St. Aloysius Gonzaga was holy from his youth, as the first words that escaped his mouth were the names of Jesus and Mary, and by the age of 9 he had already firmly resigned himself to a religious life and sworn perpetual virginity. Born in Italy, he was appointed as a page in Spain for a while, but returned to Italy to teach the catechism to the poor. He joined the Jesuits at 18 and served in a hospital during the 1587 plague outbreak in Milan, which took his life at the young age of 23. He received his last rites from St. Robert Bellarmine, who later wrote his biography. In a poetic instance mirroring his youth, Aloysius’s last spoken word on earth was the Holy Name of Jesus. He died in 1591, and his feast day is June 21.
Questions for Reflection:
- How do you invite holiness in your everyday life?
- What have you felt God calling you to do?
