Aloysius Gonzaga, Saint, b. in the castle of Castiglione, 9 March, 1568; d. 21 June, 1591. At eight he was placed in the court of Francesco de’ Medici in Florence, where he remained for two years, going then to Mantua. At Brescia, when he was twelve, he came under the spiritual guidance of St. Charles Borromeo, and from him received First Communion. In 1581 he went with his father to Spain, and he and his brother were made pages of James, the son of Philip II. While there he formed the resolution of becoming a Jesuit, though he first thought of joining the Discalced Carmelites. He returned to Italy in 1584 after the death of the Infanta, and- after much difficulty in securing his father’s consent, renounced his heritage in favour of his brother, 2 November, 1585, a proceeding which required the approval of the emperor, as Castiglione was a fief of the empire. He presented himself to Father Claudius Acquaviva, who was then General of the Society, 25 November, 1585. Before the end of his novitiate, he passed a brilliant public act in philosophy, having made his philosophical and also his mathematical studies before his entrance. He had in fact distinguished himself, when in Spain, by a public examination not only in philosophy, but also in theology, at the University of Alcalá. He made his a vows 25 November, 1587. . Im-= mediately after, he began his theological studies. Among his professors were Fathers Vasquez and
AZOr. In 1591
when in his fourth year of theology a famine and pestilence broke
Gyiew, tay Wipenilayz.
Though in delicate health, he
devoted himself
to the care of
the sick, but on
the 3d March he
Sr. ALoysius Gonzaga
fell ill and died 21
June, 1591. He
was beatified by Gregory XV in 1621 and canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726. His remains are in the church of St. Ignazio in Rome in a magnificent urn of lapis lazuli wreathed with festoons of silver. The altar has for its centrepiece a large marble relief of the Saint by Le Gros.
Butler, Lives of the Saints, 21 June; Acta SS., 21 June; Crpart, Life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga; Rovuvirr, Les Saints de la C. de J. (Paris, 1893). i
J. F.
J. F. X. O'Conor.