I realize I talk a lot about my experiences at Borgia High School. That school formed me as a priest and as a hu- man being. This week is the feast of St. Francis Borgia, so it might be good to know about this saint to whom I dedicated almost half my life.
When people hear the word Borgia around Franklin County and the St. Louis area, they may think of a lot of things: Excellence in academics, sports, theatre, technology, dance, cheerleading, service; Tradition; Borgia Pride. But in the larger world, the name “Borgia” has a much more ominous and sinister meaning. It connotes intrigue, corruption, dishonesty, scheming and deceit.
The Borgia Family, in a word, was infamous. Alexander VI, one of the so-called Borgia Popes, is generally re- garded as the absolute nadir of the Papacy, having fa- thered seven children and living a life of debauchery. (Although, to be fair, even he did some reforms and ad- vanced science and learning.) Cesare Borgia was the model for Machiavelli’s evil Prince in the book of that same name. He stands as a symbol of one who would try to get ahead in the world at all costs, no matter the means. (In case you were wondering, he is also a major character in the video game Assassin’s Creed: Brother- hood.) Lucretia Borgia, even though later in life became rather upright and religious, is known for her double deal- ing and evil. You know your family is rather infamous when Showtime has a mini-series based on them, called appropriately, The Borgias.
So why would anyone name a school after such people?
Well, three years before Machiavelli wrote The Prince, 1510, Francisco de Borja y Aragon was born. He be- came St. Francis Borgia, the patron of both the parish and the high school in WashMo. He had an interesting pedigree. One of his great grandfathers was King of Spain. Another great grandfather was a Pope. (Wait, what?) Nevertheless, Francis himself was an amazing, holy and righteous man. And there are three things about his life that stand out in my humble opinion.
First, he was a man who changed his life in mid- stream. A husband and father (eight children, one more than his great-grandfather Pope Alexander VI), after his beloved wife, Eleanor passed away he decided to join the Jesuits at the age of forty. Why the Jesuits? Fate, perhaps. It is recounted that one day Francis passed through Alcala with his entourage and exchanged a glance with a poor man being escorted to prison by the Inquisition. That glance may have changed Francis’ life, though he didn’t know it at the time. That man being es- corted was St. Ignatius of Loyola. And years later, St. Francis would take over for him as head of his order. Even though he made this decision, he still had to fulfill his obligations as a father by making sure all of his children were taken care of into their adult lives. St. Francis Borgia stands as a model for everyone who begins a second career.
Secondly, he was a man of service. He gave his life for the Jesuit order becoming their third superior general, and starting many schools around Europe. He was truly a man for others, tirelessly working and struggling for Christ and other human beings. St. Francis was respon- sible for sending Jesuits out into the expanding world and thus is directly responsible for the seeds of Catholi- cism here in the St. Louis area.
Lastly, he was a deeply spiritual man. Humble, prayerful, he was a man who deserved honor and re- spect, but who was self-deprecating and quiet, never seeking out glory for himself. He never wore priestly clothes since it would draw undo attention to himself, preferring instead to wear ordinary clothes like everyone else. As one of his biographers said, he was one of the sweetest, noblest men our poor old world has known. In his portraits, he is often seen holding a skull with a crown on its head. I looked and looked to find the reason. My best guess is that it was a stark reminder to him of the fleeting nature of power, riches and fame and we would be best to seek after the things that last forever.
When he went into the Jesuits he had to ask the Emper- or for permission since Francis had a great deal of land and wealth, land and wealth he would now have to re- lease. Charles, the Emperor, knew Francis, and espe- cially knew about his sanctity and humility. He wrote back to him and gave him, what I would consider, the greatest compliment: “The number of those who will envy you will be greater than those who will imitate you, since it is easy to admire beautiful examples, but difficult to follow them.”
As far as I can tell, Borgia High School in Washington, Missouri, is the only high school in the world to be named after St. Francis Borgia. It is my fervent belief that it is his tradition, of faith, of service, of goodness and not the sinister one of his family, that remains at that high school named after St. Francis. I saw it in my fellow fac- ulty members who work tirelessly for their students, I saw it in the community which seeks to see their young peo- ple through to adulthood, I saw it in a student body that never ceases to amaze me with their drive, generosity and caring. He made the Borgia name noble again.
Hopefully I will not just admire his example, but will imitate that example.
St. Francis Borgia Feast Day is October 10.
Father Kevin