Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

"There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials."
- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (1568 - 1591)

Today is the feast day of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Aloysius was born in Castiglione, Italy, in 1568. The first names Aloysius spoke were the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Aloysius's father, who was in the service of King Philip II of Spain, wished for him to become a military hero, but at the age of 9 Aloysius had already decided on a religious life. At this same age he made a vow of perpetual virginity.   To keep himself from being tempted against his vow of virginity, he would keep his eyes downcast while in the presence of women. Saint Charles Borromeo gave Aloysius his First Communion. Around the age of 7, Aloysius had had a spiritual quickening. At this age, his prayers included the Office of Mary, the psalms, and other devotions. When he was 9, he was sent from Castiglione to Florence to be educated. When he was 11-years-old, Aloysius was already teaching the catechism to poor children, fasting three times a week and practicing great austerities. At the age of 13, Aloysius traveled with his parents and the Empress of Austria to Spain. While in Spain, Aloysius served as a page in the court of Philip II. As Aloysius saw more and more of court life he become more disillusioned, and often tried to find relief in reading about the lives of the saints. When he read a book about the experience of Jesuit missionaries in India, Aloysius thought of joining the Order. While still in Spain, Aloysius became determined to join the Jesuits. After four years of his father's refusal, Aloysius was finally allowed to join the Jesuits. As a young man, Aloysius helped serve in a hospital during the plague of 1591 in Milan. Aloysius also caught the disease himself because he nursed the plague patients, made their beds, washed them, etc. After his recovery from the disease, Aloysius continued to have a fever which made him so weak he could scarcely rise from bed. Aloysius kept his great discipline of prayer despite his weakness, and knew that he would die within the octave of the feast of Corpus Christi. Aloysius died in 1591 at the age of 23, after receiving the last rites from Saint Robert Bellarmine, who was also his spiritual director. The last word Aloysius spoke was the Holy Name of Jesus. 

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!

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Quote From, Picture Of, And Information About Saint Aloysius Taken From:

http://faithofthefatherssaints.blogspot.com/2012/06/saint-aloysius-gonzaga.html#.UcRgGRaffx4

http://colonialart.org/archive/836a-836b/saint-aloysius-gonzaga-1

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=15

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saintofday/