Federico Borromeo
Encyclopedia
Federico Borromeo was an Italian ecclesiastic, cardinal
and archbishop of Milan
.
as the second son of Giulio Cesare Borromeo, Count of Arona
, and Margherita Trivulzio. The family was influential in both the secular and ecclesiastical spheres; Charles Borromeo
was his cousin.
He studied theology and law in Pavia
and in 1585 he went to Rome
for higher studies, where he was strongly influenced by Saint Philip Neri
, Cardinal Baronius and Cardinal Bellarmine. Borromeo was created cardinal by Pope Sixtus V
in 1587, when he was only 23, and archbishop
of Milan on 24 April 1595. During thirty-six years he gave the world an example of episcopal virtue, zeal, and dignity. He followed the example of his elder cousin in promoting the discipline of the clergy, founding churches and colleges at his own expense, and applying everywhere the reformed principles set by the Council of Trent
.
While at his service, Aquilino Coppini
published in 1607 his book of sacred madrigal
s with contrafacta
texts prepared by him, based on works by Claudio Monteverdi
and others.
In 1609 he founded the Biblioteca Ambrosiana
, a college of writers, a seminary of savants, a school of fine arts, and, after the Bodleian
at Oxford
, the first genuinely public library in Europe. Borromeo had the famous Saint Charles Borromeo statue erected in Arona
, supported the development of the Sacro Monte of Varese (today a World Heritage site
), and participated in the embellishment of the Duomo di Milano
where he was to be buried.
He is most notable for his efforts to feed the poor of Milan during the great famine
of 1627-1628. He took part in eight conclave
s.
He died in Milan in 1631. His successor in the archdiocese of Milan was his favourite pupil Cesare Monti
.
Federico Borromeo appears as a character in Alessandro Manzoni
’s novel The Betrothed
(I promessi sposi), in which he is characterized as an intelligent humanist. In 1685 the citizens of Milan erected a marble statue of him next to the gates of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana.
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
and archbishop of Milan
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan
The Archdiocese of Milan is a metropolitan see of the Catholic Church in Italy. It has long maintained its own rite: the Ambrosian rite. It is led by the Archbishop of Milan who serves as metropolitan to the dioceses of Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Crema, Cremona, Lodi, Mantova, Pavia, and Vigevano.The...
.
Biography
Federico Borromeo was born in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
as the second son of Giulio Cesare Borromeo, Count of Arona
Arona
-Places:Italy*Arona, Piedmont, a town in the Province of NovaraSpain*Arona, Tenerife, a municipality in the Canary IslandsUnited States*Arona, Pennsylvania-Persons:*Danilo Arona, Italian writer* Ricardo Arona, Brazilian mixed martial artist...
, and Margherita Trivulzio. The family was influential in both the secular and ecclesiastical spheres; Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
was his cousin.
He studied theology and law in Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
and in 1585 he went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for higher studies, where he was strongly influenced by Saint Philip Neri
Philip Neri
Saint Philip Romolo Neri , also known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".-Early life:...
, Cardinal Baronius and Cardinal Bellarmine. Borromeo was created cardinal by Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
in 1587, when he was only 23, and archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Milan on 24 April 1595. During thirty-six years he gave the world an example of episcopal virtue, zeal, and dignity. He followed the example of his elder cousin in promoting the discipline of the clergy, founding churches and colleges at his own expense, and applying everywhere the reformed principles set by the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
.
While at his service, Aquilino Coppini
Aquilino Coppini
Aquilino Coppini was an Italian musician and lyricist. While in the service of Cardinal Federico Borromeo, he specialized in creating sacred contrafacta of secular madrigals. His contrafacta are of interest for their concentration on Monteverdi's madrigals and for the form in which he treats the...
published in 1607 his book of sacred madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
s with contrafacta
Contrafactum
In vocal music, contrafactum refers to "the substitution of one text for another without substantial change to the music"....
texts prepared by him, based on works by Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
and others.
In 1609 he founded the Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Biblioteca Ambrosiana
The Biblioteca Ambrosiana is a historic library in Milan, Italy, also housing the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the Ambrosian art gallery. Named after Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan, it was founded by Cardinal Federico Borromeo , whose agents scoured Western Europe and even Greece and Syria for books...
, a college of writers, a seminary of savants, a school of fine arts, and, after the Bodleian
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, the first genuinely public library in Europe. Borromeo had the famous Saint Charles Borromeo statue erected in Arona
Arona, Italy
Arona is a town and comune on Lake Maggiore, in the province of Novara . Its main economic activity is tourism, especially from Milan, France and Germany.-History:...
, supported the development of the Sacro Monte of Varese (today a World Heritage site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
), and participated in the embellishment of the Duomo di Milano
Duomo di Milano
Milan Cathedral is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente , it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola....
where he was to be buried.
He is most notable for his efforts to feed the poor of Milan during the great famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
of 1627-1628. He took part in eight conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
s.
He died in Milan in 1631. His successor in the archdiocese of Milan was his favourite pupil Cesare Monti
Cesare Monti
thumb|Cardinal Cesare MontiCesare Monti was an Italian Catholic Cardinal who served as Patriarch of Antioch and Archbishop of Milan.-Early life:...
.
Federico Borromeo appears as a character in Alessandro Manzoni
Alessandro Manzoni
Alessandro Francesco Tommaso Manzoni was an Italian poet and novelist.He is famous for the novel The Betrothed , generally ranked among the masterpieces of world literature...
’s novel The Betrothed
The Betrothed
The Betrothed is an Italian historical novel by Alessandro Manzoni, first published in 1827, in three volumes. It has been called the most famous and widely read novel of the Italian language....
(I promessi sposi), in which he is characterized as an intelligent humanist. In 1685 the citizens of Milan erected a marble statue of him next to the gates of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana.
External links
- Federico Borromeo in the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Biography by P. Canetta (pdf)
- Genealogy:
- http://www.sardimpex.com/Borromeo/BORROMEO%202.htm
- http://genealogy.euweb.cz/italy/borromeo3.html