Thursday, November 4, 2010

St. Charles Borromeo - 80th Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Theresa's Church



Today's liturgical memorial recalls the great reforming bishop of the Church's Counter-Reformation. The name of St. Charles Borromeo is associated with reform. He lived during the time of the Protestant Reformation, and had a hand in the reform of the whole Church during the final years of the Council of Trent.

Although he belonged to Milanese nobility and was related to the powerful Medici family, he desired to devote himself to the Church. When his uncle, Cardinal de Medici, was elected pope in 1559 as Pius IV, he made Charles cardinal-deacon and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan while he was still a layman and a young student. Because of his intellectual qualities he was entrusted with several important offices connected with the Vatican and later appointed secretary of state with responsibility for the papal states.

The untimely death of his elder brother brought Charles to a definite decision to be ordained a priest, despite relatives’ insistence that he marry. Soon after he was ordained a priest at the age of 25, he was consecrated bishop of Milan.

Because of his work at the Council of Trent, he was not allowed to take up residence in Milan until the Council was over. Charles had encouraged the pope to renew the Council in 1562 after it had been suspended for 10 years.

Working behind the scenes, St. Charles deserves the credit for keeping the Council in session when at several points it was on the verge of breaking up. He took upon himself the task of the entire correspondence during the final phase.

Eventually Charles was allowed to devote his time to the Archdiocese of Milan, where the religious and moral picture was far from bright. The reform needed in every phase of Catholic life among both clergy and laity was initiated at a provincial council of all the bishops under him. Specific regulations were drawn up for bishops and other clergy: If the people were to be converted to a better life, the had to be the first to give a good example and renew their apostolic spirit.

Charles took the initiative in giving good example. He allotted most of his income to charity, forbade himself all luxury and imposed severe penances upon himself. He sacrificed wealth, high honors, esteem and influence to become poor. During the plague and famine of 1576, he tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. To do this he borrowed large sums of money that required years to repay. Whereas the civil authorities fled at the height of the plague, he stayed in the city, where he ministered to the sick and the dying, helping those in want.

Work and the heavy burdens of his high office began to affect his health. He died at the age of 46 (http://www.americancatholic.org/).

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Preserve in tbe midst of your people, we ask, O Lord, the spirit with which you filled the Bishop Saint Charles Borromeo, that your Church may be constantly renewed and, by conforming herself to the likeness of Christ, may show his face to the world. Who lives and reigns with you.


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SAINT THERESA'S PARISH AND SHRINE AT 80

On Sunday, October 31 at 10:30AM, I presided at a concelebrated Mass marking the 80th anniversary of the dedication of St. Theresa's Church by Archbishop Guillaume Forbes on August 10, 1930.

Serving the residents who live nearby, many travellers who lodge in the nearby hotels and a goodly number of students who cross the Corktown Bridge to the University of Ottawa, the church serves as a diocesan shrine to the Little Flower.

Light refreshments and good conversation followed in the newly-renewed parish hall:


The roses, symbol of St. Therese of Lisieux, adorned the church and sanctuary


Visiting priests included: Fathers Francis Morrissey OMI, Aelred Daley, Thomas Dowd (Montreal), Msgr. Robert Latour

The KofC provided an honour guard


The parish presented me with a beautiful stole


A family newly arrived from Central America


Happy memories of parish life brought lots of smiles

Msgr Latour is a son of the parish