Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

A Shepherd Who Stayed

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, a man who lived during a very difficult time in the life of the Church and who gave his whole heart to serving God and His people. He was born into a wealthy and noble family in Italy in the 1500s, but instead of using his position for personal gain, he chose to dedicate his life to the Church.

Charles became a bishop at a young age, and he saw that many people, including some priests and leaders, had grown careless in their faith. He worked hard to bring people back to God, encouraging prayer, teaching the truth of the Gospel, and helping priests to grow in holiness. He believed that the Church needed to be a place where people could truly encounter Christ, and he gave everything he had to make that happen.

One of the most powerful examples of his love was during a terrible plague that struck the city of Milan. While many people with wealth and power fled the city to save themselves, Charles stayed. He organized care for the sick, made sure the hungry were fed, and even walked through the streets himself, comforting the dying and praying with them. He didn’t just talk about faith — he lived it, even when it was difficult, even when it was dangerous.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that true greatness comes through service. Saint Charles understood this deeply. He once said, ‘If we want to make progress in the service of God, we must begin every day with a new determination.’ That’s a good reminder for all of us. We may not be bishops or live through plagues, but each day we are given the chance to serve God — in our families, in our workplaces, in our parishes. Like Saint Charles, we are called to love others, to bring people closer to God, and to live our faith with courage and humility.

So today, let us ask Saint Charles Borromeo to pray for us — that we may have his same love for Jesus, his same desire to serve others, and his same courage to live our faith boldly, no matter the cost.