Things and pleasure soon become his driving force, simply because they are so available to him. Soon he is no longer in control of his possessions; rather, they are in control of him. Our Lord illustrates this in the parable of the rich young man, who tragically rejected Christ's invitation to follow Him, "because he had many possessions." What a battle must have raged in his heart, for the rich young man knew that eternal life would require his detachment from worldly wealth and its allurements. Yet he was unable to give them up; they possessed him.

Saint Aloysius'mother said that her son was her "little Angel"

Our Lord used this story as a warming, crying out to the entire world that it "would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter eternal life." Yet, wealth by nature is not evil; rather it's the distraction in decadence that comes with it. Money is not a bad thing to have in your wallet; but when it enters your heart it becomes evil.

Luxury appeals to the sensual life, and it quickly causes man to turn to vice, and immorality. It flatters the ego enabling it to live, "care-free," rather than being watchful and vigilant as well as pursuing virtue as Our Lord commanded. "Build up your treasures in Heaven where moth and decay will not destroy, nor thief steal."

In sixteenth century Europe, the face of chivalry had changed dramatically. "The old castles and fortresses, the ancestral seats of the nobility, had lost most of their stern exterior; instead of strong fortifications, they were now splendid palaces, with showy and pleasing appearances." Chivalry was being replaced with self-gratification. The royal courts were becoming places of amusement with games of every sort. The austere images of self-restraint and discipline were being replaced, and the eyes of the nobles were dazzled by the grandeur and opulence of their royalty.

The era of the crusader had come to a disappointing end along with the flames of faith that enkindled it and gave us such heroes as Saint Ferdinand III and Saint Louis IX. These men and men like them, whose chief aim was the advancement of the Faith, were legends. They are immortalized by colorful pictures captured in tapestries hanging along the castle walls.

An emphasis was now put on the richly dressed men and woman in showy attive rather than masculine chivalry and feminine virtue. The era brought in a society where the same nobles who once fought against the vices of the world now switched and became determined to pursue any pleasure or allurement and all their hidden vices. The pageantry masked a worldliness that lured many unsuspecting youths into the trap of vice and impurity. Those living within the courts were constantly bombarded with temptations that would eventually thrust them into a world of instant gratification and thrill-seeking to the detriment of their own souls.

The warnings of Our Lord were distant echoes to the nobles of the sixteenth century who seemed to forget the earlier days of battles for the Faith, and now immersed themselves instead in luxury and decadence. Amid all the revelry and corruption of the court, a rich young man emerged who kept his eyes on his spiritual goals, rejecting the world, leaving it to follow Christ. He was the exact opposite of the Gospel story, a remarkable example of detachment from the riches with which he was surrounded. His name was Aloysius Gonzaga.

The Gonzaga Family

Aloysius was born into wealth and high society. He was the first-born son and heir apparent of the Gonzaga household, the ruling family of Castiglione, Italy. The Gonzaga line had established itself in both military and ecclesiastical achievements. His father, Don Ferrante, gained military prestige, quickly moving up the ranks, because of his bravery in battle and his unwavering loyalty. He was a man well respected by the Emperor for his fealty and wisdom in council. Those who served under him, either in battle or at home, had great love and respect for him. Just as he was a brave man in battle, he was a just and good ruler to his subjects and his family.

Aloysius' mother, Doņa Martha, on the other hand, was a pious and holy woman. She had spent her entire life in the imperial courts as the queen's handmaid, and because of this knew first hand the dangers and temptations of court life. Although both Don Ferrante and Dona Martha had royal lineage, Doņa Martha's was more illustrious. Her ancestry included emperors, popes, cardinals and kings. She had a natural dignity about her that was greatly accentuated by her holiness and piety. She was the greatest influence on Aloysius throughout his entire life, leading him to holiness.

Although born to privilege, Aloysius did not have an easy life. Even though he never took part in any military conquest as his father had, he would face many fierce spiritual battles against the devil, the flesh and the world, drawing on the strength of character he inherited from his parents. This warfare was waged from the very moment of his birth. During his delivery there arose such a serious danger that it appeared both the child and the mother would die. Doņa Martha made an urgent appeal to the Blessed Mother.

She promised that if both she and the child were delivered from the danger she would make a pilgrimage to the Holy House of Loreto in thanksgiving.

Our Lady was quick in responding to the mother's plea. Shortly after the promise was made the danger ceased, resulting in a safe and healthy delivery. From this point, Our Blessed Mother took special interest in Aloysius and he, in return, always held a great filial love for Mary.

Doņa Martha was meticulous in teaching Aloysius bis prayers and bis Faith. From Aloysius' infancy to his adulthood she always referred to him as her "little angel." He fit the title perfectly, for even as a baby he was seldom known to fuss and cry or show any signs of ill temper. All who met or cared for him remarked on his sweet disposition. His nurses especially were very fond of their little prince. The first words Doņa Martha taught her little son were the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Aloysius grew up with them constantly on his lips. The sweet, powerful invocation of Jesus and Mary would be the very weapons that Aloysius would use to combat temptation in his spiritual struggles throughout his life.

Everyone enjoied Aloisius' company for he was always happy, decent and respectful. [Jesuits' church of "Casa Professa", Palermo]

Formative Years

In his early childhood he showed a tender heart to those in need. When accosted by some beggar, he was quick to hand out alms but, if he could not do so himself, he would appeal to his guardian to help the beggar. Aloysius often accompanied his mother to church and could be seen kneeling beside her with folded hands repeating the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

At home Aloysius continued this practice, often slipping into some unseen corner to continue his prayers. His mother took delight in hearing of these acts of piety in her son and she made every effort to foster them. She began to harbor hopes for him someday to join the ranks of the clergy. She saw the marks of holiness in her "little Angel."

Children had to grow up fast in those times; especially a child who was destined to inherit his father's kingdom one day. This knowledge lay heavily on his mother's heart, who tried to instill in Aloysius a deep religious foundation, a foundation built upon rock that could withstand the gathering tempest. But that was not all; for eventually when he was old enough, he would not only inherit his father's marquis state but also the estates of his two uncles.

When that event should come to pass, Aloysius would possess great influence and political power in the imperial courts, second only to the Emperor. Thus at home, those of the local courts as well as the other ruling nobility of the imperial court, lavished every respect upon him. The world lay at his feet so to speak. He had everything to gain by just growing up. However, little did anyone suspect that this prince was working toward another goal, one that the world could not offer and would not understand.

His First Lesson of Life

When the threat of the invading Turks loomed over the Spanish empire, Aloysius' father, Don Ferrante, was called to train and command Phillip Il's army for the defense. Aloysius was only four at the time but his father saw this as a great opportunity to began to train Aloysius in military leadership. Yet perhaps Don Ferrante's deeper concern was a fear that the feminine influente of his mother was making Aloysius over-sensitive, a trait that must never be found in the heir apparent. To quell these fears Don Ferrante took the boy along with him to the training camp at Castle Maggoire.

There, Aloysius would get a first hand glimpse of a soldier's life. Still too small to wear a man's armor he was fitted with a suit tailored to his child's frame, complete with a short sword and a small replica of a gun that fired bullets. Aloysius reveled in the game of soldier, as any little boy would. He became the mascot, so to speak, of the entire regiment. All the soldiers took a liking to the boy, and as the commander's son Aloysius was allowed free access to the entire camp. He frequently accompanied his father on inspections and drills, and even took a place in line for marches. When the day ended he would also participate in the lively fireside conversations.

The life of a soldier was bound to affect Aloysius, for he was so immersed in it! He began to display the rough mannerisms that befitted a hardened veteran. Besides mimicking their arrogance and swaggers, Aloysius started to use the harsh and crude language of hardened warriors. On one occasion Francis Del Turco, his tutor, overheard Aloysius' vicious vocabulary and quickly corrected him. He explained to Aloysius how unbefitting it was for a man of royal blood to use such crass, crude language as he had heard Aloysius using.

His tutor sat Aloysius down and explained to him the severity of this vice. Del Turco referred to the place in Scripture where Our Lord, speaking to His disciples, stated, "the things which proceed out of the mouth, come from the heart and those things defile a man," explaining to Aloysius that what we say reflects what is in out hearts. Aloysius had a sensitive nature and was still young enough to be moved by the words of his trusted tutor. Francis Del Turco was not only Aloysius' tutor but also Aloysius teacher and spiritual guardian.

In the absence of his parents it was the job of the tutor to instill in the boy not only a preliminary education, but also to build his character. His mother had planted the seed of holiness; Del Turco was to cultivate and nourish it. From this point on Aloysius always took great care noi only to stop using those words again, but he also made effort not to hear them again.

After two years of training, in 1573, the cali to defend Christendom was sounded. The Marquis Don Ferrante's army was called to the forefront against two imposing Turkish advances. While the garrison made ready to leave for the Spanish border, Don Ferrante prepared to send his son home, for the frontlines were no piace for him. At home, however, Aloysius was to fight another more rigid baule. Doņa Martha was delighted to have her angel back safe. She quickly and with great joy saw a good change in Aloysius. While most boys at the age of six were usually engaged in games and carefree play, Aloysius was thoughtful and spent more time alone in prayer.

He would frequent the monasteries and churches in the area. His conversation consisted only of holy things.

He was still tutored in math, science, and the languages as well as lessons in court etiquette and the proper manners of royalty. Naturally, he would be spending most of his life at the court. Thus it was required for him to learn how to recognize and address members of distinguished families and the appropriate response to their addresses given to him. He was an intelligent boy and excelled in all subjects except dancing. Parties and dancing were common events at court.

It was not only a time for enjoyment, but also an opportunity to display the latest fashions in all their splendor. Aloysius did not like such pomp. He did not want to learn how to dance and tried everything he could to avoid it. Often he would hide in an attempt to avoid this tedious class. Despite his protest, he was still heir to his father's realm and therefore duty-bound to make his appearance at the balls but he never, in his life, could be persuaded to take part in dancing or any of the other silly court games.

Servants peer in on Aloysius as he cried in prayer, performing penance before the crucifix, for patience and perseverance.

Aloysius advanced quickly in his spiritual life. Neither clergy nor lay people left his company without feeling greatly edified by the young boy's innocence, simplicity of soul, and the wisdom he displayed that was beyond his years. He was always known to be a happy, upright, respectable little boy. He was a joy to everyone whom he saw and to whom he spoke.

As Aloysius' holiness grew, he was a source of terror for evil. One incident vividly shows this. The story relates that a Franciscan who was known for his miracles and ability to cast out demons was visiting a church in a village not far from Castiglione.The people flocked to see him, begging for prayers and miracles.

Many of those who were possessed by evil spirits were also brought to him to be exorcised. Aloysius and his brother, Rudolfo, had gone to see the Franciscan when one of the possessed persons, on seeing Aloysius, pointed toward him and, in a fit of torturous rage, exclaimed in a demonic voice, "Do you see him? He will be in Heaven one day and great in glory!"

His Vow

At the ripe age of ten, Aloysius had already achieved what it would take even saints many arduous years to accomplish in purity and holiness. This was the age when noble boys began to make an appearance in court. Because of this, Aloysius was rarely home for any length of time, like all persons of royal prestige; his place now was among the glamour and riches of court life. At first he was a page in the cours of Florenee and Mantua, and after that he went to serve as a personal attendant to the heir to the Spanish throne. In the midst of all this splendor and pomp Aloysius remained resolute and vigilant in his battle for purity. He kept a strict guard on all his senses.

So intent was his resolve that he conscientiously kept his head lowered following a practice exercised by Saint Francis of Assisi, who also never looked a woman in the face. In fact, Aloysius avoided looking anyone in the face without looking stiff and unnatural. He did this out of modesty, keeping custody of his eyes, not an easy achievement in the royal courts! When he was greeted he would simply lift his cap without any affectation, and modestly bow in response. He also kept strict observances of all church laws, mortifying himself with voluntary penances.

His diet usually consisted of an egg and water for breakfast, bread for lunch, the smallest portion of meat and water for supper. When visiting relatives or other people he continued to adhere to this practice by taking a small portion of whatever was placed before him. Those who witnessed this practice of austerity wondered how he kept himself alive on such small portions. His austerity was especially admirable, considering the contrast to the huge portions that were available to the privileged class to which he belonged.

During this time he and his family enjoyed a relaxing vacation in Florence. He spent many hours in the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation; it was among his favorite churches in the beautiful city of Florence. On one occasion while Aloysius was kneeling before a miraculous statue of Our Lady of the Annunciation, he made a solemn and perpetual vow of chastity which he desired to keep in all earnestness. Aloysius' aim in making this commitment was to give himself entirely, heart, mind, and body, to Jesus through His Immaculate Mother Mary. Aloysius was surrounded and repulsed by the pomp and sensuality of court life and all the revelry that accompanied it.

In it all he recognized the spiritual dangers to the temptation of impurity. This was to be Aloysius' great goal in life, to make himself a spotless victim before Our Lord. This vow was very real to Aloysius even though he was so young. He took great care to defend and protect his purity of mind, heart, and body, and he knew, with the added help of the vow, he would succeed.

Even as Aloysius fulfilled his duty as a page to the royal courts, attending the parties and banquets, he never let down his guard. Surrounded by a world in which so many of his companions had given up the fight for purity, he manfully went to war against the flesh. Aloysius devoutly read Saint Paul's letters; he always had a copy of them with him. It is in these letters he read about the raging war of the carnai man agaínst the spiritual man. It was a silent war waged within him and a battle of an entire lifetime.

Life of Mortification

Aloysius, to safeguard his vow, became even more austere and took on severe penances and mortifications. When he was not attending to bis duties at court, he was praying and conversing with God. So great was his sorrow during bis prayers that the spot where he would kneel was soaked with the torrent of tears that flowed from his eyes. Aside from the meager meals Aloysius took, he kept his body in even greater subjugation.

He made use of the practice of flagellation. So severe was this penance that his tears were mingled with the blood that flowed because of the severity of his scourges. So quickly did Aloysius advance in holiness that at the age of eleven years, just one year after making his vow of chastity, he was fully resolved to became a religious. Knowing that his father had high hopes of his eventually replacing him as marquis, he revealed his desire to enter religious life only to his mother, to ber greatest joy. Unfortunately it would still be many years before he could fulfill this desire.

In the meantime he was employed as the page and companion to the heir of the Spanish throne. At the same time he continued his own education with his brother, Rudolfo. He continued to excel in bis learning, especially in the fields of science, theology, and math. So eloquent was his oration and the dignity of his presence that he was chosen to give the public address to the Emperor upon his return from a diplomatic journey. With this gift of learning, he loved to spend a few hours among the poor of the city who did not bave the opportunity to receive any formal education. He mostly taught them religion, in order to instill in them a knowledge and, consequently, a greater love of God.

Although he didn't notice, his prestige was advancing in the eyes of greater dignitaries and princes of the imperial courts. When he walked into the room the conversation stopped and everyone could only gaze in wonderment at the boy who had already advanced beyond his years. They admired him greatly, but none could fully grasp what it was in him that they admired so much.

First Communion

By the time Aloysius was twelve, he was deemed ready to receive his First Holy Communion. He had met Saint Charles Borromeo on a few occasions. Aloysius impressed Saint Charles so much that the holy man took it upon himself to instruct Aloysius until he had reached the proper level of maturity required to receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.

When this day arrived, Aloysius received Our Lord with the reverence and devotion that only the pure of heart could display. To many who witnessed this event it brought tears to their eyes at seeing the holiness of their little prince.

There is a famous painting of Aloysius' First Holy Communion, attempting to capture the remarkable scene of the two saints. In it Aloysius is kneeling, leaning forward to receive Our Lord. Behind him is his mother with her hands forward as if offering her son to Our Lord in the Eucharist, a slight look of grief on her face as if mourning the loss of her son. Beside the mother a proud but stern-faced father kneels. Aloysius' two brothers, Rudolfo and Francis, his favorite brother, both kneel on lower ground to denote the supremacy of Aloysius' rank.