June 21, 2023

Feast of San Luigi Gonzaga

San Luigi Gonzaga, ora pro nobis

O celéstium donórum distribútor, Deus, qui in angélico júvene Aloísio miram vitæ innocéntiam pari cum pœniténtia sociásti: ejus méritis et précibus concéde; ut, innocéntem non secúti, pœniténtem imitémur. Per Dóminum.

June 21st is the Feast of San Luigi Gonzaga (1568-1591), Jesuit Ascetic and Mystic. San Luigi died in Rome caring for plague victims. Patron saint of Catholic youth and students, he is also invoked against contagious diseases. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Latin and English. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken at the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista in Matera. Evviva San Luigi Gonzaga!


Prayer


O God, the dispenser of heavenly gifts, Who in the angelic youth Aloysius didst combine wonderful innocence of life with penance, grant to his merits and prayers that we, who have not followed him in his innocence, may imitate his penance. Through our Lord.