Saint's of the Week

Saint Charles Borromeo

Feast Day: 4th November

Virtue: Self-Sacrifice

Charles, of the noble family of Borromeo, was born in 1538 in a castle of Aron, in Italy.

 When Charles was only twenty-two, Pope Pius made him a Cardinal and the Arch-bishop of Milan.

Charles was a great teacher and writer. He helped the Church at the time Martin Luther fell away from the church during the so-called Reformation. His great work was in the Council of Trent. He founded schools for the poor, seminaries for clerics and through his community of Oblates trained his priests in the holiness of life.

Charles also built hospitals where he himself served the sick. He was often seen taking part in public processions with a rope around his neck as a sign of penance. He gave away all he had and wore an old patched cloak. During a great plague, he was ever with the sick and dying. He tried to feed 60,000 poor people every day.

Charles died at the age of forty-six in 1584. He is the patron of seminaries and those who teach catechism.

Saint Martin of Tours

Feast Day: 11th November

Virtue: Generosity

Martin was born of pagan parents in what is now Hungary around the year 316 and was

 raised in Italy. The son of a Roman officer he was forced to serve in the army at the age of 15. He was baptised at 18.

On a cold day, the legend goes, Martin met a poor man, almost naked, trembling and begging from people who passed by. Martin had nothing but weapons and clothes. He drew his sword, cut his coat into two pieces and gave one to the beggar. That night in his sleep, Martin saw Christ dressed in the half of the garment he had given away.

At 23, Martin became a disciple of St Hilary of Poitiers, France and was ordained a priest. He preached throughout the countryside for ten years.

The people of Tours demanded that he become their bishop. He became the most celebrated Bishop of the 4th century and one of the great Saints of France. He died in 397.