Memorial of Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
St. Robert Bellarmine - Defender and Teacher of faith
When Peter's boat seems to be sinking, God always sends rescue. This was also the case during the Protestant attacks on the Church in the 16th century. Divine Providence, in the face of violent anti-Catholic protests, gave the Church an ideal defender of faith and a teacher in the person of St. Robert Bellarmine. A titan of work, intelligent, brilliant and passionate polemicist, he is an excellent role model for theologians, intellectuals, bishops and modest religious.
St. Roberto Francesco Romolo was born on October 4, 1542, to a wealthy family in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. His mother, Cinzia Cervini, was the sister of the later Pope Marcellus II, and his father, Vincent, was related to the illustrious families of Italy. When Robert was 15, the Jesuits opened a school in his city. Robert was one of its first alumni. After graduating, in 1560 he joined the Society of Jesus. After studying philosophy at the Roman College, he continued his studies in Florence and Mondovi. Then his superiors sent him to study theology in Padua, and then to Louvain in Belgium. After graduating, he was ordained priest in 1570. He was then 28 years old.
At the University of Louvain, an intelligent, penetrating student turned into an excellent teacher. At the same time, he was the prefect of studies and spiritual director at the local college. There were fierce discussions about the truths of faith attacked by Protestants. St. Robert attended them with great passion. It was under these circumstances that the original style of his apologetic speeches and writings arose.
Summoned to Rome
Robert Bellarmine's fame grew, and finally, at the request of Pope Gregory XIII, his superiors transferred him to Rome. While working at the Roman College, he wrote the work that made him most famous: “Controversy”. In 1592 Bellarmine was appointed rector of the Roman College. Modest, ascetic - he aroused admiration with his knowledge. In 1597, Clement VIII summoned him to Rome as his adviser and examiner of bishops. The Pope entrusted him with so many tasks that the curialists were surprised how he could cope with them. At the same time, in 1597, he published an excellent Catechism.
Inquisitor, cardinal, bishop
His titanic work, great knowledge, modesty and zealous defense of faith elevated him to the position of the inquisitor of Rome. As a reward for great services to the Church, Pope Clement VIII in 1599 also appointed St. Robert a cardinal. Three years later he was consecrated a bishop and took over the Capua diocese. As a bishop, he chose to work with the clergy, care for the poor and the liturgy as his program. His favorite reading was the lives of holy bishops, from which he wanted to draw patterns. After the death of Pope Clement VIII during the conclave, he was almost elected pope.
The sanctity of life did not save Robert Bellarmine from attacks and accusations. He was accused of condemning Galileo. As a member of the Congregation of the Holy Office, he considered it his duty of conscience to condemn the polemical conclusions that Galileo drew from the work of Nicolaus Copernicus of the criticism of the Church.
Return to the monastery
In 1621, as 79-year-old Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, took part in the conclave for the second time, during which Gregory XV was elected Pope. Feeling that he was already weakening, he pleaded with the new pope to let him return to the Jesuit monastery. He moved to the novitiate house at the church of St. Andrew the Apostle. The dying man was visited personally by the Pope. Cardinal Bellarmine died on September 17, 1621. His beatification process was long. It was Pius XI who beatified him in 1923, and seven years later he canonized him. In 1931 he also proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church. Relics of St. Robert are in the church of St. Ignatius in Rome. We celebrate his liturgical memorial on September 17.
For the glory of the Church
To illustrate the sanctity of Robert Bellarmine and his defense of the glory of the Church, we will use a few passages from his writings. When St. Robert became a cardinal, he made the following decisions: Not to amass a fortune, not to support relatives but the poor, to always be a religious. He remained faithful to these assumptions until his death. Our saint, in his humility and modesty, even thought of giving up purple cassock, but quickly - for the glory of the Church - he chased these thoughts away. He wrote to the Jesuit Provincial in 1599: “It seems to me that my efforts would be useless and that people would find them another quirk. Moreover, I do not know if God would have liked my decision, because His will forced me to accept this dignity. If I changed my life by reducing the number of my entourage or wearing a modest dress, people would say that I am trying to introduce reforms that even the most strict and virtuous cardinals would not agree to. For example, Saint Antoninus wrote in his treatise De statu cardinalium that a certain splendor is necessary if the sacred college is to enjoy due respect in the world.”
"Papal dilemma"
Robert Bellarmine was forced to consider the very delicate and difficult question for a Catholic as to the situation in which to oppose a papal decision, if required by the Glory of God. He wrote an essay On the Pope's Main Duty, in which he lists 7 sources of abuse. In another treatise, he argued that as just as it is to oppose a pope who attacks the body, it is also just to oppose him when he attacks the soul or when he disturbs the social order, and above all if he attempted to destroy the Church. “I believe it is fair to go against him by not obeying his orders and by interfering with his will. He made a reservation, however, that it is not just to judge him (the pope), punish or overthrow him, because such acts are the responsibility of the superior”.
Regardless of the person ...
St. Robert was no respecter of persons when it came to the glory of Christ, Our Lady and the Church. He harshly criticized those priests who had erred either theologically or morally. At the same time, he was always able to maintain his brotherly love.
His spirit of prayer, his singular delicacy of conscience and freedom from sin, his spirit of humility and poverty, together with the disinterestedness which he displayed as much under the cardinal's robes as under the Jesuit's gown, his lavish charity to the poor, and his devotedness to work, had combined to impress those who knew him intimately with the feeling that he was of the number of the saints.
The treasure of your heart
St. Robert Bellarmine wrote: “If you have wisdom, may you understand that you have been created for the glory of God and for your eternal salvation. This is your goal, this is the center of your soul, this is the treasure of your heart. Therefore, consider as truly good for you what leads you to your goal, and truly evil what causes you to miss it. The wise person must not seek felicitous or adverse events, wealth or poverty, health or sickness, honors or offences, life or death. They are good and desirable only if they contribute to the glory of God and to your eternal happiness, they are evil and to be avoided if they hinder it” (De ascensione mentis in Deum, grad. 1).
Until Tomorrow
fr. george