“For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless.”1
When Saint Paul wrote these words to Saint Titus in the first century, he was reminding Titus to be careful in his appointment of bishops for the new Catholic communities in Crete. Paul reminded Titus to avoid men who were proud, angry, gluttonous, or greedy. Instead, he said, a good candidate for the office of bishop should be “hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.”2
Clearly, Saint Paul thought that there are certain virtues, above and beyond those encouraged for every follower of Christ, that the shepherds of His Church should possess.
In the history of the Catholic Church, 1,160 bishops have lived such holy lives that they have been declared saints or blesseds.3 That impressive number translates to an average of more than three bishops in the Church’s calendar every day of the year.4 What characteristics do we see in the biographies of those holy shepherds?
In the early days of the Church, the first missionary priest to enter a pagan town and successfully evangelize there—and avoid being killed or forced to leave town—often became the bishop. However, when citizens or emperors wanted to persecute Catholics, the bishops were generally the first people to be executed. That’s why Saint Peter, archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, along three other Egyptian bishops, died as martyrs in the early fourth century under the orders of the Roman emperor Galerius Maximian.
Of those saintly bishops, 237 have died as martyrs, not all of whom died at the hands of pagans. Saint Englebert was the thirteenth century bishop of Cologne, Germany. After he reprimanded a greedy nobleman who was harassing a community of nuns, the man ordered assassins to kill Englebert, making him a martyr for justice.
Some bishops became well-known for their pastoral and theological writings. Saint Albert the Great was born in Germany in the thirteenth century, became a Dominican priest, and served for many years as a university professor. The pope made Albert a bishop, but Albert preferred the life of a scholar. He was able to resign after only three years, and he (like his famous student, Saint Thomas Aquinas) has been named a Doctor of the Church.
Becoming a missionary does not always lead to martyrdom. Saint Willibrord left his native England to evangelize in Germany, became the first bishop of Utrecht, Netherlands, and died when he was in his eighties. Saint Fergus travelled all over his native Scotland as a missionary bishop, bringing the faith to the Picts. Both men probably died in the eighth century.
Some bishops have been known for the miracles that resulted from their prayers. Saint Martin of Tours was just a soldier-turned-missionary when the people of fourth-century Tours, France, insisted that he become their bishop, probably because he had become famous in the area for his visions and miracles. While miracles continued to occur during Martin’s time as bishop, he also profoundly affected his flock through his personal care for the poor, ascetic way of life, and emphasis on mercy.
But the saint remembered on November 4 is one of the greatest bishops the Church has ever produced: Saint Charles Borromeo.
Charles (1538-1584) was born into one of the wealthiest, most powerful families in sixteenth-century Italy. In keeping with the traditions of the nobility, he was made the titular abbot of an important Benedictine abbey when he was twelve years old, as a sort of financial investment. When he was a young man, his parents died, and he became the head of his family. A short time later, his uncle became Pope Pius IV, named him a cardinal, and made him the (lay) administrator of the archdiocese of Milan. Charles was twenty-two years old.
Could anything good come from a young man used to a life of privilege who earned his important positions through flagrant nepotism? As our Lord said, all things are possible when God is involved.5
Was Charles personally tempted by pride, anger, gluttony or greed? If he was, he learned to discipline those personal weaknesses from a young age. His family said he was devout even as a child, and after he was named abbot, twelve-year-old Charles pertly reminded his father that the bulk of the revenues from that abbey belonged to the poor. Charles had a speech impediment as a child and was not considered a brilliant student, but he studied hard and eventually earned a doctorate in canon and civil law.
His uncle, the pope, gave Charles many important positions and responsibilities, and Charles carefully, methodically, and honestly did his best with all of them. When he was ordered to live in Rome, Charles recognized the spiritual dangers of working in the halls of power. He even considered resigning everything to enter a monastery, but (fortunately for us) a wise archbishop talked him out of it.
For there was no better place for a man of Charles’ character and abilities to be than in Rome. Too many important Church leaders and popes had been dithering for decades, assuming that the new Protestant churches would simply go away. Pope Pius IV wanted to reassemble the Council of Trent, and he needed someone with intelligence, diplomatic skills, and humility to help him handle the logistical, political, and personal complexities involved. The Council of Trent would have dissolved many times if it hadn’t been for Charles’ skills as a negotiator and his total dedication to a Catholic Reformation of the Church.
When another uncle died, everyone assumed Charles would resign all his responsibilities to become the head of the Borromeo family, marry, and settle down for a very comfortable life. Instead, he resigned his position in the Borromeo family to allow another relative to assume that honor. Then, as if this was what he had been waiting for his entire life, he was quickly ordained a priest, consecrated a bishop, and began working on projects such as the Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent and the Tridentine liturgical reform.
Pius IV had refused to allow Charles to live in Milan—although Charles had been serving as the administrator of the archdiocese—because he wanted Charles’ help in Rome. When Pius IV died, Charles talked the new pope into letting him move to Milan.
As the archbishop of Milan, Charles was able to implement all those reforms for which he had fought during the Council of Trent. He maintained the sort of household which was (minimally) suitable for an archbishop, but he generously bestowed almost all other archdiocesan revenues on the poor. In his personal life, he wore clothes until they fell apart, ate simply, and omitted “pleasures” like heating his bedroom. He financially supported many good works, such as the English College at Douay, France, which was ordaining priests to be sent (often to their deaths) to secretly serve Catholics in England. He organized retreats for his clergy. He established Sunday schools for children. He demonstrated the importance of a reverent celebration of the liturgy through his own reverent example. Despite his speech impediment, his sermons often brought people to tears and repentance.
Reform is rarely welcomed by everyone, and Charles also faced (and punished) unworthy clergymen, a pack of disobedient canons, and a heretical religious order which tried (unsuccessfully) to assassinate him.
When the plague broke out in Milan in 1575, all the rich people left town, but Charles stayed. He organized his clergy and members of religious orders to care for the sick and dying, even though the outbreaks of the plague lasted for three years. Charles incurred huge debts to build temporary shelters and care for the needy during this time, feeding up to 70,000 people a day. He cried when he saw their suffering.
When Charles died at the age of forty-six, the people of Milan mourned the loss of an outstanding administrator, a tireless reformer, a tactful negotiator, a gentle but firm priest, and a virtuous, upright man who loved Jesus Christ and His Church. To put it another way, Saint Charles Borromeo was a good shepherd and a blameless bishop, the sort of man the Apostle Paul—or our Lord—would have chosen himself.
Related at CWR: “St. Charles Borromeo and the key principles of Catholic reform” (November 4, 2022) by Fr. Charles Fox
Endnotes:
1 Titus 1:7
2 Titus 1:8-9
3 This total omits the saints and blesseds who have also been named pope.
4 Because there are so many bishops in the Church’s calendar of saints, it is easy to learn about holy bishops using only saints celebrated in the month of November.
5 Matt 19:26
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“When the plague broke out in Milan in 1575, all the rich people left town, but Charles stayed. He organized his clergy and members of religious orders to care for the sick and dying, even though the outbreaks of the plague lasted for three years. Charles incurred huge debts to build temporary shelters and care for the needy during this time, feeding up to 70,000 people a day. He cried when he saw their suffering.”
You mean to say that during the three year epidemic of the plague, Charles did not shut down all the Churches, deprive the faithful of the Eucharist and other Sacraments and did not abandon the sick and the dying and treat them like pariahs? Shocking, unconscionable, how inconsiderate of him not to lock down the Churches in order to ostensibly contain the plague. Our bishops were far more enlightened during COVID-19. They made certain the churches were shut down. Because of their decision, the Catholic Church today is thriving. Why, just look at the Synod on Homosexuality that recently ended. St. Charles Borrommeo would be gratified to know that Pope Francis is closing in on making sodomy a virtue!
What a contrast between the self-sacrificing holiness of St. Charles Borromeo and the brazen sordidness of some clergy today who want to defile Christ’s Church and bless sin! Pray that God will send us more clergy like St. Charles Borromeo!
Paul reminded Titus to avoid men who were proud, angry, gluttonous, or greedy (Dawn Beutner). Will we find one today?
If we measure holiness by their waistline the field will be tremendously narrowed. Though we shouldn’t forget Thomas Aquinas was noted for his panzone. And the Apostle seems to forget his moments of outrage and vindictiveness toward Jewish circumcisors, that they should castrate themselves. Or what of his thorn in the flesh, which many including Aquinas believe it was some sensual temptation? Or troublesome Alexander the coppersmith whom he dispatched to the devil?
Paul admitted moments of weakness, and found in them opportunity for greater sanctity, the humility required to allow God to be manifest within him. Charles Borromeo was truly an exceptional man. As were those mentioned by Ms Beutner. The saints provide a model for us, whether they’re hierarchy, presbyter, laity we can emulate them whatever their station. Our premier example of holiness is of course Christ. Borromeo possessed that unusual quality of authority and humility likened to Christ.
blessings!
St. Charles used the following strong language to the assembly of bishops during the convocation of the Synod:
Let us fear lest the angered judge say to us: If you were the enlighteners of My Church, why have you closed your eyes? If you pretended to be shepherds of the flock, why have you suffered it to stray? Salt of the earth, you have lost your savor. Light of the world, they that sat in darkness and the shadow of death have never seen you shine. You were apostles; who, then, put your apostolic firmness to the test, since you have done nothing but seek to please men? You were the mouth of the Lord, and you have made that mouth dumb. If you allege in excuse that the burden was beyond your strength, why did you make it the object of your ambitious intrigues?
Great was Charles’ love of neighbor and liberality toward the poor. When the plague raged in Milan, he sold his household furniture, even his bed, to aid the sick and needy, and thereafter slept upon bare boards. He visited those stricken by the disease, consoled them as a tender father, conferred upon them the sacraments with his own hands. A true mediator, he implored forgiveness day and night from the throne of grace. He once ordered an atonement procession and appeared in it with a rope about his neck, with bare and bloody feet, a cross upon his shoulder—thus presenting himself as an expiatory sacrifice for his people to ward off divine punishment. He died, dressed in sackcloth and ashes, holding a picture of Jesus Crucified in his hands, in 1584 at the age of forty-six. His last words were, “See, Lord, I am coming, I am coming soon.” His tomb in the cathedral of Milan is of white marble.
oops…
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2023-11-04
Thank you for your very steadying comments.
Thank you Ms. Beutner for your timely recollection of St. Charles Borromeo…a good shepherd.
We have such men even today, like Cardinal Zen, who are good shepherds, living a life of sacrifice to guide and protect and lead their people to Christ.
I would add my own bishop, His Excellency Edward Malesic of Cleveland. Bishop Malesic has endured scorn, disrespect, and a great deal of friction from individuals and organizations across the US since he put out a document implementing Catholic teaching in the area of gender that is effective in the Diocesan schools and in our parishes. All employees, students, and parishioners are to be addressed by the pronoun of their gender of birth, are to use only the bathrooms designated for their gender of birth, may not bring a same-sex date to any school or parish sponsored dances or activities, and athletes may only participate on teams of their birth gender. He has had legal action taken against him, had the Mayor of Cleveland denounce him (although the Mayor oversees the Cleveland Public Schools, which have several serious problems abounding), and even had his own people attack him. He put a target on his back to protect those who are under his jurisdiction and is taking the vicious response to that action. In spite of what many may say, good, faithful, brave, and holy bishops exist in our time, and they are a blessing.
https://www.catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/DeiVerbum&CCC.pdf
J.M.J.
Jorge Bergoglio’s apostasy was external and made public and notorious, when as a cardinal, he stated in his book, On Heaven and Earth, in regards to same-sex sexual relationships, and thus same-sex sexual acts, prior to his election as pope, on page 117, denying The Unity Of The Holy Ghost (Filioque), and demonstrating that he does not hold, keep, or teach The Catholic Faith, and was not in communion with Christ and His Church and he continues to act accordingly:
“If there is a union of a private nature, there is neither a third party, nor is society affected. Now, if the union is given the category of marriage, there could be children affected. Every person needs a male father and a female mother that can help shape their identity.”- Jorge Bergoglio, denying The Sanctity of the marital act within The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, and the fact that God, The Most Holy And Undivided Blessed Trinity, Through The Unity Of The Holy Ghost (Filioque), Is The Author Of Love, Of Life, And Of Marriage, while denying sin done in private is sin.
The election of a man to The Papacy, who was not in communion with Christ and every other previously validly elected Pope, prior to his election, and is thus anti Pope and anti Filioque, is not valid.
The Office Of The MUNUS is “Forever”, as confirmed Through The Unity Of The Holy Ghost (Filioque).
Jorge Bergoglio, unlike every validly elected Pope, rejects The Office Of The MUNUS, and by his opposition to Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, And The Teaching Of The Magisterium, The Deposit Of Faith That Christ Has Entrusted To His One, Holy, Catholic, And Apostolic Church, Through The Unity Of The Holy Ghost (Filioque), has demonstrated that he cannot possibly be a successor of Peter.
“It is clear, therefore, that Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church in accord with God’s most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls. (Dei Verbum 10)”
Jorge Bergoglio, prior to his election to The Papacy, rejected Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and The Teaching Authority Of Christ’s Magisterium, and thus rejected The Deposit Of Faith.