ST. ALOYSIUS DE GONZAGA, INTERCEDE FOR US
In troubling times like this, we as Catholics have the rich tradition of the veneration of saints to fall upon.  There is much we can learn from the saints that we can apply to our own lives, and it never hurts to pray to them and ask for their intercession.

St. Aloysius de Gonzaga was born into a noble family, but much to the dismay of his family, he gave up his inheritance to become a Jesuit priest, taking vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.  In 1591, a plague broke out in Rome, and St. Aloysius volunteered to work at the hospital that the Jesuits opened for those who were affected by it.  He worked diligently to help the sick, washing them, feeding them, and preparing them for the sacraments despite the fact that he admitted to his spiritual director that he was revolted by the effects of the disease.

St. Aloysius’ superiors eventually forbade him from continuing to work in the hospital, as many young Jesuits at the time were falling ill.  He was determined, however, and eventually was allowed to care for the sick in a different hospital where only those without contagious diseases were admitted.  Unfortunately, he still contracted the plague and died soon after on the feast of Corpus Christi.

We all ought to follow the example of St. Aloysius in whatever way we can.  We needn’t all immediately go volunteer in a hospital, but those of us with sick family members ought to tend to them to the absolute best of our ability.  Those of us who don’t, ought to stay home and prevent the spread of the disease to ease the burden of those ministering to the sick.

~ Adam Bauer, Seminarian,  April 2020