~Our Patron Saint of Youth~

St. Aloysius Gonzaga 1568 – 1591

St. Aloysius Gonzaga was born in Castiglione delle Stiviere in 1568. He received his First Holy Communion from the hands of St. Charles Boromeo and his spiritual rise soon followed. In Florence, in the Church of the Annunciation, he took his vow of chastity and has never blemished the purity and integrity of his soul. Born into a royal family, he passed through life as an angel amid the seduction and decadence of the Italian and Spanish court of the Renaissance period.

His greatest dream was to become a Jesuit priest.  For three years, he had to struggle with his father who had envisioned a different future for his first born son, a young man of great intelligence and gifted fro a life of politics. However, the Jesuit community offered the opportunity for his higher aspiration of holiness.

When Rome was thrust into an epidemic, he offered to help with the sick and he died a victim of his charitable efforts at 23 years of age in 1591. He is the patron saint of youth. Through the centuries, he is looked upon as a beacon of light and a model supreme.

Prayer:  St. Aloysius, you were a totally dedicated man.  I pray that you keep me in your graces, and to help me to be totally dedicated in spirit and soul to Jesus and my brothers and sisters.  Together with Mary, our Mother, accompany me always and protect me from all evil.

At 10 years old, he gave his heart to the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of the image of annunciation in Florence to keep him pure and holy amid the corruption of the times.

At 17 years old, he renounced the honour of Prince of the Empire and marquis of Castiglione to follow Christ in the company of the Jesuits.

At 23 years old, he was a student of theology at Roman College and dedicated and offered his life by working with the sick at the Roman hospital.

Prayer:  O God, Prince and source of all good, St. in Aloysius you have united in our world purity and austerity by his merits and his prayers, if we haven’t imitated in our own innocence, we will follow him in his life of evangelical penance. For Christ our Lord. Amen.