CHARLES
621
CHARLES
expense. This order brought about difficulties with
his own relations. Two of his aunts, sisters of Pius
IV, had entered the Order of St. Dominie; they re- sented the setting up of the grilles as easting a slur on their convent. Charles, in a letter (2sth April, 1565) displaying much thought and great tact, strove to bring his aunts to see the good purpose of the order, but without success, and the pope wrote on the 26th of -May, 1565, telling them that lie had given general orders for the setting up of the grilles, and that it would be pleasing to him that those united to nim by ties of blood and affection should set a good example to other convents.
Notwithstanding the support which Charles gave, Ormaneto was discouraged by the checks with which he met, and wished to return to his own diocese. Charles pressed the pope to allow him to leave Rome, and at the same time encouraged Ormaneto to re- main. At last the pope gave his consent to Charles visiting his flock and summoning a provincial coun- cil; but, desiring his stay to be a short one, he created Charles legate a latere for all Italy. Charles prepared to start, chose canonists to help t he council, and wrote to the Court of Spain and Philip II. He left Rome 1 .September, ami, passing through Florence, Bologna, Modena, and Parma, he made his solemn entry into Milan on Sunday, 23 September, 1565. His arrival was the occasion of great rejoicings, and the people did their utmost to welcome the first resident archbishop for eighty years. On the following Sun- day he preached in the Duomo, on the words: " Wit h desire I have desired to eat this pasch with you" (Luke, xxii, 15).
On the 15th of October the first provincial council met. It. was attended by ten out of the fifteen bish- ops of the province, those absent being represented by their procurators. Three of these prelates were cardinals, and one, Nicolo Sfondrato of Cremona, was afterwards pope with the title of Gregory XIV. Charles announced that the reform must begin with the prelates: "We ought to walk in front, anil our spiritual subjects will follow us more easily." lb' commenced by fulfilling all things required in himself, and his wonderful energy astonished the prelates. The council was finished on the 3d of November, and Charles sent a minute report to the pope. On the 6th of November he went to Trent as legato, to meet the Archduchesses Giovanna and Barbara, who were to be married to the Prince of Florence and t he Duke of Ferrara. Charles conducted Barbara to Ferrara and Giovanna toTuscany, whereat Fiorenzuola, he received the news of the pope's serious illness. He reached Rome to find that the pope's condition was hopeless,
aiid he it once bade the Holy Father turn .ill his
thoughts to his heavenly home. ( )n the 10th of
December Pius IV died, assisted by two saints, Charles and Philip Xeri. On the 7th of January, 1566, the conclave for the election of his successor was concluded by the election of Cardinal Michele Ghislieri, O. P., of Alessandria, Bishop of Mondovi, who. at t he request of Charles, took the name of Pius
V. It has been maintained that Charles al first fav- oured Cardinal Morone, but his letter to the King of Spain (Sylvain, I. 309) seems to prove that he did his utmost to secure the election of Cardinal Ghislieri.
Pius V wished to keep Charles to assist him in Home; but though Charles delayed his dip for some time, in the end his earnest represent
obtained permission for him to return to Milan, al least he r. He returned to his see, 5 April,
1566, having made a detour to visit the sanctuary of Our Lady of LoretO. Charles showed admirably how t lie Church had the power to reform from within. and, though the task he had to do was gigantic, he set about its execution with great calmness and con- fidence. He began with his household, save up much of his property to the poor, and insisted that in all
that concerned liimself personally the greatest econ-
omy should be used; for his position as archbishop
and cardinal he required due respect. He practised
great mortification, and whatever the Council of
Trent or his own provincial council had laid down for
the life of the bishops he carried out, not only in the
letter, but also in the spirit.
The rules for the management of his household, both in spiritual and temporal affairs, are to be found in the Acta Ecclesise Mediolanensis". The result of the care that was taken of his household was seen in the many members of it who became distin- guished bishops and prelates. More than twenty were chosen to fill important sees on account of the bright example they had shown while members of the cardinal's household; one of these was Dr. Owen Lewis, fellow of New College, Oxford, who taught at Oxford and Douai, and after being vicar-general to St. Charles was made Bishop of Cassano in Calabria.
The administration of the diocese needed to be per- fected; he therefore chose a vicar-general of exem- plary life, learned in law and ecclesiastical discipline. He also appointed two other vicars, one for civil and the other for criminal causes. He associated with them other officials, all chosen for their integrity, and took care that they should be well paid, so as to preclude all suspicion of venality. Corruption in such matters was specially distasteful to him. Whilst providing for upright officials, the needs of the pris- oners were not forgotten, and in time his court was known as the holy tribunal. He so organized his administration that by means of reports and con- ferences with the visitors and the vicars forane, his pastoral visits were productive of great fruit. The canons of his cathedral chapter were in turn the object of his reforming care. He put before them his plan of giving them definite work in theology and in connexion with the Sacrament of Penance. They welcomed his reforms, as he wrote to Monsignor Bonome: "The result of the way I have taken is very different to that in vogue to-day" (27 April, 1566). Pius V congratulated Charles on his success and ex- horted him to continue the work.
Another great work which was begun at this time was that of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, in order that the children might be carefully and systematically instructed. This work was really the beginning of what is now known as the Sunday- school, and there is a remarkable testimony to this in an inscription under a statue outside the Kssex Uni- tarian Church. Kensington, London, where Cardinal Borromeo is mentioned in connexion with the work. The visitation of his flock was steadily carried out and various pious foundations were made to succour the needy and sinners. In 1567 opposition began to be made to his jurisdiction. The officials of the King of
Spain announced that they would inflict severe pen- alties on the archbishop's officers if they imprisoned
any more laymen, or carried arms. The matter was referred to the king, and finally to the pope, who I il Milan to support the ecclesi- astical authority. Peace was not restored; and I lie
bargello, or sheriff, of the archbishop was imprisoned. The archbishop pronounced sentence of excommuni- cation on the captain of justice and several other officials. Much trouble followed, a, id again the mat- ter was laid before the pope, who decided in favour
of the archbishop.
In October, 1567, Charles started to visit three Swiss valleys, I.evantina. Bregno, and I. a Riviera. Ill most part-, indeed, there was much to reform. The clergy especially were in many cases so lax and careless, and even living scandalous lives, that the people had gTOWS Up to lie equally negligent and sinful. The hardships of this journey were great; Mi' e||, ,| nn a mule. I ml sometimes on h.oi , over most difficult and even dangerous ground. His
