21 June 2018
Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga
There is a Chinese proverb that states “We ought not commit an evil, no matter how small. We ought not omit a good, no matter how small.” Today’s saint, the first Jesuit to be beatified, lived out such wisdom splendidly. Aluigi, or as his name is usually translated, Aloysius Gonzaga was born to noble family in Northern Italy in 1568. When as an adolescent he asked his father for permission to become a Jesuit, his father vigorously told him that he could not. When Aloysius persisted in asking, his father sought out bishops to visit and convince his son of the foolishness of his thoughts of religious life. Then he asked a relative who was in charge of the entire Franciscan order to do the same. Finally, he asked one of the wisest Jesuit priests try and dissuade young Aloysius. Everyone gave the same response, ‘This young man’s call is from God.’ In young Aloysius’ perseverance in discernment we see the spirit given to Elisha the prophet, “During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will.”
If the fruit of turning to God in prayer may be seen in way we live our life, Aloysius’ life, though short, was founded on a most solid and prayerful relationship with God. Although coming from an important family (Aloysius needed the permission of the Holy Roman Emperor to renounce his inheritance in order to become a Jesuit), Aloysius never sought special treatment. On the contrary, he sought out the simpler chores of the Jesuit community, such as cleaning the dishes and cleaning the house. He was also capable of important tasks as well. Once his brother, who had inherited the family title and lands, was engaged in a dispute with his uncle over who governed a certain city and its territories. It had taken months for negotiations to be established, and no progress was being made. When the Jesuits sent Aloysius to arbitrate the dispute, the brother and uncle came to a peaceful agreement in a matter of days. Furthermore, although he was often sick himself, when the plague broke out in Rome, Aloysius desired to do anything he could to help those who were suffering. One evening as he walked back to his Jesuit community, he saw a man lying abandoned in the street. Aloysius picked the man up, carried him to a local hospital and tried to care for him. Shortly thereafter, Aloysius himself contracted the disease and died a few months later in 1591 at the age of 23.
Aloysius perhaps could have ignored that man. If he had neglected the man as everyone else had, perhaps he would have lived a much longer life. Ultimately, though, the length of his life was not his ultimate concern. Rather, through prayer, he became more and more concerned with loving his Father in heaven. He saw a brother in need, and knew that his Father did not want him to ignore this brother. Through the intercession of St. Aloysius, may we be given a great love for God which impels us seek to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters.