Post #5899

Furthermore, ordained a priest in Louvain on March 19, 1570, he taught theology so that he brought many heretics back to the unity of the Church, and was had as a very clear theologian in Europe, and St. Charles, Bishop of Milan, and others greatly desired him. He was called to Rome for desire of pope Gregory XIII, he taught at the Roman College the theological science on the controversies: and there elected master of spiritual life, he directed the angelic young penitent Louis Gonzaga in the ways of holiness. He himself governed under the mind of St. Ignatius the Roman College and then the Neapolitan Province of the Society of Jesus. He was sent by pope Sixtus V in diplomatic mission in France to defend the rights of the Church against the Huguenots. Recalled once again to Rome, he was employed by pope Clement VIII in very important affairs of the Church, with great advantage of the Christian cause, and collaborated in the revision of the Vulgate. Member of the Inquisition since 1597, later unwillingly and in vain reluctant he was counted in the number of Cardinals on the 3rd of March 1599, because, as the Pontiff himself openly asserted, then the Church of God did not have an equal one in doctrine. Appointed Bishop on March 18, 1602 and consecrated on April 21, 1602 by the same Pontiff, he most holyly administered the Archdiocese of Capua for three years: after deposing this post, he lived in Rome until his death, an integral and most faithful councilor of the Supreme Pontiff. He wrote much and very clearly, and he is deserving in the first place because, having St. Thomas as leader and teacher, a provident connoisseur of the needs of his times, with invincible strength of doctrine and a very large copy of testimonies drawn from the Holy Scriptures and from the very rich source of the Holy Fathers, he defeated the new errors, valiant advocate mainly of the Catholic tradition and of the rights of the Roman Pontificate against the King of England and against the Gallicans, and of ecclesiastical immunity against the Venetians. He is also famous for several books of piety, especially for the golden catechism which, although full of other very serious affairs, both in Capua and in Rome did not cease to teach children and the ignorant. A Cardinal of the same age judged Robert sent by God to instruct Catholics, cultivate the pious, overthrow heretics; St. Francis de Sales esteemed him as a source of doctrine; the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XIV called him the hammer of the heretics, and Benedict XV proposed him as an example to the propagators and defenders of the Catholic religion. A great lover of religious life, counted among the cardinals, he observed it exemplary. He did not want riches more than necessary; he contented himself with little servitude, with simple apparel and habit: he did not work on the wealth of his own, and would relieve just a bit their very misery. He felt very low about himself, and was of a marvelous simplicity of mind. He loved only the Mother of God; every day he devoted more hours to prayer. Living very frugal, he fasted three times a week: always austere with himself, burned with charity for his neighbor, very often appealed to the Father of the poor. He diligently endeavored not to stain baptismal innocence even with slight guilt. Almost octogenarian, in Rome, near Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, the cradle of his religious life, he fell into the last illness, which he made famous with the usual brilliance of virtue. Dying, Pope Gregory XV and many cardinals were present, regretting that so much support of the Church was taken away. On the day of the stigmata of St. Francis, whose memory he had obtained to be celebrated everywhere, he fell asleep in the Lord: it was September 17 of the year 1621. When he died, the whole city took part in his funeral, acclaiming him unanimously a saint.