January 5th - St. Charles of Sezze

[Weedy]

January 5th - St. Charles of Sezze
Also known as
Carlo of Sezze
Giancarlo Marchioni
John Charles Marchioni
Karl av Sezze
Karl von Sezze

Memorials
6 January
5 January on some calendars
7 January on some calendars
18 January on some calendars
19 January on some calendars

(1613-1670)
Charles thought that God was calling him to be a missionary in India,
but he never got there. God had something better for this 17th-century
successor to Brother Juniper.

Born in Sezze, southeast of Rome, Charles was inspired by the lives of
Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan; he did that
in 1635. Charles tells us in his autobiography, "Our Lord put in my
heart a determination to become a lay brother with a great desire to
be poor and to beg alms for his love."

Charles served as cook, porter, sacristan, gardener and beggar at
various friaries in Italy. In some ways, he was "an accident waiting
to happen." He once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in
which he was frying onions burst into flames.

One story shows how thoroughly Charles adopted the spirit of St.
Francis. The superior ordered Charles - then porter - to give food
only to traveling friars who came to the door. Charles obeyed this
direction; simultaneously the alms to the friars decreased. Charles
convinced the superior the two facts were related. When the friars
resumed giving goods to all who asked at the door, alms to the friars
increased also.

At the direction of his confessor Charles wrote his autobiography, The
Grandeurs of the Mercies of God. He also wrote several other spiritual
books. He made good use of his various spiritual directors throughout
the years; they helped him discern which of Charles' ideas or
ambitions were from God. Charles himself was sought out for spiritual
advice. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a
blessing.

Charles had a firm sense of God's providence. Father Severino Gori has
said, "By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing
only that which is eternal" (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An
Autobiography, page 215).

He died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there. Pope
John XXIII canonized him in 1959.

Comment:
The drama in the lives of the saints is mostly interior. Charles' life
was spectacular only in his cooperation with God's grace. He was
captivated by God's majesty and great mercy to all of us.

Saints Quote
God does not command us to live in hair shirts and chains, or to
chastise our flesh with scourges, but to love Him above all things and
our neighbor as ourselves.
--Saint Charles of Sezze

Bible Quote:
Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man
love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. (1 John
2:15) DRB

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Canticle to the Holy Face
12 August 1895

Jesus, Your ineffable image
Is the star which guides my steps.
Ah, You know, Your sweet Face
Is for me Heaven on earth.
My love discovers the charms
Of Your Face adorned with tears.
I smile through my own tears
When I contemplate Your sorrows.

Oh! To console You I want
To live unknown on earth!
Your beauty, which You know how to veil,
Discloses for me all its mystery.
I would like to fly away to You!

Your Face is my only homeland.
It's my Kingdom of love.
It's my cheerful meadow.
Each day, my sweet sun.
It's the Lily of the Valley
Whose mysterious perfume
Consoles my exiled soul,
Making it taste the peace of Heaven.

It's my Rest, my Sweetness
And my melodious Lyre
Your Face, O my Sweet Savior,
Is the Divine Bouquet of Myrrh
I want to keep on my heart!

Your Face is my only wealth.
I ask for nothing more.
Hiding myself in it unceasingly,
I will resemble You, Jesus
Leave in me, the Divine Impress
Of Your features filled with sweetness,
And soon I'll become holy.
I shall draw hearts to You.

So that I may gather
A beautiful golden harvest,
Deign to set me aflame with Your Fire.
With Your adorned mouth,
Give me soon the Eternal Kiss!