Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 3.djvu/687

 CHARLES

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CHARLES

over the faithful carrying out of his orders regarding music. He not only caused liturgical music to flour- ish in his own time throughout his vast domain, but he laid the foundations for musical culture which are still potent to-day.

Kornmi i.lf.k. Ktrchenmusikaliachea Lezikon, s. v. Carlder Grosse; Ambros, Muaikgeecl I!

Joseph Otten.

Charles Borromeo, Saint, Archbishop of Milan, Car- dinal-Priest of the Title of S. Prassede, I 'a pal Secretary of State under Pius IV, and one of the chief factors in the i atholic Counter-Reformation, was b. in the Cas- tle of Arona, a town on the southern shore of the Lago Maggiore in Northern Italy. 2 October, 1538; d. at Milan, 3 November, 1584. His emblem is the word hdmilitas crowned, which is a portion of the Borro- meo shield. He is usually represented in art in his cardinal's robes, barefoot, carrying the cross as arch bishop; a rope round his neck, one hand raised in blessing, thus recalling his work during the plague. His feast is kept on 4 November. His father was Count Giberto Borromeo. who, about 1530, married Margherita de' Medici. Her younger brother was Giovanni Angelo, Cardinal de' Medici, who became pope in 1559 under the title of Pius IV. Charles was <-ond son, and the third of the six children, of Giberto and Margherita. Charles' mother died about lie yar 1547. and his father married again.

His early years were passed partly in the Castle of Arona, and partly in the Palazzo Borromeo at Milan. At the age of twelve his father allowed him to re- ceive the tonsure, and. upon the resignation of his uncle, Julius Caesar Borromeo, he became titular Ab- bot of Sts. Gratinian and P'elinus at Arona.

When he received the tonsure he was sent by his father to Milan, where he studied Latin under J. J. Merla. In < Ictober, 15.32, he left Arona for the Uni- versity of Pavia, where he had as his tutor p'rancesco Alciato, afterwards cardinal. His correspondence shows that he was allowed a very small sum by his father, and that often he was in very straitened cir- cumstances, which caused him considerable incon- venience. It was not only that he himself suffered, but that his retinue also were not suitably clothed. Charles evidently felt bitterly his humiliation, but he does not seem to have shown impatience. Leav- ing Pavia tn meet his uncle, Cardinal de' Medici, at Milan, he was, within a few weeks called upon to at- tend the funeral of his father, who died early in Au- gust, 1558, and was buried in the church of - Maria delle < uazie. Milan.

Fresh responsibilities at once came to Charles, for though he was not the elder son, yet, at the request of his family, including even his brother, he assumed charge of all the family business. The question of possession of the Castle of Arona was one of great difficulty, as it was claimed by both prance and Spain. Charles conducted the negotiations with great energy and diplomatic skill, and as a consequence of the Peace of Cambrai (3 April, 1559) the castle was

d over to Count Francesco Borromeo, in the of his nephew, Federigo Borromeo, to be held by him for the Eting of Spain. He also did much to restore to their ancient monastic discipline the religious of his Abbey of Sts. (iratinian ami Felinus. Though his studies errupted yet lus seriousness

and attention enabled him to complete them with success, and in 1550 he maintained his thesis for the doctorate of ri\i| and canon law.

In the summer of 1559 Paul IV died, and the conclave h>r the election of his successor, which began i nber, was not concluded till 26

December, when Cardinal (iiovanni Angelo de' Medici was elected and took the name of Pius IV. < In the 3rd of January, 15(50, Charles received a message by a courier from the pope, asking him to proceed at once to Rome. He started immediately for the

Eternal City, but though he travelled rapidly he was not in time for the pope's coronation (6 Jan- uary). On 22 January he wrote to Count Guido Borromeo that the pope hid given him the charge of the administration of all the papal states. On 31 January he was created cardinal-deacon, together with Giovanni de' Medici, son of the Duke of Flor- ence, and Gianantonio Serbellone, cousin of the pope. Charles was given the title of Sts. Vitus and Modestus, which was in the August following changed to that of S. Martino-ai-Monti. He wished for no rejoicings at Milan: all the celebration was to be at Arona. where were to be said ten Masses de Spirilu Sancto. At tin- time Cardinal Ippoiito d'Este, of Perrara. resigned the Archbishopric of Milan, and on 8 February the pope named Charles as administrator of the vacant see. In succession he was named Legate of Bologna. Romagna. and the March of Ancona. He was named Protector of the Kingdom of Portugal, of Lower Ger- many, and the Catholic cantons of Switzerland. Un- der his protection were placed the orders of St. Fran- cis, the Carmelites, the Humiliati, the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra, the Knights of Jeru- salem (or Malta), and those of the Holy Cross of ( Ihrist in Portugal. By a motu propria (22 January. 1561) Pius IV gave him an annual income of 1000 golden crowns from the episcopal mensa of Ferrara.

Charles' office of secretary of state and his care for the business of his family did not prevent him from giving time to study, and even to recreations in the form of playing the lute and violoncello, and a game of ball, lie lived at first at the Vatican, but in July. 1562, removed to the Palazzo Colonna, Piazza Santi Apostoli. Soon after his arrival in Rome he founded at the Vatican an academy, which was a way of providing, by literary work, a distrac- tion from more serious occupations. The members whether ecclesiastics or laymen, met nearly every evening, and many of their contributions are amongst the works of Charles as "NocteB Vaticanae". Charles was very soon occupied as secretary of state in using his influence to bring about the re-assembling of the Council of Trent, which had been suspended since 1552. The state of Europe was appalling from an ecclesiastical point of view. Many wire the difficul- ties that had to be overcome — with the emperor, with Philip II of Spain, and. greatest of all. with France, where the demand was made for a national council. Still, in spite of obstacles, the work went on with the view of re-assembling the council, and for the most part it was Charles patience and devo- tion that accomplished the object.

It was not till 18 January, 1562. that the council resumed at Trent, with two cardinals, 106 bishops, 4 mitred abbots, and 4 generals of religious orders pres- ent. The correspondence which passed between Charles and the cardinal legates at Trent is enormous, and the questions which arose many times threatened to bring about the breaking-up of the council. I tiffi- culties with the emperor, the national principles put forward on behalf of France bj thi I irdinal Charles of Lorraine, Archbishop of Reims, required from charl.s constant attention and the greatest delicacy and skill in treatment. The twenty fifth, and last, ses- sion of the council was held 3 and 4 December. 1563; at it were present 255 Fathi rs. At s consistory on the 26th of January. 1564, Pius IV continued the di of the council, and later appointed s congn gation of eight cardinals to see to the execution of these decrees.

During the sitting of the re-assembled council ( 'hades'

elder brother, Count Federigo, had died (28 Novem- ber, 1562). This event had a very determining

as to ( hades, for lie immediately resolved to give him- self with greater strictness to spiritual matters, and he

looked upon his brother'- death as a warning to him to give up all worldly things. Bis resolution was well needed, for, as he was now the head of the family,