Feast of St. Charles Borromeo
Today is the feast of St. Charles Borromeo . Some might think it strange, but this great reformer of the Church, with his reputation for being terribly stern, was a good friend of my own beloved St. Philip Neri, renowned for his gentleness. Their personalities may have contrasted to a certain extent, but each recognized and loved the holiness of Christ shining through in the other.Thus when St. Charles was drawing up his rule for the Oblates of St. Ambrose, it was St. Philip he consulted, and when St. Philip was asked to describe St. Charles. he simply said, "He is radiantly beautiful." For anyone who reads contemporary accounts or looks at less idealized portraits of St. Charles, that comment makes it pretty obvious that St. Philip was seeing his holiness rather than his face.