The CSS of UCSI has taken Saint Aloysius Gonzaga as our Patron Saint. Having a patron saint is like having a role model. Just like all the other saints representing something in our lives, St. Aloysius was chosen because he was an academician and since we're in tertiary education, it is matching. We are to look at his achievements, conduct and try to emulate it so that we ourselves can be a better person. Below is a brief introduction on our saint.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was born in Castiglione della Stiviere on the 9th of March 1568 in the region of Mantua in Northern Italy and was the first-born son of the reigning Marquis Ferdinand Gonzaga.
Aloysius spent much of his childhood living in his castle home and on many occasions went missing only to be found in some old closet or amongst the woodpiles with his little hands joined in prayer.
As he grew older much time was spent in the great courts and palaces of Italy and Spain, where all the materialistic distractions held no attraction for him as he was just not interested in the social happenings and events taking place, glamorous though they were.
During this time his prayer life was becoming deeper and deeper as he always led such an interior life. One day while praying in the Church of the Annunciation in Florence, he became clearly aware that Jesus was calling him through the intercession of Our Blessed Lady to be a religious and that he was to join the Jesuits.He was overjoyed beyond all explanation and fully understood at this young age the great gift and privilege of such a vocation to the priesthood.
His mother Donna Martha was a most pious lady, who loved her son dearly and was equally overjoyed with the news as she was always praying for one of her sons to be a religious; but it was a very different situation with his father who flew into a rage and became very angry as he saw his son Aloysius becoming a great leader and statesman for he was very intelligent and had a sharp business head.
His father wanted him to marry and to become heir to so much wealth and bring great honours to the Gonzaga name.
Many years were spent pleading with his father to give his permission to let him leave the Castle and join the Jesuits. On one occasion while they were talking about Aloysius's heart-held wish to join the Jesuits his father told him to get out of the room. Aloysius took this to mean he could go, he with speed of movement swiftly left and took refuge in a nearby religious house until he could continue his journey to the Jesuits. However he very soon discovered this was not what his father meant and sadly though obediently he returned home to the Castle.
As time passed his father slowly began to see how intent his son was on becoming a Religious, and how dedicated he was to living a life of profound deep prayer.
With much deliberation his father finally gave in and gave Aloysius permission to leave the Castle and to become a Jesuit. This meant a total renouncing of all his inheritance, wealth and titles over to his younger brother Rudolph, as Aloysius was a Prince.
Aloysius was filled to overflowing measure with joy and peace while the servants, family and other people at the Castle were filled with tears seeing him depart for he was greatly loved by all. Though he left to answer a far deeper call, a call few understood apart from Aloysius and his mother, a call to the fullness of life for all eternity. He entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Sant' Andrea in Rome.
He also studied at the then Roman College. He was a model novice in every way and progressed very well in all his studies . His motto was " WHAT WILL IT BE WORTH FOR ETERNITY " above all he loved humility and prayer. Prayer is just so important for all knowledge and love is received in deep, contemplative prayer.
Aloysius had four special devotions.
1. The first of these was his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament; he divided the week into two
parts, the first of which he devoted in thanksgiving for his last Holy Communion, and the
second in preparation for the next Holy Communion.
2. The second devotion was to the Passion of Our Lord. The life of suffering and mortification
Aloysius led naturally urged him to seek in the mysteries of the Passion a model of strength
and comfort.
3. The third devotion was his ardent love of Our-Lady he never tired of thinking of her. She
had been the queen of his heart and the guiding star of his life.
4. Lastly his devotion to the Angels was very special, in fact the only major writings he ever
wrote were on the Holy Guardian Angels and the nine choirs of Angels.
A plague broke out in Rome at this time, which rapidly spread. All monasteries and available places were given to the care of the sick and the plague-ridden victims.
Aloysius, who never enjoyed good health, insisted on treating with love and dedication the most serious cases for whom no one else would care. He caught the plague himself and died at the age of 23, a victim of charity, in Rome on 21st June 1591. He was proclaimed Patron of Christian Youth by Popes Benedict XIII; Leo III and Pius XI.
His body lies in the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Rome close to the room where Saint Aloysius lived and studied for many years. These rooms are open to visitors who wish to learn more about this wonderful holy young man, and to seek his intercession and protection.
The 9th of March is his birthday, and the 21st June is his Feast Day which is a day of great celebration in Rome and in his hometown of Castiglione della Stiviere. It is also a day of special devotion for all who are privileged to have Saint Aloysius as their heavenly friend who intercedes for them always, and who protects, defends and guides all they do in this life guiding them in holiness, and to a life of contemplative prayer, back to our heavenly home forever.
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