Your beauty ... should be that of your inner self,
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God's sight. - I Peter 3: 3,4
“Would you
like me to teach you how to grow from virtue to virtue and how, if you are
already recollected at prayer, you can be even more attentive next time, and so
give God more pleasing worship? Listen, and I will tell you.
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. In other words, avoid distractions as well as you
can.
Stay quiet
with God.
Do not
spend your time in useless
chatter.”
St. Charles Borromeo
Italy ~ 1534-1584
Archbishop
of Milan, Cardinal
Towering
figure of the Catholic Reformation
Key player - Council of Trent
Lived life of great humility and austerity,
always striving for holiness
Patron saint of catechists and seminarians
Key player - Council of Trent
Lived life of great humility and austerity,
always striving for holiness
Patron saint of catechists and seminarians
FEAST
DAY - November 4
Painting above: Grenville Manton (1855-1932): "Jesus, mi Senor, mi Dios"
Painting above: Grenville Manton (1855-1932): "Jesus, mi Senor, mi Dios"
St
Charles Borromeo offers some wise and beautiful words to Seminarians and Priests
(and others can 'listen in' and merit too):
"My brothers, you must realize
that for us churchmen nothing is more necessary than
meditation. We must
meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: I will pray, and then I will
understand. When you administer the sacraments, meditate on what you are
doing. When you celebrate Mass, reflect on the sacrifice you are offering. When
you pray the Office, think about the words you are saying and the Lord to whom
you are speaking. When you take care of your people, meditate on the Lord's
blood that has washed them clean. In this way, all you do becomes a work of
love. This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we have
to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work: in meditation we
find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in other men."
(Office of Readings
St. Charles Borromeo, pray for
us!
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