St Charles Borromeo is buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Milan, also known the Duomo (Domus = house of God). I had the priviledge of visiting Milan with The Fraternity of St Genesius last May. The cathedral is quite an impressive sight. It has 135 spires, 135 giants, 150 gargoyles, 1100 internal statues and 2300 external statues. It is the third largest church in the world, after St Peter's in Rome, and Seville Cathedral. Construction began in 1386, and it was only finally completed, with the installation of the final bronze door in 1965. We enjoyed a guided tour of the cathedral, prayed at the tomb of St Charles, and ate at a very expensive cafe in the square. (Seven euros for a diet coke!) After lunch myself and Marie climbed the stairs to the roof terraces.
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| Milan Cathedral |
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| The tomb of St Charles Borromeo |
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| A bird's eye view |
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| Marie on the roof of the Duomo |
bishops
- catechists
- catechumens
- seminarians
- spiritual directors
- spiritual leaders
Some guidance from the saint:
I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily. 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. If teaching and preaching is your job, then study diligently and apply yourself to whatever is necessary for doing the job well. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head. We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: “I will pray, and then I will understand.” 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. - Saint Charles Borromeo
Prayer to Saint 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.
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