In 1562 his brother died and his family urged him to leave the service of the church to preserve the family name. In 1561, he founded a college at Pavia dedicated to St. Since he would become the ecclesiastical administrator of Milan, he decided that the Lord was calling him to the priesthood. He wrote of some of the lessons and lectures in the book, Noctes Vaticanae.īorromeo was appointed administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan in 1560.

The young Borromeo used his leadership role in the Vatican to promote learning and he established a literary academy. With the new rank came even more duties including the government of the Papal States, the supervision of the Knights of Malta, the Franciscans, and the Carmelites. A month later, Pope Pius IV made his nephew a cardinal. With the rank came the job of assisting and advising his uncle full-time. The new pope asked his nephew to come to Rome and appointed him as a cardinal-deacon. Life sped up for the young count after his uncle, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Medici became Pope Pius IV on December 25, 1559. His responsibility for his household resulted in financial difficulties, and Charles earned a reputation for being short of funds. Charles continued in his studies and earned a doctorate in canon and civil law.įace Masks Home Blessings Rosaries Bibles Medals Prayer/Holy Cards Pets Bracelets Pillow Cases Crucifixes Books Rosary Cases Wall Crosses Keychains Plaques Statues Rings Visor Clips Church Goods In 1554 his father passed away and although Charles was a teenager, responsibility for his household fell to him. He was praised because he was hardworking and thorough.

He attended the University of Pavia and learned Latin. Despite this challenge, he performed well and impressed his teachers.

The young count suffered from a speech impediment that made him appear slow to those who did not know him. All other funds belonged to the poor of the Church and were to be passed along to them. He was explicit in telling his father that he could only keep the money required for his education and to prepare him for service to the Church. Even as a youth, his integrity was obvious. His uncle gave to him the family income from the Benedictine abbey of Saints Gratinian and Felinus. He was the third of six children born to the couple.Īt the age of 12, the young Count Charles Borromeo dedicated himself to a life of service to the Church. His father was the Count of Arona and his mother a member of the House of Medici. Saint Charles Borromeo was born on Octoat the castle of Arona on Lake Maggiore near Milan.

St charles