Today is the feast of St. Charles Borromeo. Shane Flanagan, a seminarian studying for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, reflects on the similarities between St. Charles and St. Francis de Sales. Shane is a 2014 graduate of Father Judge High School in Philadelphia. Father Judge has been a Salesian school since it was founded by the Oblates in 1954. Shane will be ordained a deacon in the spring of 2022.
Saint Therese of Lisieux once said, “you cannot be half of a saint, you must be a full saint or no saint at all.” During a dark moment in the Church’s history two men rose up and embodied what it means to be a “full saint.” Saints Charles Borromeo and Francis de Sales were leading figures in the Church during the Counter-Reformation. Both men called for the sanctity of everyday life, through the faithful living out of one’s vocation. Both men preached firstly by the way they lived and then by their words. They were examples to the people they were called to lead, showing them the way to salvation, by providing direction on how to live well.
St. Charles and St. Francis shared strikingly similar paths in life. Both men were born into noble families, educated at the finest schools, overcame family objections to their ordinations, and received their offices within the Church initially because of family connections. God used the culture and atmosphere of the 16th Century to elevate these humble and holy men to the office of bishop. While St. Francis called the lay-faithful to holiness, St. Charles dedicated himself to correcting the abuses found within the clergy of his time.
As Bishop of Milan, St. Charles became an advocate for the more structured education and formation of priests, a precursor to the modern-day seminary. He stressed the importance of being with the people entrusted to his care, choosing to remain in the city of Milan during the plague while most noble members of society fled. His desire to stay was fueled by the people’s need for the sacraments, especially in their final hours. St. Charles led with humility and called others to do the same. The challenge to be a humble steward was met with much resistance and even resulted in an assassination attempt on his life. Despite all of this resistance, St. Charles remained on course.
Personally, God has blessed me with the opportunity to learn under the patronage of both men. As a student at Father Judge High School, I was introduced to St. Francis de Sales and Salesian spirituality. The motto “be who you are and be that well '' was not just a sign on the wall but a challenge to know myself through the eyes of God, so I could become the best version of myself. The gentle challenge of St. Francis created an atmosphere in my heart, which created a space in which the quiet call of God could not only be heard but also acted on. Upon entering St. Charles Seminary, I was presented with the priestly example of how one “loves without measure,” through my reading about the life of St. Charles. The motto of St. Charles was to do all things with humility. The Salesian basis of introspection provided the foundation needed to humbly accept my shortcomings and strive to “live Jesus” in all aspects of my life. Self-knowledge and love underline the teaching of St. Charles and St. Francis, and both aspects are needed in our current culture. Through the intercession of Sts. Charles and Francis, I strive to be a light like them and work to bring Christ into every action of my day. May we all strive to “be who we are'' and be “full saints” today, like St. Charles and St. Francis.
Shane Flanagan
Father Judge High School, Class of 2010
Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, PA
