A saint for our times - Aloysius Gonzaga

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. He was born into an Italian aristocratic family in 1568, the eldest of 7 children. Growing up in a violent age and in country where his family constantly fought minor wars, he was expected to become a soldier. Two of his brothers would die in battle. Aloysius’ father gave him a set of small guns as a child and he was sent to a military training camp at a young age. However, during a period of illness at around 8 or 9, he read the lives of saints and decided that he no longer wanted to train for war but to dedicate himself to Christ. Despite strong opposition from his father, he eventually renounced his inheritance and joined the Jesuits. He wanted to become a missionary. He was sent to Milan to studies. But because of ill health, he was sent back to Rome to prepare for ordination. However in 1591 a plague broke out in Rome. Despite his health he insisted that he be allowed to care for the sick. He also found the sight of sick people revolting. But still, against the advice of his superiors, he continued to care for people infected with the plague. Finally, he himself was infected and died on June 21, at the age of 23. He took seriously the commandments of love that Jesus spoke of in today’s gospel from Matthew 22:34-40 - “you must love your neighbour as yourself”. He has been declared the patron saint of young people and, in more recent years, the patron saint of AIDS sufferers and caregivers. He is also one whom we could look to on behalf of so many nurses, doctors, paramedics and caregivers who stood at the frontline during this COVID 19 pandemic. Furthermore Aloysius Gonzaga is one to whom we could direct our prayers on behalf of the victims of mass shootings in the USA and of those seeking to impose tougher gun-laws.