St. Charles Borromeo

Feast Day November 4

Patron of  Catechists
Catechumens and Seminarians

The MMG asks the Silent Strength prayer groups to pray for vocations and for our priests. When asked to give a single reason why one is Catholic the reason most often given is "the Eucharist." Only in Catholicism can one find the body and blood of Christ, the Real Presence.  As Father John Corapi says, "No priest, no Eucharist."  Also, we each learned about the Faith through instruction--whether it be from a priest or religious, lay teacher, parent, or someone who loved us enough to tell us. Let us pray for catechists and ask God to send someone to share their faith with our prodigals so that minds and hearts may be opened to recognize the Good News.

Who Was St.

St. Charles Borromeo?

St. Charles Borromeo lived during the Protestant Reformation. A priest and bishop, he did much work at the Council of Trent and is credited with keeping it in session despite many obstacles. Born into nobility, he gave most of his income to the poor and lived an austere life. During the plague of 1576 he borrowed money to feed 70,000 people each day and cared for the sick.

Prayer for Priests

O Holy Mother of God, pray for the priests your Son has chosen to serve the church. Help them by your intercession, to be holy, zealous and chaste. Make them models of virtue in the service of God’s people. Help them to be prayerful in meditations, effective in preaching, and enthusiastic in the daily offering of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Help them to administer the sacraments with joy. Amen.

Prayer to St. Charles Borromeo

O Saintly reformer, animator of spiritual renewal of priests and religious, you organized true seminaries and wrote a standard catechism. Inspire all religious teachers and authors of catechetical books. Move them to love and transmit only that which can form true followers of the Teacher who was divine. Amen

 Comments on St Charles Borromeo
from American Catholic web site

St. Charles made his own the words of Christ: "...I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me" (Matthew 25:35-36). Charles saw Christ in his neighbor and knew that charity done for the least of his flock was charity done for Christ.