Charles was born in 1538 into a noble family at Arona, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, north Italy. His uncle was Pope Pius IV. A lawyer, he was summoned to Rome by his uncle, and at age 21, he was created cardinal priest of Santa Prassede, although he was only ordained when in 1564 he became archbishop of Milan. He zealously applied the teachings of the Council of Trent to his diocese, establishing seminaries and schools and renewing the life of the clergy. During the plague of 1576 he was active in the care of the sick. He died at age 46 on 3 Nov 1584 and was buried in the Milan Cathedral. He was canonised in 1610. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 3117; Vatican II Weekday Missal 1975, p 1802-03
