Jun 21 – Memorial for St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious
St. Aloysius (1568-1591) was an Italian noble who grew up in a castle as the son of a compulsive gambler. He suffered from kidney disease, but considered it a blessing as it left him bed-ridden with time for prayer. While still a boy himself, he taught catechism to poor boys. At age 18 he signed away his legal claim to his family’s lands and title to his brother, and became a Jesuit novice. He tended to plague victims in Rome in the outbreak of 1591, and died of the plague himself with the desire to see God.
- Patron Saint Index
2 Cor 9:6-11
Mat 6:1-6,16-18
“… God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.”
I was quite interested to find out more about the Patron Saint for today, St Aloysius of Gonzaga, as my knowledge of ‘young saints’ is limited to St Therese of Lisieux. I was impressed to read how he was called to holiness at the very young age of 7, as well as how he acted on the call and persevered in doing so despite the many challenges he faced. Besides his family’s objections and expectations, I assume he would also have faced temptations from his aristocratic circumstances, his peers and maybe even his own youthful physical condition (because how could a teenage boy be able to fast 3 days a week?!)
It also made me recall my own childhood. I am a cradle Catholic, but when I was 7, my priorities probably revolved around TV, ice cream and homework (which aren’t very different from my priorities now actually). I only became more aware of my faith at around 13 to 14 when I entered secondary school and encountered a well-meaning schoolmate who encouraged me to attend her Christian church instead. I don’t really remember what she said, but I do recall the confusion and insecurity I felt at being regarded as “old-fashioned” and “conservative”, and I had to seek my parents’ views before I gained enough courage to gently turn her down; even then, I still felt worried that I would be seen as weird.
That insecurity and anxiety has remained with me till now, especially when I find it somewhat inconvenient to observe my faith in public (e.g. on Fridays when I meet non-Catholics for meals while still trying to abstain from meat), or encounter those who do not have favourable impressions of the Roman Catholic Church. It is probably due to my innate fear of confrontation and less-than-firm foundation in Catholic teaching, but I dread the occasion if, or when, I have to take a stand for my faith or simply explain its counter-cultural stance, which seems quite likely in our polarised world.
But a look at scripture shows that the Catholic Church has always been counter-cultural. I am writing this shortly after the 4th Sunday of Easter, where the Gospel reading features St Peter exhorting his audience to “save (themselves) from this corrupt generation”. It would seem that our world is no less corrupt than the one the apostles faced, albeit in different ways. But as Bishop Barron elaborated in his Sunday sermon video (here, from 13:06 onwards), Catholics today do not come across as significantly different compared to their peers, a finding which would probably apply to me as well.
Then what can we do from here? I suppose we can take small steps, such as learning more about our faith in terms of scripture or the Catechism, or being more intentional about our everyday actions so that we carry them out according to our Lord’s will, rather than because it is woke to do so. (After all I have learned to just declare my intention to go vegetarian or have fish on Fridays.) We can also take inspiration from the immense and diverse community of saints who intercede for us and show how we can persevere in following God’s call. And finally we will need to trust in, and keep seeking guidance from, the Holy Spirit, who is always here and willing to give us what we need so that “you may have an abundance for every good work”.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Jaclyn Lam)
Prayer: St Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us to have the wisdom to discern God’s teaching and the diligence and courage to follow God’s call in all circumstances.
Thanksgiving: Lord, we thank you for your patience, guidance and generosity in sending us the Holy Spirit.
OXYGEN 
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