ABOUT ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE
A saint who testified to the teachings of scholarship and the church through his life and did not lose the light of faith even in the midst of the chaos of the times. Roberto Bellarmine guides our community to maintain faith and conscience in the world.
St. Roberto Bellarmino (1542-1621)
"Whoever finds God finds everything; whoever loses God loses everything." - St. Roberto Bellarmino
Saint Robert Bellarmine, born in Italy in 1542, was a Jesuit priest and a leading Catholic theologian who was later declared a Doctor of the Church. From a young age, he broadly explored philosophy, rhetoric, and theology. At the University of Louvain, he felt the need to systematically organize Catholic doctrine based on his studies of the Bible and the Church Fathers. Later, he was called to Rome and published his masterpiece, Against Heresies, a comprehensive collection of Catholic theology, clearly presenting the Church's position amidst debates with the Reformers. While this work has been criticized for its theological views on the papacy and secular power of the time, it remains a significant work that serves as a benchmark for Catholic theology to this day.
He also wrote a catechism for children and teachers, which was widely acclaimed for its clear and easy-to-understand explanations. This catechism was translated into over 60 languages and had a profound impact on catechesis worldwide. In Rome, he served as a spiritual director and mentored many seminarians, including St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Even after becoming a cardinal, he maintained his frugal lifestyle and a heart for helping the poor. During his brief ministry as Archbishop of Capua, near Naples, he emphasized clerical reform and laity education. Returning to Rome, he held various positions in the Vatican and addressed the theological controversies of the time. He was particularly involved in the Galilean heliocentric controversy, but he maintained a cautious judgment to ensure that theology and science could coexist harmoniously.
He died in 1621, and his canonization was long delayed for political reasons. However, he was beatified in 1923, canonized in 1930, and canonized as a Doctor of the Church the following year. His remains are currently interred in the Basilica of Saint Ignatius in Rome, and his feast day is September 17th.