A True Reformer

I have cherished today’s saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584), Archbishop of Milan, a contemporary of St John of the Cross (b.1542), ever since I first discovered him.  Not least because he himself cherished our country as it struggled in the throes of the Reformation.  He was a great friend of the English College in Douai, and his personal confessor was Dr Griffith Roberts, a Welshman.  Dr Roberts was with him when he died. St Charles 'had a devotion to the English martyred bishop, John Fisher, whose picture he kept by him. He was active in visiting even remote areas of his diocese, removing ignorant or unworthy priests, preaching and catechising at every opportunity.  But his reforms were vigorously resisted by some. He came into conflict with civil authorities, and there was even an attempt by a disgruntled friar to assassinate him in 1569.’ [courtesy of sacredspace.com]  His activity as a vigorous reformer and the opposition he aroused reminds me both of Teresa and of John.  John himself was of course imprisoned - but at least they didn't try to kill him. A disgruntled cleric actually succeeded in killing the author of the first Carmelite Rule, St Albert of Jerusalem. To be a true reformer requires immense courage.

Intercessions

Pope Leo as he recovers from his operation for cancer.

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling, Noreen

David OCDS – housebound

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly