Born
in Montepulciano, Italy, on October 4, 1542. Saint Robert Bellarmine was the
third of ten children. His mother, niece of Pope Marcellus II, dedicated herself
to charity, prayer, meditation, fasting, and mortification.
Robert
entered the newly created Society of Jesus in 1560 and, after his
ordination, he taught in Louvain (1570-1576), where he became famous for his
Latin sermons. In 1576, the saint was appointed to the chair of controversial
theology at the Roman College, becoming rector in 1592; he then became
provincial of Naples in 1594 and cardinal in 1598.
Robert
defended the Apostolic See against the anti-clericals of Venice and against the
political principles of James I of England. He composed a comprehensive work of
apology against the dominant heresies of his time. In the area of relations
between Church and State, he adopted a position based on principles now
considered fundamentally democratic: authority comes from God, but belongs to
the people, who entrust it to their leaders.
This
saint was the spiritual father of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, he helped Saint Francis
de Sales obtain the formal approval of the Visitation order and, in his
prudence, he opposed harsh measures in the case of Galileo. He left many
important writings, including works of devotion and instruction, as well as
controversial works. He died in 1621, was canonized in 1930 by Pope Pius XI and
named a Doctor of the Church in 1931 by the same Pontiff.
PRAYER:
God, to vindicate the faith of your Church, you endowed Saint Robert, your
bishop, with marvelous learning and virtues. Through his intercession, grant
that your people may always rejoice in the integrity of that faith. Amen.
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