Live Life to Serve
Not Be ServedSaint Aloysius’ short life demonstrated the importance of humility, prayer, and steadfast faith.
We honor his memory and pray for his intercession on his Feast Day, June 21.
He was born on March 9, 1568, in the castle of Castiglione delle Stivieri in Lombardy, Italy – as Luigi Gonzaga. His family was both Catholic and of great nobility. Young Luigi was a very loving and obedient eldest child. He was set for a life of luxury and power. However, neither was important to him. He saw that life as materialistic and corrupt.
He would rather serve than be served, so he chose a life of service for God.
“It is better to be a child of God than king of the whole world,” he said.
He wanted to a priest.
Remarkably his father wrote a letter to the Jesuit superior which said, “I merely say that I am giving into your hands the most precious thing I possess in all the world.”
He joined the Jesuits at the age of 18.
He took vows of chastity, poverty and obedience at 19, and at 20 he was ordained a deacon.
In 1591, a grim plague broke out in Rome. Saint Aloysius would walk the streets and not only care for the sick, but physically carry them to hospitals. He ultimately contracted the disease and died at the age of 23 before he was ordained a priest.
Two priests that came into his room to give him the Eucharist said his last word on earth was, “Jesus” as his eyes were fixed on the crucifix he held in his hands.
Four Devotions St. Aloysius held dear:
• After receiving Holy Communion, he would spend the first part of the week thanking God for the Blessed Sacrament. The second part of the week he would turn his focus on preparation for his next Holy Communion.
• He was devoted to the Passion of Our Lord through his own suffering and mortification.
• His third devotion was honoring Mary calling upon the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, the queen of his heart and the guiding star of his life.
• Lastly, he held a strong devotion to the Angels – the Holy Guardian Angels and the nine choirs of Angels.
