Patron

St. Aloysius Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591)

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the Patron of our college and the patron of youth, despite his exposure to a “society of fraud, dagger, poison and lust” decided to be different. His decision to be faithful to his conscience more than his family, friends and relatives changed the destiny of his life. St. Aloysius Gonzaga was the firstborn in a powerful Italian noble family. As a son of princely family, he grew up in royal courts and army camps. His father wanted Aloysius to be a military hero. At the age of seven he experienced a profound spiritual awakening. At the age of nine he came from his hometown of Castiglione to Florence to be educated and by the age of eleven he was teaching poor children. When he was 13 years old he traveled with his parents and the Empress of Austria to Spain and acted as a page in the court of Philip II. The more Aloysius saw of court life, the more disillusioned he became, seeking relief in the experience of God.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, wanted to serve people in distant land and offer his life in service to God and the needy. He decided to enter the Jesuit Order. When he communicated that decision to his parents, there was opposition. Then began a four year contest with his father. Eminent churchmen and lay people were pressed into service to persuade him to remain in his “normal life” of wealth and aristocracy. Young Aloysius was determined and finally he prevailed and was allowed to renounce his right to succession and was received into Jesuit novitiate. After completion of his introduction of two years to be a Jesuit, St. Aloysius spent 4 years in philosophy.