He showed people how they could rise to the levels of Christ. He did not allow his clergy to give in to the carnal desires so accepted at that time.

Although St. Charles found himself right in the middle of a church, influenced by pagan humanism and the secular humanism of the Renaissance, he did not capitulate. No, Saint Charles brought his clergy to the level of Jesus, in Whose Name they were ministering to the world. The laity, the street people, the beggars, the marginalized and disenfranchised, valued themselves, not because Jesus descended to their level, not because they worshiped one another, but because they rose with their boots to the level to which They were called. for the Sacrifice of his Redeemer, that of giving his life for them and for us.