Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop
St. Charles Borromeo, bishop (†1584). Born in 1538, of a noble Italian family. At only 21 years of age, he was consecrated as Bishop of Milan, and raised to a Cardinal by his uncle, Pope Pius IV. He gave extraordinary examples of virtue and was a perfect model of pastor of souls. He was instrumental in applying the reforms of the Council of Trent, and died at the age of 46.
See also:
Mass Readings
First Reading – Phil 2:1-4
Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me. R.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap,
so is my soul within me. R.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever. R.
Gospel – Lk 14:12-14
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Featured Saints
St. Felix of Valois (†thirteenth century). Prince of the royal French house, he renounced the world and aided St. John of Matha in founding the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the ransom of captive Christians. See: Mother of Good Remedy.
St. Emeric of Hungary (†1031). Son of St. Stephen of Hungary, he collaborated with his father in the evangelization of his subjects. He died at the age of 24.
St. Pierius,priest (†fourth century). Priest of Alexandria and outstanding philosopher, known especially for his virtuous life and voluntary poverty..
St. Modesta, abbess (†seventh century). Consecrated to God since childhood, she was the first abbess of the hermitage of St. Mary of Oehren in Trier, Germany
Blessed Helen Enselmini, virgin (†1242). She received the habit from St. Francis; St. Anthony of Padua was her spiritual director. Stricken by a painful infirmity, she gave heroic proofs of patient resignation.
Blessed Frances d’Amboise, religious (†1485). Married to Peter II, Duke of Brittany, both agreed to keep perfect chastity. she founded the first female Carmel of France, to which she withdrew when she was widowed.
Image gallery
