Uncovering Charles Borromeo: Top 6 Fascinating and Lesser-Known Facts About This Saintly Historical Icon

1. Cheesy Reformer & Spiritual Chef

Feeling a bit peckish, Italy? Allow us to serve up the irresistible combo of a fanciful prelate and a cheesy reformer: Meet St. Charles Borromeo, born in a swanky castle in 1538, he dished out some spicy religious reforms in Milan as a cardinal and an Archbishop, all while feeding the spiritually and physically hungry during the famines and plagues of his time. Quite the keeper of the Council of Trent recipes, wouldn't you say?
Source => britannica.com

2. Lemonade-and-Soup Superhero

When life gave him lemons, St. Charles Borromeo made lemonade ... and soup, and bread, and more: This saintly humanitarian heroically managed the daily distribution of food to a whopping 60,000 to 70,000 people during the devastating plague and famine of 1576, winning admiration and gratitude both in his time and beyond.
Source => medium.com

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3. Patron Saint of Smarty-Pants

Talk about a Renaissance man with a penchant for all-nighters: St. Charles Borromeo, a noble-born Archbishop of Milan, founded the Academy of the Vatican Nights, an intellectual hub for smarty-pants, and even established a college dedicated to St. Justina of Padua in Pavia, making him the go-to patron saint for seminarians and spirituality leaders.
Source => newmanministry.com

4. Holy Marathon Man

If you thought binge-watching your favorite show was a serious commitment, wait till you hear about St. Charles Borromeo's holy marathon: This devout saint was famed for his awe-inspiring dedication to the Eucharist, often spending hours praying before the Blessed Sacrament and kick-starting the Forty Hours' Devotion, which involved a non-stop relay of prayerful contemplation before the consecrated bread.
Source => christianapostles.com

5. Counter-Reformation Idol

If St. Charles Borromeo were a contestant on "The Counter-Reformation Idol," he'd probably be the front-runner for his outstanding performances in a dramatic ecclesiastical stage production: Not only did he reform the Catholic Church as the Archbishop of Milan and Papal Secretary of State under Pius IV, but he also created a legendary legacy by founding numerous educational institutions and harmoniously orchestrating his grand finale as the divine conductor for church music. Canonizing the charts, this saintly superstar was immortalized in 1610.
Source => newadvent.org

6. Spandex-Free Superhero

If you thought superheroes were only found in spandex and capes, think again: in 1576, Saint Charles Borromeo swooped in to save the day by not only feeding 60,000 to 70,000 hungry folks daily during a devastating plague and famine but also sticking around to care for the sick, while other civil authorities hightailed it out of there faster than a speeding bullet.
Source => franciscanmedia.org