November 4 is the feast day of the patron saint of seminarians, catechists, spiritual leaders/directors and stomach/intenstine health. St. Charles Borromeo was born in a castle in 1538, into a wealthy Italian family in which his father was a count and his mother's last name was "Medici". He was the nephew of Pope Pius IV and studied under the man who would later be Pope Gregory XIII. By age 22 he was Cardinal Borromeo. He served many different jobs for the Church throughout his life, including different roles for the Vatican, and once was Archbishop of Milan. He participated in the Council of Trent, which was the extremely important council in reaction to the Protestant Reformation which gave us, among other things, the Latin Mass. He founded many seminaries and hospitals. He enforced the strict Trent laws and for this was once shot at, but wasn't hit. He died of sickness in Milan in 1584.
"He who desires to make any progress in the service of God must begin every day of his life with new ardor, must keep himself in the presence of God as much as possible, and must have no other view or end in all his actions but the divine honor" - St. Charles
Sirach 23:18-19 condemns men who commit adultery and yet fail to remember that they sin in God's presence. It mocks those who forget that Yahweh's Eyes see everything. St. Charles calls us to stay in God's presence as much as possible. For All Saints Day, the Successor of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI, called upon us to remember that "we are never alone". Although we can not see Heaven, Heaven is always intimately close to Earth. Remember that you are always in the presence of God. Do nothing therefore that you wouldn't do if you could see the Eyes of God with your own eyes. And never forget that you are never alone, but are always intimately close to your Creator.
"If teaching and preaching is your job...be sure that your first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your works will bring only cynical laughter" - St. Charles
Being a leader of seminarians, St. Charles had great wisdom in guiding preachers. Yet we don't have to be a priest or preacher for this wisdom to ring true. As a Roman Catholic and a Christian, even when your mouth is shut you are always preaching and teaching through your actions. Everything you say and do is an opportunity to preach and teach. Be careful with this responsibility. As a representive of Christians and the Mother Church, you affect more people than you think. I can not tell you how many times when I meet people who are anti-Catholic/Christian, it is not usually because of some deep doctrine, but because of their observation of bad Catholics who preach holiness and love but don't act it. Their experience with Christian hypocrisy has made them reject Christianity. Do not take your responsibility for granted. Although only one person, who is seemingly unimportant, you can do great help and great harm to the religion through the consistance, or lack thereof, between your words and your actions. By the intercessions of St. Charles may we remember that and stay always in God's presence.
O Lord, bless me that I may always be aware of Your divine presence and daily draw grace, comfort and strength knowing that You are by my side. Walking me through every day. Song of the day: "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"
"Daily, walking close to thee"