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Feast Day: September 17
Also known as
Bellarmino
Profile
Third of
ten
children. His
mother, Cinzia Cervini, a niece of
Pope
Marcellus II, was dedicated to
almsgiving, prayer, meditation, fasting, and mortification; his
father was Vincenzo Bellarmino. Suffered assorted health problems all
his life.
Jesuit educated. Became a Jesuit on
20 September
1560.
Taught Greek, Hebrew, and
theology at Louvain,
Florence, and Mondovi from
1570 to
1576 when he was appointed to the chair of controversial
theology at the Roman College.
Priest. Became college rector in
1592. Provincial of
Naples in
1594. Created
Cardinal in
1598 by
Pope Clement VIII, he lived an austere life in
Rome, giving most of his money to the
poor. At one point he used the tapestries in his living quarters to
clothe the
poor, saying that "the walls won't catch cold."
Defended the Apostolic See against anti-clericals in
Venice, and the political tenets of James I of
England.
Wrote exhaustive works against heresies of the day. Took a position
fundamentally democratic - authority originates with God, is vested in the
people, who entrust it to fit rulers, a concept which brought him trouble
with the
kings of both
England and
France.
Spiritual father of Saint
Aloysius Gonzaga. Helped Saint
Francis de Sales obtain formal approval of the Visitation Order.
Opposed severe action against
Galileo Galilei.
Archbishop of Capua in
1602.
Preacher. Defender of the faith against Protestants, especially
against abuses in
Germany and
England. Revised Bible translations.
Wrote two
catechisms.
Theological advisor to
Pope Clement VIII and
Pope
Paul V.
Taught
catechism to
children.
Head of the Vatican library. Proposed as
Pope. Proclaimed a
Doctor of the Church in
1931.
Born
4 October
1542 at Montepulciano,
Tuscany,
Italy
Died
17 September
1621 at
Rome; relics in the church of Saint Ignatius,
Rome
Beatified
1923 by
Pope
Pius XI
Canonized
1930 by
Pope
Pius XI
Patronage
canon lawyers,
canonists,
catechists,
catechumens,
archdiocese of
Cincinnati Ohio
Readings
Charity is
that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.
Saint Robert Bellarmine
"Sweet
Lord, you are meek and merciful." Who would not give himself
wholeheartedly to your service, if he began to taste even a little of your
fatherly rule? What command, Lord, do you give your servants? "Take my
yoke upon you," you say. And what is this yoke of yours like? "My yoke,"
you say, "is easy and my burden light." Who would not be glad to bear a
yoke that does no press hard but caresses? Who would not be glad for a
burden that does not weigh heavy but refreshes? And so you were right to
add: "And you will find rest for your souls." And what is this yoke of
yours that does not weary, but gives rest? It is, of course, that first
and greatest commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart." What is easier, sweeter, more pleasant, than to love goodness,
beauty, and love, the fullness of which you are, O Lord, my God?"
Is it not true that you promise those who keep your commandments a reward
more desirable than great wealth and sweeter than honey? You promise a
most abundant reward, for as your apostle James says: "The Lord has
prepared a crown of life for those who love him." What is this crown of
life? It is surely a greater good than we can conceive of or desire, as
Saint Paul says, quoting Isaiah: "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor
has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love
him."
from On the Ascent of the Mind to God by Saint Robert Bellarmine
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