Saint Charles Borromeo obtains various graces from the new Pope: he works vigorously for the reform of his Diocese, beginning with that of his own Household.
Immediately after the coronation of Pius V, Cardinal Borromeo prepared to return to his Diocese, intending henceforth to devote himself solely to the guidance of the Flock entrusted to his care. But he was still needed at the Roman Court. Among all the Cardinals, Prelates, and other Ministers of that Court, there was none so well-informed as Saint Charles regarding the current state of all matters concerning the affairs of the Holy See and the entire Church.
The late Pope having always entrusted the greater part of governance to the well-known prudence and wisdom of his Nephew, it was natural that he possessed particular knowledge on many important points, making his insight and presence, at least for a time, necessary under a new Pontificate.
He therefore needed to brief those who would be charged with affairs after him, and the Holy Father himself was very glad to have his advice and to benefit from the wisdom of his counsels. For his part, Saint Charles had to request various graces concerning the spiritual good of the Church. Pope Pius V granted him everything, and more than he asked: he opposed only the Cardinal's excessive eagerness to return to Milan. His Holiness, nevertheless edified by this very eagerness, detained him only a few months in Rome: he promised to ensure the execution of the Decrees of Trent, and to have the Roman Catechism printed as soon as possible, according to his wishes.
Meanwhile, the new Pope had the Provincial Council of Milan examined, which he approved by an express Bull: he issued several others to authorize the holy Archbishop to oblige all diocesans, without exception, to observe the Ordinances of that same Council.
When he was about to depart, His Holiness further gave him the power to use all means he judged useful for the advancement of the reformation of his Church, entrusting him at the same time with several Briefs for the Princes whose States extended to the Province of Milan: the Pope invited them all to favor the zeal and pious designs of the Archbishop, and to give him all the assistance dependent on their Authority for the accomplishment of the important work he was about to undertake for the honor of Religion and the salvation of souls.
The zeal and courage of St. Charles for the work of the Lord deserved to be thus crowned and supported. Nothing more was lacking to his holy desires than the success of his great designs for the happiness of his dear sheep. He saw the Apostolic See worthily filled by his efforts; his first Council, the great foundation of the projected reform, solemnly confirmed; and he could surely count on the protection of the Vicar of Jesus Christ in pursuing all the good he proposed to do with Divine assistance.
However, if the generous disinterest of our Saint in the last Conclave had edified some and disconcerted the politics of others, his eagerness to leave the Roman Court to return as soon as possible to Milan was no less astonishing to all those who knew equally his intentions and the current state of his Diocese.
The great work of a general reform had so far only been lightly sketched: one could say it had only been projected or proposed in the Provincial Council. It was a matter of undertaking it seriously to bring it to perfection. Judging humanly, the enterprise seemed beyond the strength of even the most zealous, most intrepid man.
The more one considered the multitude and depth of the evils of this afflicted Church, the more one had to be frightened by the stubborn resistance to be expected. The wisest perfectly understood to what labors, to what a series of unpleasantness, contradictions, and perils would be exposed the one who undertook to change the face of a great People and a numerous Clergy; both extremely corrupt, and as incapable of discipline as they were foolishly attached to all that flatters the senses and disordered passions. Saint Charles, though not far advanced in age, already knew the full depth of the wounds he believed himself charged to heal.
His short stay among his Flock after his first entry had allowed him to glimpse part of the evil; he had already learned much from the reports of his Grand Vicars; and he did not doubt that time would reveal more to him. But what might have discouraged another only served to rekindle his own courage.
The zeal that inflamed him, and the Spirit of Jesus Christ with which he was filled, allowed him to reflect only on his duty and on the help of grace, the mistress of hearts. Receiving the Holy Anointing on the very day of the Ordination of St. Ambrose, he had taken that great Bishop as his model, and, like him, he had devoted himself for the glory of God to all the labors of the Apostolate, to sufferings, persecutions, even to Martyrdom, if it pleased the Lord to accept the sacrifice of the Shepherd for the salvation of his Sheep.
In the entire course of this History, we shall see by what means this new Ambrose strove to draw upon himself and his enterprises the blessings of Heaven, the sole foundation of his hopes.
To give us an idea of the greatness and success of the labors of Saint Charles, his first Historian believed he must first make known both the extent of the Diocese of Milan and the sad spiritual situation in which it found itself in the sixteenth century.
Let us briefly relate here what this Author, as well-informed as he is sincere, recounts. It is known that the city of Milan is one of the largest in Italy and the Diocese is not confined to the Duchy of Milan alone.
The Archbishop has under his immediate Jurisdiction more than two thousand two hundred and twenty Churches, of which about fifty are Collegiate; the Clergy therefore cannot but be very numerous. This Ecclesiastical Province contains fifteen Bishoprics, several of which are very extensive: besides the State of Milan, it also embraces all of Montferrat, part of the lands of the Venetians, Piedmont, the State of Genoa, and borders the Mediterranean Sea to the Confines of Provence: while the proper Diocese of Milan borders on the other side with Germany, and extends into the Domain of the Swiss Lordship, into Valleys and onto almost inaccessible Mountains.
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Such was the theater of the labors of our Saint: for however vast his Diocese already was, which he often honored with his Pastoral Visits, he often extended his solicitude to all parts of the Province: he visited them sometimes by right of Metropolitan, and sometimes in the capacity of Apostolic Visitor, authorized by the Holy See to wage war everywhere against vice, libertinism, impiety, or error; to re-establish at the same time the holy rules and the vigor of discipline, despite oppositions or murmurings.
It was less, however, the number than the quality of the bad subjects that long exercised the zeal of the Man of God, without ever wearying his patience.
Source: The Life and Spirit of Saint Charles Borromeo – Father Antoine Touron – 1761