EDRE 302

Assignment #2

Saint: St Aloysius Gonzaga

Introduction

Saint Aloysius de Gonzaga,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 result of caring for the victims of a serious epidemic. He
was beatified in 1605 and canonized in 1726.

Early Life

Gonzaga was born the eldest of seven children,at his family's castle in Castiglione delle Stiviere.Aloysius"
is the Latin form of Aloysius de Gonzaga's given name in Italian, Luigi.[2] He was the son of Ferrante de
Gonzaga , Marquis of Castiglione, and Donna Marta Tana di Santena,As the first-born son, he was in line
to inherit his father's title and status of Marquis.[2] His father assumed that Aloysius would become a
soldier, as that was the norm for sons of the aristocracy and the family was often involved in the minor

Personal Profile

Born 9 March 1568 Castiglione delle Stiviere,Duchy of Mantua,Holy RomanEmpire

Died 21 June 1591 (aged 23)Rome, Papal States

Venerated inCatholic ChurchBeatified19 October 1605, Rome, Papal States by Pope Paul
VCanonized31 December 1726, Rome, Papal States by Pope Benedict XIIIMajor shrineChurch
of Sant'Ignazio,

Rome, ItalyFeast21 JuneAttributesLily, Crown (headgear), cross, skull, rosaryPatronageYoung

students, Christian youth, Jesuit scholastics, the blind, AIDS patients, AIDS care-givers

Education Background

Aloysius gonzaga did not school in any school instead he started his studies at age 5

Significance of Aloysius Gonzaga

Aloysius was noted for his asceticism and quickly volunteered to care for the sick and dying at a Jesuit
hospital when plague broke out in Rome. He was a competent student and highly regarded for his
virtues of charity, humility and chestify.

St Aloysius gonzaga as a model for servant leadership and without a lot of fanfare and expectations of
recognition of fame,Aloysius quietly and humbly care fir the abounded, vulnerable and dying. He was
clearly devoted to and at the service of others. He willingly gave up all claims to wealth and power in
order to follow a call that he was convinced came from God.

What things Aloysius Gonzaga famous of

In 1591, a plague broke out in Rome. The Jesuits opened a hospital for the stricken, and Aloysius
volunteered to work there.[6] After begging alms for the victims, Aloysius began working with the
sick, carrying the dying from the streets into a hospital founded by the Jesuits. There he washed and
fed the plague victims, preparing them as best he could to receive the sacraments . Eventually he was
allowed to care for the sick, but only at another hospital, called Our Lady of Consolation, where those
with contagious diseases were not admitted.

Death of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Aloysius' health continued to cause problems. In addition to the kidney disease, he also suffered from a
skin disease, chronic headaches and insomnia. Aloysius rallied for a time, but as fever and a cough set in,
he declined for many weeks. It seemed certain that he would die in a short time, and he was
given Extreme Unction. While he was ill, he spoke several times with his confessor, the cardinal and later
saint, Robert Bellarmine. Aloysius had another vision and told several people that he would die on
the Octave of the feast of Corpus Christi.[8] On that day, 21 June 1591, he seemed very well in the
morning, but insisted that he would die before the day was over. As he began to grow weak, Bellarmine
gave him the last rites and recited the prayers for the dying. He died just before midnight. therefore
Aloysius Gonzaga died on the 21 of June¹ 1591 at the age of 23 at Rome, Papal States.
Canonized

Aloysius was buried in the Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, which later became the church
of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Rome. St Aloysius gonzaga died in Rome on June 21 1591 at the age of 23 .
He was Canonized in 31 December 1726 at Rome Papal States by Pope Benedict XIII. The church
celebrated his feast day on the 21 June in every year.In 1729, Pope Benedict XIII declared Aloysius de
Gonzaga to be the patron saint of young students. In 1926, he was named patron of all Christian youth
by Pope Pius XI. Owing to the manner of his death, he has been considered a patron saint of plague
victims.Saint Aloysius' feast day is celebrated on 21 June, the date of his death.He was beatified only
fourteen years after his death by Pope Paul V, on 19 October 1605.

Achievement

For his compassion and courage in the face of an incurable disease, Aloysius Gonzaga has become the
patron both of AIDS sufferers and their caregivers.The church remember Aloysius Gonzaga because he
was I patron saint In art, St Aloysius is shown as a young man wearing a black cassock and surplice, or as
a page. His attributes are a lily, referring to innocence; a cross, referring to piety and sacrifice; a skull,
referring to his early death; and a rosary, referring to his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[3]

Patron Saint of: Catholic youth, teenagers, especially of young priests, novices and seminarians. For
his compassion and courage in the face of an incurable disease, St. Aloysius Gonzaga has become the
patron of both AIDS sufferers and their caregivers.

Reflection

As saint who give his life to care of