St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Feast Day June 21st

Patron Saint of Roman Catholic youth, young students

As a son of a princely family, he grew up in royal courts and army camps. His father wanted Aloysius to be a military hero. At age 7 he experienced a profound spiritual quickening. His prayers included the Office of Mary, the psalms, and other devotions. At age 9 he came from his hometown of Castiglione to Florence to be educated; by age 11 he was teaching catechism to poor children, fasting three days a week, and practicing great austerities. When he was 13 years old, he traveled with his parents and the Empress of Austria to Spain and acted as a page in the court of Philip II. The more Aloysius saw of court life, the more disillusioned he became, seeking relief in learning about the lives of saints.

A book about the experience of Jesuit missionaries in India suggested to him the idea of entering the Society of Jesus, and in Spain his decision became final. Now began a four-year contest with his father. Eminent churchmen and laypeople were pressed into service to persuade him to remain in his “normal” vocation. Finally he prevailed, was allowed to renounce his right to succession, and was received into the Jesuit novitiate.

In 1591, a plague struck Rome. The Jesuits opened a hospital of their own. Though in delicate health, he devoted himself to the care of the sick. Because he nursed patients, washing them and making their beds, Aloysius caught the disease himself. A fever persisted after his recovery and he was so weak he could scarcely rise from bed. Yet, he maintained his great discipline of prayer, knowing that he would die within the octave of Corpus Christi, three months later, at the age of 23.

He was beatified by Gregory XV in 1621 and canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726.

Sources:

_{https://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/01331C.HTM
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-aloysius-gonzaga/
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2212
http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Aloysius%20popup.html}