Friends at Court.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 44, 1 November 1900, Page 7

Friends at Court.

GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR

(Written for the N.Z. Tarlet.) November 4, Sunday. — Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost. Bt. Charles Korronieo, Bishop aud Confessor. „ 5, Monday. — St. John before the Latin Gate. „ 6, iuesuay. — csv Leu Ike Gicut. P^pc, Ccnfc Q eor i"^ Doctor. „ 7, Wednesday. — at Analem, BioaOp, Confessor zvA Doctor. „ 8, Thursday.— Octave All Saints. St. Willihad, Bishop and Confessor. „ 9, Friday. — Dedication of the Church of Oar Saviour. „ 10, Saturday.— St. Andrew Avellino, Confessor.

ST. CHABLES BORROMEO, CARDINAL ARCHBIi»HOP 01' MILAN. In A.D. 1538, at the Castle of Arona on the shores of the Lago Maggoire, was born a child of the noble family of Borromeo who was destined to render important services to the Church of God. This was St. Charles, the illustrious Archbishop of Milan, who is so well known for the heroic charity with which he ministered to the wants of the sick and dying during a terrible pestilence which ravaged his episcopal city Imbued with the moßt tender piety from his infancy, the young nobleman embraced the ecclesiastical state at a very early age, and followed the usual course of sacred studies at the universities of Milan and Pavia. t-oon after his father's death, which tnok place when he had reached the age of 20, he was raised by his uncle Pope Pius IV. to the archiepiscopal See of Milan, though at that time he had not yet received priestly orders. To this dignity was shortly afterwards added that of Cardinal so great was the opinion which the Pontiff entertained of his prudence and piety. For some years the Pope kept him by his aide, and consulted him on the most important affairs of the Church, employing him at the same time in various responsible offices. llu assisted at the closing sessions of the Council of Trent, which was brought to a happy termination principally by his unwearied efforts, combined with his singular tact and prudence. lie was also entrusted with the carrying out of many of the decrees of that august assembly, which were directed towards the preservation of the purity of the Faith, the restoration of ecclesiastical discipline, and the general reformation of manners. During the five years that Charles resided at Rome he gov< rned his see by means of a suffragan bit-hop and a \icar-general. to whom he wrote weekly letters e\pre-Mve.i>t his ardent zeal for the sanctification of his flock. Perot mug, however, that his continuid absence from his diocese was an obstacle to the carrying out of the reforms which he contemplated, ho solicited permission from his uncle to withdraw from his court, a f.uor which was at length reluctantly granted. L r pon hi* return to .Milan he began the work of reformation by the holding of diocesan and provincial councils, in which ho published numerous decrees for the regulation of tho lives of the clergy and religious, the devout administration of the Sacraments, and the careful instruction of the people. St. Charles was, in fact, the great reformer of his age, for the pro -eedings of the synods and the manner of his parochial visitations became the model t>y which many bishops in Italy and other countries strove to guide themselves in the government of their dioceses. To s cure a hupply of competent and worthy pastors he founded many seminaries and with the same view instituted a congregation of becular priests living for the most p,irt in community under a certain rule. Fo these be gave the name ot Oblat^s of St Ambrose, but they are now known by the name of their founder, bt. Charles, and are widely spread throughout Christendom. The labors and perils which our S lint encountered in carrying out these reforms, and the hardships which he endured in the vi-it.i-tion of the country parishes of his diocese were almost incredible. But he was supported throughout by his ardent zeal and entire confidence in the Providence ol God. On one occasion, when kneeling before the altar at his private devotions, his life was attempted by an assassin, who fired at him at a distance of six paces. The ball struck him in the back, but by the Divine interposition did not penetrate beyond his. rochet. At the sound of the discharge tho people rose in consternation, but the Saint, after making them a sign to continue kneeling, quietly resumed his prayers, The murderer escaped for the moment, but was afterwards apprehended and executed along with his accomplices, in bpite of all that our Saint could do to obtain their pardon. In A.D. I,'j7G a terrible pestilence broke out in the city of Milan, which raged for sir months and carried oft a great part of the inhabitants. All the magistrates and principal citizens fled into the country, but St. Charles, assisted by a band of devoted priests, remained in the midst of the infected city, visiting, nursintr, and administering the Sacraments to the sick and dying, iburying the dead, and encouraging the terror-stricken survivors. Some years later, feeling his end approach, he retired into solitude to prepare for death. During his retreat he was seized with a tertian ague, which gradually gained upon him. He received the Holy Sacraments with great devotion, and with these words, ' Behold I come,' upon his lips, happily expired on the night of November ,S, in the 17th year of his age and the 2,3 th of his episcopate. His body ia still preserved in a magnificent shrine in the Cathedral of Milan.