Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious
St. Aloysius, more commonly referred to as Luigi, came from the ruling family in Mantua. His entrance into the Jesuits was a spectacular event for the Jesuits. Paintings and statuary of St. Luigi often portray him with a crown at his feet, designating that he gave up honor and riches to enter the Jesuits. He was a very pious young man. He made a vow of chastity when he was not yet a teenager. In the Jesuits, he maintained a deep and profound prayer life that was noticeable to the great scholar and saint Robert Bellarmine, so much so that Bellarmine wanted to be buried next to Luigi Gonzaga. Luigi died caring for plague victims in Rome while he was in studies at the Roman college. His strong piety and acts of penitence may not serve as the best model for many today. However, his constant desire to move towards God may remind us that we need to align our choices that will help us and others move towards God as well.
Of course, when we recall today’s saint, we do want to pronounce his name correctly, or at least the way he and his family in the past and currently pronounce the family name. The “a” in Gonzaga is what is referred to as a “soft a,” as in the words “father,” “part,” or “start,” (presuming you are not from Boston). One does not use the “a” sound as found in the word “bag.” Making an “a” sound that resembles the buzzer at the end of a basketball game in pronouncing the name Gonzaga demonstrates linguistic neglect, cultural hegemony, and all sorts of things that one would, in polite society, wish to avoid.