St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena
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Show HideSt. Aloysius Gonzaga was an Italian saint who lived in the 1500s. He was a member of the Jesuit religious order.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga was known for his purity and his charity. He died while caring for those suffering from an epidemic.
You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy Jesuit in your life!
About St. Aloysius Gonzaga
St. Aloysius Gonzaga was born in northern Italy in 1568. He had six younger siblings, and his parents were members of the nobility.
Aloysius’ father expected him to have a military career, and Aloysius’ military training began when he was very young. At age four, Aloysius received a set of miniature guns and began training with his father. But Aloysius also trained in literature and the arts as well.
Aloysius spent much of his youth witnessing brutality and violence around him, including the murder of two of his brothers.
When Aloysius was eight years old, he was sent to serve at the court of the Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici. During this time, Aloysius became ill with a disease in his kidneys. While ill, he began to read about the saints and to devote time to prayer. It is said that he even took a private vow of chastity when he was nine years old.
At age eleven, Aloysius was sent to a different duke and was shocked at the violence and frivolity he encountered there.
Aloysius soon returned home, where he received his first Holy Communion from St. Charles Borromeo. Around this time, he read about Jesuit missionaries working in India and felt a strong call to missionary work. He began teaching catechism classes to younger boys, and he started paying visits to religious orders.
Soon after, Aloysius’ family was called to Spain to assist the Holy Roman Empress. Aloysius began more seriously considering religious life and the priesthood. He decided to join the Jesuits, and his mother agreed. His father was furious and forbade him to pursue this vocation.
When Aloysius’ family returned to Italy, he still desired to become a priest. Many of his family members tried to talk him out of this decision, or to convince him to become a secular priest rather than a Jesuit for the sake of keeping his inheritance. But Aloysius would not be persuaded.
Aloysius chose to give up all rights to his inheritance to become a Jesuit priest. As a Jesuit novice in Rome, he began suffering from further health problems. In addition to the kidney problems that had bothered him for years, he was also afflicted with skin disease, chronic headaches, and insomnia.
He was sent to study in Milan, but he soon had to return to Rome because of his health. He took his vows in 1587, and he began studying for his ordination.
In 1590, he had a vision of St. Gabriel, who told him that he would die within a year. In 1591, a plague broke out in Rome, and Aloysius’ order opened a hospital for the sick. Though Aloysius felt repulsed by the sickened victims, he cared for them diligently.
Aloysius’ superiors soon forbade him from returning to care for the sick, since many other Jesuits had become infected with the plague. But Aloysius persisted in asking to return until his request was granted. He eventually contracted the disease himself. He died with looking at the crucifix and attempting to say the name of Jesus.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga’s Feast Day: June 21st
Why Pray the St. Aloysius Gonzaga’s Novena?
St. Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of young students and of Christian youth. You can ask him to pray for any young students or Christian youth you might know who are in need of prayers.
He is also the patron saint of AIDS patients and AIDS caregivers. You can seek his intercession if you care for AIDS patients, for an AIDS patient you know.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga is also a patron saint of the blind. You can ask for his prayers if you are blind, or for someone you know who is blind.
You can pray the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena for any intention!
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena Prayers
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You that he showed throughout his life, beginning in his youth.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, you began your journey to holiness when you were very young. As you were recovering from an illness, you turned your attention to prayer and study of the saints. From then on, you grew in devotion to God.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You were committed to chastity, and you longed to serve God as a missionary. Though you were still young, you did all you could to prepare yourself for a life of service to God.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to serve God in my life. Pray that I may do all I can to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the openness to Your will that he showed in discerning his vocation.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, your felt drawn to missionary work from the time you were very young. You were inspired by the work of Jesuit missionaries, so you you began to discern how God was calling you to serve Him.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you longed to serve!
You visited religious orders and began teaching catechism classes, as you sought God’s will for your life. You soon determined that your vocation was to serve God in the Jesuit religious order.
Pray for me, that I may be open to God’s will in my life. Pray that I may always be open to whatever path He might call me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You that led him to follow his religious vocation and enter the Jesuits.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, you felt called to serve God in a radical way ever since you were young. You felt drawn to missionary work, and you longed to become a Jesuit priest.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved so deeply!
Your family was opposed to your vocation, but you did not waver in your determination. Despite pressure from your family and the loss of your inheritance, you wholeheartedly served God as a Jesuit.
Pray for me, that I may serve God as wholeheartedly as you did. Pray that I may never allow obstacles to deter me from answering God’s call.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You that led him to renounce his worldly inheritance and follow You.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, you were born into a family of wealthy means. Your parents expected you to take up a worldly profession, but you persevered in your desire to serve God in a religious vocation.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!
You had to choose between your inheritance and your religious vocation. Despite the pressures of your family, you chose to serve God in the path He was calling you to.
Pray for me, that I may always choose to serve God, no matter the cost. Pray that I may never allow worldly influence to lead me away from God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to serve You as a Jesuit.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the path to your religious vocation was not easy. You faced a lot of opposition from your family, but you continued on in the path God was calling you to follow.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God!
You chose to give up your inheritance, in order to become a Jesuit priest. Once you entered the order, you faced further difficulties in your poor health. But you did all you could to serve God worthily.
Pray for me, that I may never allow difficulties to deter me from serving God. Pray that I may be ready and willing to serve Him in whatever path He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed throughout his years of poor health and his commitment to caring for the ill around him.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, you suffered from illness for many years. Despite your sufferings, you put your time to good use in prayer and holy reading.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
When you became aware that your brothers and sisters in Christ were suffering with symptoms of an infectious disease, you asked to be allowed to care for them. You did not hesitate to risk your life caring for them, out of love for God.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to serve God in the suffering around me. Pray that I may never allow my own sufferings to deter me from serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in committing himself to care for the sick despite dangers to his own health.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, you were eager to care for your suffering brothers and sisters in Christ, in the midst of a terrible epidemic. You persisted in seeking permission to care for the sick, even though you knew it might endanger your own health.
Please persist in bringing my petitions before God!
You felt natural revulsion toward the unpleasant realities of the sickness around you, but you wholeheartedly threw yourself into the task of caring for these suffering people anyway.
Pray for me, that I may never allow unpleasantness to deter me from serving God. Pray that I may always persevere in seeking to serve God, despite all obstacles.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gozanga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in enduring many sufferings with patience and joy.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, you suffered a lot from poor health throughout your life. You endured a disease of the kidneys early in your life, and this ailment continued to trouble you for years. Despite a skin disease, chronic headaches, and insomnia, you continued to joyfully serve God.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you served!
You courageously chose to expose yourself to more illness, in choosing to care for those suffering from an epidemic.
Pray for me, that I may always choose the path of love of God, no matter how I might suffer. Pray that I might endure all sufferings patiently, for the love of God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gozanga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Aloysius Gonzaga as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed by living a life of holy service devoted to You.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, you endured a lot of suffering in your life, but you chose to faithfully serve God. You continued to follow your vocation, despite many obstacles.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You did all you could to serve God wholeheartedly, even choosing to care for those suffering from contagious disease. When you died, you were focused on the crucifix and attempting to say the name of Jesus.
Pray for me, that I may be as faithful to God throughout my life as you were. Pray that I may always choose to serve God, no matter how difficult it might be.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.