St. Aloysius Gonzaga Medal and Necklace

Sterling Silver St. Aloysius Gonzaga Medal and Necklace

14KT Gold Filled St. Aloysius Gonzaga Medal and Necklace

14KT Gold St Aloysius Gonzaga Medal

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Saint Aloysius, the eldest son of Ferdinand Gonzaga, Mar quiz of Castiglione and a gallant soldier, was born on March 9, 1568. The father’s pride was to rear his son to be a soldier. His mother, on the other hand, was very pious, and there seems to have been a special grace about the child from his earliest days. At the age of seven, a wonderful spiritual light dawned upon his soul with so clear an understanding of the things of God, that he later spoke of that time as the period of his conversion.

When nine years old Aloysius made a vow of perpetual virginity, and by a special grace was ever exempted from temptations against purity. It was at Monferrato that Aloysius resolved to become a religious, and he spent much time in prayer and penance. On the feast of Our Lady’s Assumption, 1583, for which he had prepared with great fervor, as he was praying after Holy Communion in the chapel of Our Lady in the of the Jesuits at Madrid, now called St. Isidore of Seville, suddenly of Jesus, and telling him to inform his confessor as a distinct voice came to him, bidding him enter the Society confessor as soon as possible of what had occurred.

His confessor, well aware of his fitness, told him he must first receive his fathers approval. Whilst his mother rejoiced on learning of his determination to become a religious, for three years his father refused his consent. On November 24, 1585, Aloysius entered the Jesuit novitiate, after having obtained his father’s permission. Two years later he took his vows.

Caring for the Sick and Suffering

During his last year of theology a malignant fever broke out in Rome. Thousands were dying of the disease. The Father General of the Society of Jesus summoned Aloysius back to the Eternal City. He often had said that he feared the dignity and responsibility of the priesthood, and would be glad if God would call him while he was still in His grace. His desire was soon to be granted. Father Acquaviva opened a hospital for the poor suffering, starving people. St. Aloysius volunteered for the work.

Not content with begging for alms, he nursed the most loathsome cases. One day on his way to the hospital he found a poor wretch in filthy rags, lying on the ground, stricken by the plague. He raised him up and gently and tenderly carried him to the hospital. The contagion struck the weary youth, and he was forced to take to his bed. Within a week he received the Last Sacraments, rejoicing that he was going to God. He died a little after midnight between the 20th and 21st of June, 1591, the octave-day of Corpus Christi, at the age of twenty-three, while repeating the holy Name of Jesus.

The Saint’s body, glorified by many miracles, lay for some time in a humble tomb in the “Church of the Annunciation” of the Roman College. It now rests in the Gesu in Rome. St. Aloysius was canonized in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII, who proclaimed him “Patron of Youth”.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga Rosary
UPC: 617759321845
Brand: Bliss