St. Charles was born into a noble Milanese family in the year 1538. He was related to the Medici family and was nephew to Pope Pius IV. Charles was a bright youth and, while still a layman and a student, he was made administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan by his Uncle Pius IV. Because of his intelligence, he was entrusted with several Vatican offices and was later appointed secretary of state for Pius and had full charge of the administration of the Papal States. While still in his twenties, Charles experienced the death of his older brother and decided to study for the priesthood against the wishes of his parents.
Charles was ordained at the age of 25, and soon was consecrated bishop of Milan. At the time of his consecration, he was not allowed to take up residence in his diocese because his presence was required at the Council of Trent. Charles was a major presence in the behind the scenes work at the Council, he was influential in keeping the Council in session at several different points, and was intricately involved in the final phase of the Council. After the Council closed, Charles was allowed to go to Milan and serve the flock that was entrusted to him.
Charles was tireless in serving his flock. He helped reform all aspects of Catholic life in the clergy and in lay people. Charles encouraged the clergy to teach by example and used this method himself. During plague and famine in 1576, he tried to feed 60,000 to 70, 000 people a day and accomplished this by donating much of his personal property and by borrowing large amounts of money. During this time Charles was completely faithful to his flock. The leaders of the city had fled, but Charles decided to stay in the city to care for the poor and sick.
Charles held back nothing in his service of God and the people. He died at the age of 46 in 1584 due to a failing health. He is the patron of catechists and catechumens.
If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honor.
Saint Charles Borromeo
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.
from a sermon given by Saint Charles Borromeo