Prayer to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga Patron of the Youth

Prayer to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

O pure and faithful Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, model of youthful holiness and devoted servant of Christ, you chose God above all things and followed Him with courage and joy.

Patron of youth, intercede for young people everywhere. Help them to grow in faith, to resist temptation, and to choose what is good and true. Guide them to live with integrity, compassion, and love in a world full of challenges and distractions.

Obtain for them pure hearts, strong wills, and a deep desire for holiness. Inspire them to serve others generously and to follow God’s call for their lives with trust.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, patron of youth and students, pray for us.

Amen.

O Saint Aloysius, adorned with angelic virtues, I, your unworthy servant, earnestly commend to you the chastity of my soul and body. I pray that by your angelic purity, you will commend me to Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Lamb, and to His most Holy Mother, the Virgin of virgins. Preserve me from every grievous sin and permit me not to defile myself by any spot of impurity. Whenever you see me in temptation or danger of sin, banish far from my heart every impure thought and affection. Awaken in me the thought of eternity and of Jesus Crucified; imprint deeply in my heart a lively sentiment of the holy fear of God. Inflame me with divine love, and grant me the grace that by imitating you on earth, I may merit to enjoy God with you in heaven. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of Roman Catholic youth and young students. He is also recognized as the patron saint of AIDS patients and caregivers, as well as the blind. His feast day is celebrated on June 21st.

Born in northern Italy in 1568 to a noble family, Aloysius Gonzaga was initially expected by his father to pursue a military career. However, from a young age, he showed a profound spiritual inclination, taking a private vow of chastity at age nine and dedicating himself to prayer and the study of saints. He was educated in Florence and served as a page in the court of Philip II in Spain, where he became disillusioned with court life and sought solace in the lives of saints.

Inspired by Jesuit missionaries, Aloysius decided to join the Society of Jesus, a decision that led to a four-year struggle with his father, who initially opposed his vocation. He eventually renounced his right to succession and entered the Jesuit novitiate in Rome. Despite suffering from delicate health, including kidney problems, skin disease, chronic headaches, and insomnia, he maintained a rigorous discipline of prayer.

In 1591, a plague struck Rome, and Aloysius devoted himself to caring for the sick in a Jesuit hospital, even though he found the task personally repulsive. He contracted the disease himself and died at the age of 23, reportedly with his eyes fixed on a crucifix and attempting to say the name of Jesus. He was beatified in 1621 by Gregory XV and canonized in 1726 by Benedict XIII. St. Robert Bellarmine, who administered his last rites, later wrote his biography.

St. Aloysius is remembered for his extraordinary purity, humility, and dedication to God despite worldly temptations and personal suffering. His life serves as an example for youth, students, and those seeking to live a life of virtue and service.

OTHER PRAYER: "Dear Christian youth, you were a faithful follower of Christ in the Society of Jesus. You steadily strove for perfection while generously serving the plague- stricken. Help our youth today who are faced with the plague of wrong values and false gods. Show them how to harness their energies and to use them for their own and others' fulfillment, which will redound to the greater glory of God. Amen."