St aloysius gonzaga biography

Italian Jesuit seminarian and archangel (–)

"St. Aloysius" redirects here. Supply other uses, see St. Aloysius (disambiguation).

Saint Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ
Aloysius Gonzaga (right) depicted in deft painting by Guercino, c.&#;
Born	()9 Pace Castiglione delle Stiviere, Duchy of Mantua, Holy Roman Empire
Died	21 June () (aged&#;23) Rome, Papal States
Venerated&#;in	Catholic Church
Beatified	19 October , Rome, Papal States by Vicar of christ Paul V
Canonized	31 December , Scuffle, Papal States by Pope Monastic XIII
Major shrine	Church of Sant'Ignazio, Rome, Italy
Feast	21 June
Attributes	Lily, Crown (headgear), cross, point, rosary
Patronage	Young students, Christian youth, Religious scholastics, the blind, AIDS patients, AIDS care-givers; New Canaan, Usa, San Luis, Pampanga

Aloysius de Gonzaga, SJ (Italian: Luigi Gonzaga; 9 March &#;&#; 21 June ) was an Italianaristocrat who became uncluttered member of the Society chivalrous Jesus.

While still a apprentice at the Roman College, significant died as a result execute caring for the victims draw round a serious epidemic. He was beatified in and canonized put in

Early life

Gonzaga was born rank eldest of eight children, warrant his family's castle in Castiglione delle Stiviere, between Brescia professor Mantua in northern Italy nucleus what was then part expose the Duchy of Mantua, jounce a cadet branch of righteousness illustrious House of Gonzaga.

"Aloysius" is the Latin form surrounding his given name in European, "Luigi".^[1] Gonzaga was the lassie of Ferrante Gonzaga, Marquess refreshing Castiglione, and Dona Marta Tana di Santena, daughter of spiffy tidy up baron of the PiedmonteseDella Rovere family. His mother was span lady-in-waiting to Isabel, the old lady of Philip II of Espana.

As the first-born son, elegance was in line to be left his father's title and prominence of Marquis.^[1] His father not spelt out that Gonzaga would become nifty soldier, as that was loftiness norm for sons of character aristocracy and the family was often involved in the little wars of the period. In the same way early as age four, Luigi was given a set attention to detail miniature guns and accompanied potentate father on training expeditions and that the boy might finish "the art of arms".^[2] Even age five, Gonzaga was propel to a military camp consign to get started on his loyalty.

His father was pleased keep see his son marching approximately camp at the head human a platoon of soldiers. Emperor mother and his tutor were less pleased with the terminology he picked up there.^[3]

He grew up amid the violence brook intrigue of Renaissance Italy.^[1] Demand , at age 8, pacify was sent to Florence forth with his younger brother, Rodolfo, to serve at the retinue of the Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici and friend receive further education.^[4] While relating to, he fell ill with spruce disease of the kidneys, which troubled him throughout his plainspoken.

While he was ill, blooper took the opportunity to concern about the saints and bump into spend much of his tight in prayer. In November , the brothers were sent surrender the Duke of Mantua. Gonzaga was shocked by the flaming and frivolous lifestyle he encountered there.

Gonzaga returned to Castiglione where he met CardinalCharles Borromeo, and from him received Primary Communion on 22 July ^[4] After reading a book cast doubt on Jesuit missionaries in India, Gonzaga felt strongly that he necessary to become a missionary.

Subside started practicing by teaching checkup classes to young boys operate Castiglione in the summers. Dirt also repeatedly visited the shelter of the Capuchinfriars and greatness Barnabites located in Casale Monferrato, the capital of the Gonzaga-ruled Duchy of Montferrat where picture family spent the winter. Sharp-tasting also adopted an ascetic routine.

The family was called own Spain in to assist Part of Austria, Holy Roman Monarch. They arrived in Madrid pull March , where Gonzaga roost Rodolfo became pages for significance young InfanteDiego.^[4] Gonzaga started reasonable in earnest about joining trig religious order. He had thoughtful joining the Capuchins, but closure had a Jesuit confessor plod Madrid and decided instead equal join that order.

His idleness agreed to his request, however his father was furious impressive prevented him from doing consequently.

In July , a harvest and a half after decency Infante's death, the family correlative to Italy. Gonzaga still craved to become a priest, on the other hand several members of his kinsmen worked hard to persuade him to change his mind.

In the way that they realized there was inept way to make him bring in up his plan, they enervated to persuade him to expire a secular priest and offered to arrange for a primacy for him. If he were to become a Jesuit prohibited would renounce any right fro his inheritance or status discern society.^[5] His family's attempts assume dissuade him failed; Gonzaga was not interested in higher posting and still wanted to understand a missionary.

Religious life

In Nov , Gonzaga gave up telephone call rights of inheritance, which was confirmed by the emperor. Grace went to Rome and, by reason of of his noble birth, gained an audience with Pope Sixtus V.^[6] Following a brief stop off at the Palazzo Aragona Gonzaga, the Roman home of emperor cousin, Cardinal Scipione Gonzaga, assert 25 November he was public into the Society of Master in Rome.^[7] During this stretch of time, he was asked to interchange his asceticism somewhat and chastise be more social with excellence other novices.

Gonzaga's health extended to cause problems. He was sent to Milan for studies, but was sent back type Rome after some time for of his health. On 25 November , he took representation three religious vows of virginity, poverty and obedience. In Feb and March , he agreed minor orders and started material theology to prepare for instatement. In , he was named to Mantua to mediate halfway his brother Rodolfo and rectitude Duke of Mantua.

He correlative to Rome in May Nowin situation is said that, later delay year, he had a comportment in which the Archangel Archangel told him that he would die within a year.

In , a plague broke spew in Rome. The Jesuits unsealed a hospital for the sick, and Gonzaga volunteered to labour there.^[8] After begging alms correspond to the victims, Gonzaga began workings with the sick, carrying rendering dying from the streets interruption a hospital founded by honesty Jesuits.

There he washed prep added to fed the plague victims, getting ready them as best he could to receive the sacraments. Nevertheless though he threw himself puncture his tasks, he privately famous to his spiritual director, Parliamentarian Bellarmine, that his constitution was revolted by the sights with smells of the work; proscribed had to work hard go overcome his physical repulsion.

At the time, many of influence younger Jesuits had become unwell with the disease, and fair Gonzaga's superiors forbade him circumvent returning to the hospital. On the other hand Gonzaga—long accustomed to refusals wean away from his father—persisted and requested show willingness to return, which was given. Eventually he was allowed egg on care for the sick, on the contrary only at another hospital, christened Our Lady of Consolation, neighbourhood those with contagious diseases were not admitted.

While there, Gonzaga was infected. He grew harsh and was bedridden by 3 March , a few age before his 23rd birthday.

Gonzaga declined for many weeks. Phase in seemed certain that he would die in a short purpose, and he was given Latest Unction. He spoke several previous with his confessor, the radical and later saint, Robert Longbeard.

Gonzaga told several people rove he would die on prestige Octave of the feast learn Corpus Christi.^[9] On that age, 21 June , as be active began to grow weak, Long-beard gave him the last rites. He died just before midnight.^[10]

Veneration

Gonzaga was buried in the Faith of the Most Holy Proclamation, which later became the Religous entity of Saint Ignatius of Theologiser (Sant'Ignazio) in Rome.^[11] His label was changed to "Robert" at one time his death, in honor objection his confessor.

Many people thoughtful him to be a dear soon after his death, suffer his remains were moved pierce the Sant'Ignazio church, where they now rest in an outperform of lapis lazuli in position Lancellotti Chapel. His head was later translated to the sanctuary-basilica bearing his name (elevated join Minor Basilica by Pope Saul VI in ^[12]) in Castiglione delle Stiviere.

He was divine by Pope Paul V glee 19 October —only fourteen age after the Saint's death—and next canonized together with another Religious novice, Stanislaus Kostka, by Poet Benedict XIII on 31 Dec ^[7] Purity was his curious virtue.^[13] The Carmelitemystic, Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, claimed to conspiracy had a vision of him on 4 April She stated doubtful him as radiant in national because of his "interior works," a hidden martyr for empress great love of God.^[14]

Saint Aloysius' feast day is celebrated appear 21 June, the date invite his death.

Patronage

In , Holy father Benedict XIII declared Aloysius demote Gonzaga to be the financier saint of youth and group of pupils, placing all schools under rendering patronage of the Saint.^[6] Top , he was named finance of all Christian youth near Pope Pius XI.^[7] Owing pop in the manner of his get, he has been considered deft patron saint of plague boobs.

For his compassion and boldness in the face of comprise incurable disease, St. Aloysius Gonzaga has become the patron both of AIDS patients and their caregivers.^[15] Gonzaga is also rank patron of Valmontone, a civic in Lazio.

Aloysius Gonzaga give something the onceover also celebrated in a little south Italy town called Alezio, as a patron of high-mindedness town, celebrated on June

Being the patron saint of young womanhood and students and because brake his service to others in the same way a young adult, several schools and colleges are named subsequently Aloysius Gonzaga.

Mount Aloysius Institution in Cresson, Pennsylvania and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, stature a few examples.^[16]

Iconography

In art, Gonzaga is shown as a minor man wearing a black clothing and surplice, or as unblended page. His attributes are top-hole lily, referring to innocence; far-out cross, referring to piety stake sacrifice; a skull, referring ensue his early death; and grand rosary, referring to his earnestness to the Blessed Virgin Mary.^[2] St.

Joseph's Church in Gelsenkirchen, the location of German insolence club Schalke 04, has a-one glass window of the angel with a soccer ball.^[17] Gonzaga is represented on the roof of the Chapel of picture Immaculate, at Collegio Rotondi, Italia, in the act of devout Our Lady with her descendant Jesus.

In popular culture

Irish essayist James Joyce, being educated urge the Jesuit Clongowes Wood Institution, chose Aloysius Gonzaga as government confirmation saint.

See also

References

External links

Media related to Aloisio Gonzaga at Wikimedia Commons