Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
Patron Saint of Youth
Born - March 9, 1568
Died - June 21, 1591
Memorial Day - June 21st
Prayer to
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Oh most loved Saint Aloysius, how blessed you were in
this life to have received so many graces and blessings.
I place myself in your tender care to intercede for me with
Jesus and His holy Mother Mary, that in their care I will
be protected from all grievous sin and the evil influences
of our time.
Instill in me a deep humility and gratitude for the love Jesus
has so freely given to me, especially in the Eucharist.
May nothing ever separate me from this fire of great love,
so that in the next life I may rest and rejoice in the eternal
vision of pure love.
I pray to you my friend, in a special way for the many
plague-ridden victims of our own time, that they may turn
to you as their friend and loving intercessor with Jesus whose
love brings healing of body and spirit with true peace of mind.
Teach me to pray as you prayed, and in following your
footsteps and example, may my friendship with Jesus deepen
day by day, as we both turn to him in the prayer of love,
with you by side interceding.
Thank you Saint Aloysius, for listening to my prayer. I
place myself under your protection now and for the
rest of my life.
Pray for me that in the end I may be with Jesus, with Mary His
mother, with the angels and saints and with you to sing
the praises of God forever.
Amen
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A brief biography of the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga........
St. Aloysius was born in Castiglione, Italy of noble parents. The first words St. Aloysius spoke were the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. He was destined for the military by his father, but by the age of 9, St. Aloysius had already decided on a religious life, and made a vow of perpetual virginity. To safeguard himself from possible temptation, he would keep his eyes persistently downcast in the presence of women. St. Charles Borromeo gave him his first Holy Communion. A kidney disease prevented him from a full social life for a while, so he spent his time in prayer and reading about the lives of the saints. Although he was appointed a Page in Spain, St. Aloysius kept up his many devotions, and was quite resolved to become a Jesuit. His family eventually moved back to Italy, where he taught catechism to the poor. When he was 18, he joined the Jesuits, after finally breaking down to his father, who had refused his entrance into the order. He served in a hospital during the plague of 1587 in Milan, and died from it at the age of 23, after receiving the last rites from St. Robert Bellarmine. The last word he spoke was the Holy Name of Jesus.
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