Saint Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of youth, students, and those suffering from plagues. His feast day is celebrated on June 21.
He was an Italian Jesuit and nobleman renowned for his piety, humility, and dedication to serving others. Born into the influential Gonzaga family, Aloysius was expected to pursue a life of power and privilege. However, from a young age, he felt a deep spiritual calling that led him away from the trappings of nobility.
Rejecting a military career, Aloysius renounced his inheritance and joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) at the age of 17. His decision was met with resistance from his family, but his determination never wavered. As a Jesuit novice, Aloysius devoted himself to prayer, studying, and caring for the sick and impoverished.
During the plague outbreak in Rome in 1591, Aloysius tirelessly tended to the afflicted, contracting the disease himself. He succumbed to the illness at the young age of 23. Despite his short life, his legacy of compassion and selflessness left a profound impact on the Church and those who knew him.
He remains an enduring example of how faith and service can transcend the expectations of worldly status and lead to true greatness.
Here are seven quotes by Saint Aloysius Gonzaga:
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"It is better to be a child of God than king of the whole world."
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“In the twilight of our life, we shall be judged according to love.”
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"He who wishes to love God does not truly love Him if he has not an ardent and constant desire to suffer for His sake."
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"There is no finer thing in this life than to be faithful to the Lord. Nothing can be compared to it."
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"I will sing of thy mercies, O Lord, forever."
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"What is it to serve God and to go to Heaven? Nothing else but to love."
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"My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing His designs. Our part is to pray that we may be worthy of becoming His instruments."
