Saint Aloysius
Far Left Hand Side
Saint Aloysius was born in Castiglione, Spain on the 9th of March in 1568. According to popular legend, the first words Saint Aloysius spoke were the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary which indicates that he was raised to be aware and devoted to the Catholic faith.His father Farrante, the Marquis of Castiglione, destined his oldest one for the military. Farrante himself was in service to King Philip II and wanted his son to follow his footsteps.
But, though a cheerful and outgoing lad, well suited in temperament for the life of a soldier and courtier, Aloysius was also deeply faithful and pious. By the age of 9 he had privately decided on a religious Life, and made a vow of perpetual virginity. He practiced many devotions and mortifications, and safeguarded himself at all times from possible temptation. These endeavours gained him much ridicule from fellow students and others.
He received his first Holy Communion from Saint Charles Borrome.
A kidney disease confined Saint Aloysius to his bed for some time, removed from the normal full social life of a young man in his position. Bedrest would be a difficult challenge for any vigourous young man, but Aloysius resigned himself to it. Far from being bored, or despairing of his health, he spent his time in prayer and reading the Lives of the saints. His resolve to become a Jesuit was formed and firmed at this time.
When he recovered, he was appointed to be a page in Spain. Still, despite the distractions of life at court, Saint Aloysius kept up his many devotions and austerities. His family eventually moved back to Italy, where he taught catechism to the poor. At the age of sixteen, he renounced his inheritance to his younger brother, and petitioned to join the Jesuits. Immediately a storm of protest from all sides arose. This too, would be a difficult cross for a young man to bear with patience and fortitude, but Aloysius remained firm in his intentions and eventually won the permission he needed.
He served in a hospital during the plague of 1587 in Milan. In time, he fell victim to the dreaded disease himself, and died at the age of 23, after receiving the last rites from Saint Robert Bellarmine, who later wrote the Life of Saint Aloysius. This young man, patron to all young people, was beatified in 1621, and declared a saint in 1725. Aloysius' relics are buried under the altar of Saint Ignatius Church, Rome.