"He Emptied Himself."

In the second chapter of his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul quotes an early and popular hymn, known as the "Emptying Hymn".  It is familiar enough to us even to this day.  Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped,.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and, found in human appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.  (Phil 2: 5-  )
Appropriately, this passage falls on the Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, a powerful presence in the Counter Reformation and Cardinal Archbishop of Milan.  Born wealthy and "privileged" he emptied himself, living simply and humbly after ordination and consecration as a bishop, and working tirelessly for the poor, using his own resources to feed them and treat them during an epidemic of the plague in 1575.  Despite his small stature, a speech impediment and his soft spoken voice, he reformed the clergy who had drifted far from the ideals of priesthood and ministry, was instrumental in re-convoking the Council of Trent after a 10 year "recess" and began the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) to educate children and adults.  He died worn out by the indefatigable expenditure of his energies at the early age of 46 in 1584 and was canonized in  1610.  He took pastoring seriously, and followed as best he could the example of Jesus.  Needless to say, we need more Charles Borromeos in our own time. It is said that he always answers prayers, so let us pray to him for the necessary reform of the clergy and Church and the re-evangelization of  Christians today.
Bro. Rene