Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga.

Aloysius underwent a significant spiritual quickening at the age of seven. He prayed the Psalms, the Office of Mary, and other devotions. He moved to Florence at age nine to pursue his education; when he was eleven, he taught catechism to underprivileged children, fasting three days a week and engaging in severe penance. Aloysius, who at the age of 13 journeyed to Spain with his parents and the Empress of Austria to serve as a page in Philip II’s court, became increasingly disillusioned with court life and sought solace in studying the lives of saints.

After reading a book about the experiences of Jesuit missionaries in India, he decided to join the Society of Jesus in Spain. A four-year competition with his father had just started. Famous laypeople and clerics persuaded Aloysius to stick with his “normal” line of employment. Finally, he won, was given permission to give up his right to succeed, and was admitted to the Jesuit novitiate.

Like the other seminarians, Aloysius had to consider a broad range of perspectives on what constitutes penance. He had to eat more and participate in extracurricular activities with his classmates. Except during designated times, he was not allowed to pray. He studied philosophy for four years, with Saint Robert Bellarmine as his spiritual guide.

Rome was affected by the plague in 1591. As their hospital, the Jesuits established it. Many Jesuits, including the superior general himself, provided personal assistance. Aloysius contracted the illness because of his nursing duties, which included washing and catering for patients. Despite getting better, he continued to have a fever and was so weak that getting out of bed was difficult. Despite his knowledge that he would pass away at age 23, three months later, inside the octave of Corpus Christi, he kept up his intense devotion to prayer.

source: franciscanmedia.org