Bishop · Feast day November 4
St. Charles Borromeo
The feast day of St. Charles Borromeo is November 4, a memorial in the US Catholic calendar. Below: a short life and 2 sourced quotations in their own words.
| Feast day | November 4 |
|---|---|
| In the US calendar | Memorial |
| Title | Bishop |
| Died | 1584 |
| In their own words | 2 sourced quotations |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
A Medici-connected nobleman made cardinal at twenty-two by his uncle the pope — who then stunned Rome by becoming its most austere reformer. As archbishop of Milan he gave away his fortune, enforced the Council of Trent, and invented the seminary system.
During the plague of 1576 he stayed in the city, organizing relief and walking barefoot in penance with a rope around his neck, offering himself for his people.
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
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.
Are you in charge of a parish? If so, do not neglect the parish of your own soul.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Charles Borromeo’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this theme
So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 · CPDV Beside their words: “Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice…”
On this theme
For how does it benefit a man, if he gains the whole world, and yet causes harm to his soul?
Mark 8:36 · CPDV Beside their words: “Are you in charge of a parish? If so, do not neglect the parish of your own soul.”
On this theme
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example among the faithful in word, in behavior, in charity, in faith, in chastity.
1 Timothy 4:12 · CPDV Beside their words: “Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice…”
On this theme
Pay attention to yourself and to doctrine. Pursue these things. For in doing so, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
1 Timothy 4:16 · CPDV Beside their words: “Are you in charge of a parish? If so, do not neglect the parish of your own soul.”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Charles Borromeo. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Charles Borromeo keeps November 4 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of November.
All the saints of November Born on November 4? A saint for every day
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