Sicilian Culture: Roman Catholic Patron Saint Aloysius

St. Aloysius

Patron Saint of Children
Feast Day Celebrated on June 21

Born March 9, 1568 - - - Died June 21, 1591

Aloysius Gonzaga was born in the Castiglione Castle. At the age of 12 he came under the spiritual guidance of St. Charles Borromeo, from whom Aloysius also received his First Communion. In 1581 he went with his father to Spain, and he, along with his brother, were were made pages of James, the son of Philip II. It was at that time when he decided to become a Jesuit. 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 favorr of his brother. He presented himself to Father Claudius Acquaviva, General of the Society, on 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. At the University of Alcalá in Spain he distinguished himself by a public examination in philosophy and theology. In 1591 when in his fourth year of theology a famine and pestilence broke out in Italy. His health was failing, but he devoted himself to taking care of the sick, but in March he fell ill and died 3 months later. 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.

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