Saint’s Life Story

His Early Life

Aloysius was born on March 9, 1568, in the family castle of Castiglione delle Stiviere in Montua, Lombardy, in northern Italy. “Aloysius” is the Latin form of his given name in Italian, “Luigi”. He was born into the Italian nobility, as the eldest son of eight children, to Ferrante, Marquis of Castiglione, and of Marta Tana Santena, lady-in-waiting to Isabel, the wife of Philip II of Spain, in whose court the marquis also held a high position. His father was also a general in the army of the Holy Roman Emperors Charles V and Philip II.

Military Camp at Five

As the firstborn son, Aloysius was in line to inherit his father’s title and status of Marquis. As the oldest son, Aloysius was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps through a military career. As early as age four, Aloysius was given a set of miniature guns and accompanied his father on training expeditions so that the boy might learn “the art of arms”. At age five, Gonzaga was sent to a military camp to get started on his training. A year later, Aloysius was taken by Don Ferrante to Casalmaggiore, where some three thousand soldiers were being trained for a Spanish expedition against Tunis.

During a stay extending over several months, Aloysius delighted to take part in parades, walking at the head of a platoon with a pike over his shoulder. Once he contrived, unnoticed and unassisted, to load a field piece which he fired off while the camp was at rest — to the general consternation. Through being left constantly in the company of soldiers, he learnt some of their coarse expletives and innocently repeated them on his return home. But when his tutor reproved him, pointing out that such language was not only vulgar, but definitely blasphemous, Aloysius was overcome with shame and sorrow. Indeed, he never ceased to lament what he regarded as a great sin.

Aloysius was of brilliant and open intelligence, with a strong and fiery character, sometimes obstinate and hard. He was once heard to say, “I am a twisted piece of iron that needs to be straightened.”

Spiritual Awakening

From his earliest years, Aloysius had said his morning and evening prayers. However, at the age of 7, Aloysius began every day on his knees reciting the Office of our Lady, the seven penitential psalms, and other devotions.

Left For Florence

Aloysius grew up amid the violence and intrigue of Renaissance Italy. So, in 1577, his father took him and his brother, Rodolfo, to Florence, Italy. There, he left them there under the guardianship of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francesco I de’ Medici, a member of the influential Medici family, to improve their Latin. Aloysius and Rodolfo served as pages in Francesco’s court, a role that involved household service, etiquette instruction, and establishment of important relationships for future benefits. Aloysius studied Latin, literature, philosophy, and history, and was exposed to physical disciplines, such as fencing and horseback riding.

By the age of nine, however, Luigi, now using his Latin name, Aloysius, was demonstrating more interest in piety and the lives of the saints than in the worldly pursuits that made up his life at court. Most of his free time was spent learning about the faith and praying.

Taught Catechism

At the age of 11, his father brought Aloysius and Rodolfo back home. After joining the court of Duke William Gonzaga of Mantua, Aloysius read a book of letters from Jesuit missionaries and was deeply moved by a letter from a Jesuit missionary from the Indies. Around this time, he made a private vow to live a celibate life devoted to God. Aloysius also resolved to renounce his firstborn rights. He began to embrace every virtue, especially purity. Aloysius became so engrossed in catechetical studies and the lives of the saints that he began teaching catechism to other children, realizing the importance of passing on his knowledge and faith to those less fortunate. .

First Communion by Saint Charles Borromeo

At the age of 12, Aloysius met Cardinal Saint Charles Borromeo. After expressing his desire to be a Jesuit missionary and undergoing examination by the cardinal, Aloysius so impressed Cardinal Saint Charles Borromeo that he personally prepared the boy for and administered his First Holy Communion on July 22, 1580, encouraging him to receive the Eucharist frequently. This transformative event instilled in him a deep sense of love and devotion towards the Eucharist, becoming a driving force throughout his life.

A Page in Spain

At the age of 13, his father was summoned to attend the Empress Mary of Austria on her journey from Bohemia to Spain. He brought his children with him. They arrived in Madrid in March 1582, where Gonzaga and Rodolfo became pages for the young Prince of the Asturia, Diego. Although, Aloysius waited on the young Diego and shared his studies, this work Aloysius never omitted or curtailed his devotions.

Aloysius started to seriously consider becoming a Jesuit. His mother was thrilled when he shared this desire, but his father was enraged, even threatening physical violence. Disappointment was mingled with a suspicion that his father was being made the victim of a scheme to induce him to give up gambling, at which he had recently been losing large sums of money. However, through the mediation of friends, his father relented and gave his consent to Aloysius.

The issue was that Aloysius would need to renounce his inheritance and noble status to become a Jesuit. When some family members suggested he become a secular priest, noting that they could arrange for him to be a bishop, Aloysius refused. He felt called to the Jesuits and had no interest in the nobility’s courtly advancement, wealth, or worldly honors.

Returned To Italy

When the Spanish infant prince died a year later, Aloysius and his family moved back to Italy in July 1584. Over the next few years, Aloysius’s piety grew, and his devotion to become a Jesuit solidified. His father and many others tried to dissuade him, even confining him for nine months. Eventually, through divine grace, hearts were softened, minds opened, and Aloysius’ father gave his reluctant consent. With his father’s approval, Aloysius passed his rank and inheritance to his brother, Rodolfo.

Jesuit Seminarian

At the age of 18, Aloysius moved to Rome and joined the Jesuit novitiate on November 25, 1585. Despite his noble background, Aloysius lived humbly in Rome. He advanced in prayer, often entering deep contemplation. He prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, grew in devotion to Our Lady, and always meditated on Christ’s Passion. He was obedient, manifested a pure and holy chastity, lived in poverty, and was charitable, especially towards the poor. He was also blessed to have Saint Robert Bellarmine as his spiritual director and teacher.

Gonzaga’s health continued to cause problems. He was sent to Milan for studies, but was sent back to Rome after some time because of his health. Two years later, Aloysius took the three religious vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. In February and March 1588, he received minor orders and started studying theology to prepare for ordination.

Helped Plague Victims

After briefly returning home to resolve a family dispute over land between his brother Rodolfo and the Duke of Mantua, Aloysius returned to Rome in 1591 when the bubonic plague was ravaging the city. The Jesuits opened a hospital for the stricken, and Aloysius volunteered to work there.

Despite the widespread fear, Aloysius dedicated himself to caring for the sick, dismissing concerns for his own health. He undertook all necessary tasks to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the sick. He instructed and exhorted the patients, washed them, made their beds, and performed with zeal the lowliest offices of the hospital.

Though he threw himself into his tasks, Aloysius privately confessed to his spiritual director, Saint Robert Bellarmine, that his constitution was revolted by the sights and smells of the work. So, Aloysius had to work hard to overcome his physical repulsion.

His Death

While caring for the sick, Aloysius himself become infected with the disease. He grew ill and was bedridden by March 3, 1591, a few days before his 23rd birthday. Aloysius declined for many weeks and endured much suffering. He embraced his suffering with much rejoicing and even prophesied the day of his death, which was revealed to him in a vision.

Late at night on June 20, Aloysius requested that Saint Robert Bellarmine recite the prayers for the departing. Laying very still, Aloysius occasionally murmured, ” Into thy hands. After midnight on June 21, 1591, with his eyes fixed on the crucifix and with the name of Jesus upon his lips, Aloysius died in Rome, Italy at the young age of 23.

The relics of Saint Aloysius now lie under the altar in the Lancellotti Chapel of the church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Rome, Italy.

Born:                    March 9, 1568, in the family castle of Castiglione delle Stiviere in Montua, Lombardy, Italy

Died:                    June 21, 1591 age 23 in Rome, Italy

Beatified:             October 19, 1605 by Pope Paul V

Canonized:          December 31, 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

Feast Day:           June 21

Patron Saint:    AIDS/HIV Caregivers; AIDS/HIV Patients; Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy; Catholic Youth; Jesuit Students; Young People

Source:

• CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
• Saint Aloysius Gonzaga – My Catholic Life!
• Butler’s Lives Of The Saints Complete Edition – St Aloysius Gonzaga
• Saint Aloysius Gonzaga – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
• Aloysius Gonzaga – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

St. Aloysius Gonzaga: Youthful Faith – YouTube Video (Awaken The Saint)