Biography

BIOGRAPHY OF SAINT-ALOYSIUS GONZAGA

                                            

                          
                                                         Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-91), Italian Jesuit priest, born at Castiglione and educated at the Florentine court of the Medici, in Rome, and at the court of Philip II of Spain. He was the eldest son of the Marquis Ferrante of Castiglione, who served Phillip II of Spain and Tana Santena. In 1579 while staying in the court of the duke of Mantua, where Aloysius's father had become governor of Montserrat, Aloysius developed a painful kidney disease that was to trouble him for the rest of his life. Aloysius renounced his heritage in favour of his brother Ridolpho and on the 25th of November 1585, he presented himself to Father Claudius Acquaviva, General of the Society of Jesus. Aloysius made his vows on the 25th of November 1587 and immediately after, he began his theological studies. In 1591, in his fourth year of theology, a plague broke out in Italy. Though in delicate health, he devoted himself to the care of the sick, but on March 3 of that year, he fell ill to the plague and young Aloysius died on the 21st of June that same year. That day would therefore become his feast day. Saint Aloysius Gonzaga's remains are in the church of Saint Ignazio in Rome. In 1621, Aloysius Gonzaga was beatified by Gregory XV and in 1726, he was canonized by Benedict XIII who declared him patron Saint of young students. Later on, Pius XI would proclaim him patron saint of the Christian youth.