LETTER FROM ALOYSIUS GONZAGA | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2022

Author: Jisha John, Pathanamthitta

My beloved in Christ,

Peace from the heavens!

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

Received your letter. I am praying for you. I submit you to the most Immaculate Heart of Mamma for safe keeping.

My dear, I was a piece of twisted iron; I entered the religious life to get wrought back straight. I was born in 1568 to a noble family, as the eldest son of the Marquis of Castiglione. My father, Ferrante Gonzaga brought me up with much expectation and hope as I was the heir of the family title. He took me along on military expeditions and made me a ‘little soldier’ from the age of four. The vocabulary I had learned from those camps was displeasing and my mother was worried about it.

Once, malaria and fever hit me badly leaving me very sick and bedridden. Later, at the age of seven, I had a spiritual awakening. A special affinity to prayer kindled in me. As you know, it was the time of Renaissance in Italy. There was every chance of going astray but prayer safeguarded me. That was the first time I was updated to something higher, high above the skies. A call to teach catechism to the poor kids grabbed my attention. My friends teased me for those ‘unusual’ practices. I was mocked for spending time in prayer. But it didn’t shatter me.

My brother and I were sent to Florence to learn the customs of princes. It didn’t bring any satisfaction to me. Later, while I was in Mantua, I read about the saints. That was a giant leap. A book on Jesuit missionaries in India changed me upside down. A desire to join the Jesuits kindled in me. Though I was supposed to learn ‘art of arms’, I was kept aside for ‘art of souls’ by my Father in heaven. I read the Psalms. It brought me wisdom. Mamma Mary was my refuge. She secured me for Christ by her abundant intercession. The time spent in meditation and fasting strengthened me from inside. I fasted three days a week and lived on little food. Ascetic lifestyle kept my soul hale and healthy.

In 1580, while I was in Castiglione, I had the great opportunity to meet St Charles Borromeo. And the best thing happened was that he administered me the First Holy Communion. The prompting to join the Jesuits was like a fire. Nothing worldly could extinguish it. I presented my desire before my family. Papa was totally against it. He couldn’t accept my decision and did everything from his part to distract me. But it all went futile. The period of tussle was quite long but God’s will had to be fulfilled. At last, Papa gave in. I still remember his letter to the Jesuit Superior General. It weighed much. The letter said, ‘I merely say that I am giving into your Reverence’s hands the most precious thing I possess in all the world.’

The next important event happened during my novitiate. St Robert Bellarmine was my spiritual advisor. He was God’s providence. Seminary life was less demanding since I had been practising an ascetic life for a long time. But certain things troubled me. I was obliged to eat more and spend time in recreation with my fellows. You might be surprised reading this. But trust me dear, it was really hard for me. And it was forbidden to pray except at stated times. Those things worried me a little. But I knew I was under formation. I needed more room for Christ in me. I was a twisted iron. It wouldn’t be straight one fine day. It required time and a process. And I practised the virtue of obedience.

Plague hit Italy in 1591. I was at service in one of the Jesuit hospitals. I washed and fed the sick and prepared them for sacraments. And soon, I contracted the disease. It took a long time to recover. I spent time in prayer and had a premonition that I would die soon, on the octave of Corpus Christi. And months later, I departed to the heavens when I was 23, on the feast of Corpus Christi. My eyes were on the crucifix I was holding, and I said the name of Jesus.

Here I would like to share a small prayer with you. I used to say it.

O Holy Mary, my mistress, into thy blessed trust and special keeping, into the bosom of thy tender mercy, this day, every day of my life and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body; to thee I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that through thy most holy intercession and thy merits, all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to thy will and that of thy divine Son. Amen.

Sending you warm hugs and kisses from the heavens

With love.

Your friend and sibling,

Aloysius