St. Aloysius Gonzaga
St. Aloysius Gonzaga rejected his family's expectation that he would join the military life; instead he decided on the religious life. He made a vow of chastity at the age of 9, and, to safeguard himself from possible temptation, he would keep his eyes persistently downcast in the presence of women.
He got a bit overzealous with self-discipline and self-denial, at one point beating himself with a leather dog leash, but when he joined the Jesuits, his spiritual director, St. Robert Bellarmine straightened him out, giving Aloysius regular hours of prayer and simple acts of self-control.
When the plague struck Rome in January 1591, the Jesuits were sent to work in the hospitals, which was tough for Aloysius since he was naturally squeamish. He overcame this, however, and went into the streets of Rome and carried the ill and the dying to the hospital on his back. Within a few weeks, he got the plague himself and died at the age of 23.
He is usually depicted looking at a crucifix or holding lilies, and sometimes with skull, whip, or crown.
Statue in St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, MN
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
St. Aloysius Gonzaga rejected his family's expectation that he would join the military life; instead he decided on the religious life. He made a vow of chastity at the age of 9, and, to safeguard himself from possible temptation, he would keep his eyes persistently downcast in the presence of women.
He got a bit overzealous with self-discipline and self-denial, at one point beating himself with a leather dog leash, but when he joined the Jesuits, his spiritual director, St. Robert Bellarmine straightened him out, giving Aloysius regular hours of prayer and simple acts of self-control.
When the plague struck Rome in January 1591, the Jesuits were sent to work in the hospitals, which was tough for Aloysius since he was naturally squeamish. He overcame this, however, and went into the streets of Rome and carried the ill and the dying to the hospital on his back. Within a few weeks, he got the plague himself and died at the age of 23.
He is usually depicted looking at a crucifix or holding lilies, and sometimes with skull, whip, or crown.
Statue in St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, MN