St. Aloysius Gonsaga: Patron of Youth

By Leon Bent –

Saint Aloysius de Gonzaga, S.J. was an Italian aristocrat who became a member of the Society of Jesus. While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a young man caring for plague victims. His feast day is celebrated on June 21.

The Lord can make saints anywhere, even amid the brutality and license of Renaissance life. Florence was the “mother of piety” for Aloysius Gonzaga despite his exposure to a “society of fraud, dagger, poison, and lust.” 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 Aloysius experienced a profound spiritual quickening. His prayers included the Office of Mary, the psalms, and other devotions. As early as age seven, however, Aloysius started having other plans for his life. He was bedridden with a type of malarial fever. Along with the germ that made him ill, God planted another seed that would germinate in time. At this tender age, he revealed to his mother, Marta, his desire to devote his life to God. She said that it might be difficult, as he was the eldest of the family. Nonetheless, this aspiration grew along with the conviction that court life was not for him. I believe this desire to bypass a lavish life-style reveals Aloysius’ inner strength.

Though pampered from his earliest days, Aloysius started living as strictly as a Carthusian monk. For example, though he had the finest cuisine available, he fasted on bread and water three days a week. While his six siblings were attired in the flamboyant costumes of the Renaissance, he chose to dress very modestly, often simply in black clothing. He avoided the parties held at the court and lived a prayerful life.

In addition to this outward disavowal of court life, he embraced quite severe penances. For instance, he would get up in the night to pray, kneeling on the stone floor without a cushion; when it was cold, he would open the window and wear light clothing; he scourged himself with a dog leash, and practised “custody of the eyes” in the company of women. This latter instance has earned him the reputation of being overly prudish, but at least his intention seems to have been pure.

A book about the experience of Jesuit missionaries in India suggested the idea of entering the Society of Jesus, and in Spain his decision became final. He went to his bed-ridden father and said: “I am in your power, father, and you can do with me as you please. But I know God is calling me to the Society of Jesus, and you are resisting His Will by opposing my vocation.” After Aloysius left the room, Don Ferdinand burst into tears. The father summoned Aloysius back to his room, revealed his love for him, and said, “I had set all my hopes in you…I will not keep you back any longer; go where you will.”

Shortly before ordination, while nursing victims of the plague, he contracted the disease and died. He was named patron of youth by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729, an action confirmed by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

Now, this gold nugget! He was 23 years old. In a letter addressed to his mother shortly before his death, he wrote, “Our parting will not be for long; we shall see each other again in heaven; we shall be united with our Saviour; there we shall praise him with heart and soul, sing of his mercies forever, and enjoy eternal happiness.”

And, this final flourish! It is an interesting phenomenon that when one meets a saint, one often meets multiple saints. This is just as true in the life of St. Aloysius as anywhere. St. Aloysius received his first communion from St. Charles Borromeo and was formed by St. Robert Bellermine during his time in the Jesuit Order. It is no coincidence that saints are found in clusters. This is because Christianity is difficult to live alone.

The Punch Line! St. Aloysius believed, “I am a crooked piece of iron, and have come into religion to be made straight, by the hammer of mortification and penance.” The youthful saint reminds us that it is the work of Christ to make us straight. No matter our past; no sin is bigger than God’s love.

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Leon Bent is an ex-Seminarian and studied the Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Philosophy, from St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He holds Masters Degree in English Literature and Aesthetics. He has published three Books and have 20 on the anvil. He has two extensively “Researched” Volumes to his name: Hail Full of Grace and Matrimony: The Thousand Faces of Love. He won The Examiner, Silver Pen Award, 2000 for writing on Social Issues, the clincher being a Researched Article on Gypsies in India, published in an issue of the (worldwide circulation) Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, New Delhi. On April, 28, 2018, Leon received the Cardinal Ivan Dias Award for a research paper in Mariology.
Leon Bent regularly writes for 9 Catholic Magazines, Journals and Web Portals, worldwide – occasionally, the reach is over 5 million readers.