Homily: St. Robert Bellarmine, Patron Saint of Catechists, Incorrupt

The Opening Prayer for the Mass referred to the Bishop Robert Bellarmine’s wonderful learning and virtue.  St. Robert Bellarmine is celebrated today as a doctor of the Church.  He was a brilliant man.  He was devoted to studying Church History, the Fathers of the Church, and Scripture even from his youth.  He became a Jesuit priest, and taught in Rome, at what is now the Gregorian University, and later became the first Jesuit professor at the University of Louvain in Belgium. 

Robert Bellarmine was made a Cardinal by Pope Clement VIII.  But as a Cardinal Prince of the Church, St. Robert insisted on living a simple life rather than embracing the privileges he could have had.  He abstained from luxurious meals, and gave away many of his possessions to clothe the poor. 

Here was a man totally dedicated to Christ and His Church.  He devoted his life to the study of Scripture and Catholic doctrine.  One Church historian has said, “His first ambition was to be a doctor of medicine. His final triumph was to be declared a Doctor of the Church”

St. Robert Bellarmine is the Patron Saint of Catechists and also Catechumens; he wrote two catechisms, one for children and one for teachers, as well as numerous catechetical and spiritual treatises, commentaries on scripture, and other works. 

What a wonderful Saint for this Year of Faith, as we are reminded of the need to learn and understand our faith in order to defend it when it is under attack and also to spread it when the time is right.  For Catholics are not to mindlessly recite our creeds and doctrines, but we are to always be learning and seeking to understand our faith

St. Robert wrote: ““If you have wisdom, may you understand that you have been created for the glory of God and for your eternal salvation. This is your goal, this is the center of your soul, this the treasure of your heart.  If you reach this goal, you will find happiness.  If you fail to reach it, you will find misery.”

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Saint Robert Bellarmine worked for true reform in the Church through his learning and his integrity and holiness of life.  He reminds us with the example of his own life that there can be no true reform of the Church unless there is first our own personal reform and the conversion of our own heart.

St. Robert's relics lie incorrupt in the Church St. Ignatius in Rome, incorrupt, perhaps to remind us that his lifestyle and dedication to Christ should be imitated by Christians for all ages.  With St. Robert Bellarmine’s help, may we all come to that great rejoicing in the profession of our faith, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.