Catholic Pilgrimage PH | Homerun Nievera, Editor | Is it a coincidence, wherein two giant statues seem to foretell the plague that is the coronavirus centuries apart? We are referring to the two giant copper statues of Saint Charles Borromeo (in Milan, Italy) and the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA.

The coronavirus has ravaged many lives in many cities and countries all over the world. The economies of these affected countries are now hanging in the balance as the contagion has spread like wildfire as a record number of infections and deaths has been rising globally as of this writing.

Interestingly, centuries ago, in Milan, Italy, a similar plague hit the city, just like it did this year. Between 1576 to 1578, a strong outbreak of plague hit Milan and surrounding areas, killing 30% of the population. According to an article in Aleteia, the contagion later took on the name of the “Plague of St. Charles” in honor of St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan. Apparently, St. Charles played a crucial role in caring for the sick and their families during that time. It was reported that unlike civil authorities of that troubled period, the archbishop did not leave the city but stayed behind to coordinate health care efforts.

Later on, Saint Charles Borromeo’s heroic behavior during the plague won him much respect, and he gave away much of his wealth to feed the hungry and care for the sick in Milan. He was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1610.

In his honor, St. Charles Borromeo has a giant statue measuring 77 feet just outside his birthplace of Arrona. This same statue was the technical inspiration for the Statue of Liberty in New York — which was hit hard by the coronavirus this year with many infections and deaths. The magazine “French Genius” (late 19th century) depicted the St. Charles statue as an example of an existing statue that was used for the creation of the Statue of Liberty.

Interestingly, to date, both Italy and the United States rank among the top 3 countries where the coronavirus has claimed its most number of victims.

The statue of Saint Charles Borromeo is close enough to the New York statue by its large size and above all by design, embossed copper, as its sister in New York. The statue was designed by Giovan Battista Crespi, (known as Il Cerano), who worked there in 1697, and was erected by Siro Zanella of Pavia and Bernardo Falconi of Lugano.

The copper sheets for the St. Charles statue are 1.5mm thick while that of the Statue of Liberty is 2.3mm thick.  The building of the Statue of Liberty, besides the form and materials used for both giant embossed copper statues, offers other technical similarities between the two statues.  This includes the feature that people can go inside and climb to the top of both structures.

Coincidence or not, both giant statues seem to foretell the future that a pandemic will befall the cities where they both stand. Interestingly, both statues seem to declare a future where there is freedom from the plagues that devastated their lands with their raised hands.

As the patron saint of spiritual leaders, St. Charles Borromeo’s example for church leaders to go beyond the call of duty is worth emulating. This can be done by caring for their parishioners and flock as well as by tending to their physical needs especially during a crisis such as a coronavirus pandemic.

St. Charles Borromeo, was born on October 2, 1538, Arrona, and died on November 3, 1584. He was beatified on May 12, 1602, by Pope Paul V, and was canonized as a saint by Paul V on November 1, 1610. His feast day is November 4 and is considered as the patron saint of bishops, cardinals, seminarians, and spiritual leaders.

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A Novena to Saint Charles Borromeo

O glorious St. Charles, the father of the clergy, and the perfect model of holy prelates! You are that good pastor, who, like your divine Master, gave up your life for your flock, if not by death, at least by the numerous sacrifices of your painful mission. Your sanctified life on earth was a spur to the most fervent, your exemplary penance was a reproach to the slothful, and your untiring zeal was the support of the Church.

O great Prelate, since the glory of God and the salvation of souls are the only objects of solicitude to the blessed in heaven, vouchsafe to intercede for me now, and to offer up for the intention of this novena, those fervent prayers which were so successful while you were on earth.

[Mention your request]

You are, O great St. Charles, among all the Saints of God, one in whose intercession I should most confide, because you were chosen by God to promote the interests of religion, by promoting the Christian education of youth. You were, like Jesus Christ himself, always accessible to little ones; for whom you broke the bread of the word of God, and procured for them also the blessings of a Christian Education. To you, then, I have recourse with confidence, beseeching you to obtain for me the grace to profit of the advantages I enjoy, and for which I am so considerably indebted to your zeal. Preserve me by your prayers from the dangers of the world; obtain that my heart may be impressed with a lively horror of sin; a deep sense of my duty as a Christian; a sincere contempt for the opinion and false maxims of the world; an ardent love for God, and that holy fear which is the beginning of wisdom.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
St. Charles, pray for us.
St. Charles, imitator of Christ,
St. Charles, faithful follower of Christ crucified,
St. Charles, replenished with the spirit of the Apostles,
St. Charles, consumed with zeal for the glory of God,
St. Charles, the light and support of the Church,
St. Charles, Father and Guide of the Clergy,
St. Charles, most desirous of the salvation of souls,
St. Charles, a model of humility and penance,
St. Charles, most zealous, for the instruction of youth, pray for us.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, ​
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us, O Lord.

V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Charles.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.

Preserve Your Church, O Lord, under the continual protection of Your glorious Confessor and Bishop, St. Charles, that as he was eminent for the discharge of his pastoral duties, so his prayers may make us zealous in the love of Your holy name: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Citation: Richert, Scott P. “A Novena to Saint Charles Borromeo.” Learn Religions, Feb. 11, 2020, learnreligions.com/saint-charles-borromeo-novena-542537.

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