Jun-21: Feast of St Aloysius Gonzaga
Jun-21: Feast of St Aloysius Gonzaga Today is the feast day of St. Aloysius de Gonzaga (Luigi Gonzaga in Italian), an Italian Jesuit known for his courage in serving the sick and his dedication to the education of young students. Born into a noble family in Castiglione delle Stiviere, Lombardy, Italy, St. Aloysius’ father Ferrante, the Marquis of Castiglione, groomed him for a military career. As the first-born son, he was in line to inherit his father's title and status of Marquis and at the age of eight, he went to serve in the court of the Grand Duke Francesco I de ’Medici and was then sent to Florence for his formal education. Shortly thereafter, Aloysius began suffering from kidney disease, which he saw as a blessing as it allowed him time to reflect on the lives of saints and pray. He received his First Communion from St. Charles Borromeo in July 1580. The family was called to Spain in 1581 to assist the Holy Roman Empress Maria of Austria. They arrived in ...