St. Charles Borromeo

Who they were

Charles was born into power, nephew of a pope and a cardinal at twenty-two, and everyone expected another Renaissance careerist. Instead he became the working model of what the Council of Trent said a bishop should be. As Archbishop of Milan he founded the modern seminary system, the idea that priests should be systematically formed rather than simply ordained, built schools of Christian doctrine that taught tens of thousands of children, and gave away his fortune. When plague and famine struck Milan in 1576 the civil leadership left. Charles stayed, organised relief, fed tens of thousands at his own expense, and walked the city barefoot in penance. An assassination attempt by a disgruntled order failed at point-blank range. He worked himself to death at forty-six.

Why people turn to St. Charles Borromeo

Seminarians and everyone who teaches the faith, because he built both systems. The stomach patronage is old tradition tied to his severe fasting, and dieters adopted it later.

How to ask their intercession

Pray for a seminarian or a catechist by name. If you teach, whether RCIA, Sunday school or your own children, ask his prayers before you prepare rather than only before you perform.