On his arrival at the Jesuit novitiate, Aloysius said his brief goodbyes to those who had accompanied him on his journey. At their request, he gave them a few messages to be relayed to his family and, without one look back, he crossed the threshold. Inside, the novice master brought him to where he would stay for his six-month probation, or postulancy. When left alone he fell to his knees and thanked God. He offered himself wholly as a sacrifice to Him and begged for the grace to serve His Majesty here worthily and to die in His service.

There are three stages of membership in the Jesuits; first the novitiates for training in the interior spiritual life, the colleges for instruction in the various branches of knowledge, and the houses of the professed or residence for the active work of the ministry. Up to this point Aloysius had spent his life in preparation for the court life he was born to. The Jesuit postulancy, however, consisted of reading the rules and engaging in some of the life of the Jesuits. After six months, the applicant would make the final decision as to whether or not he wished to enter. Aloysius' postulancy ended earlier than usual as he had already shown resolve to become a member. In the novitiate Aloysius prepared to embrace the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The difference between the postulancy and the novitiate was that the applicant was no longer engaged in speculating about his vocation, but it was rather a time to exercise the virtues that would accompany the vows, with the hopes that good habits would form, not only for his own sanctification, but those virtues necessary for missionary work in the world, namely detachment, humility, trust in God, and zeal for souls.

It was also a time for the order to test and try the applicant to see if he could live within the boundaries of the rules.

Like the other novices, Aloysius was sent out to wait on the patients at the hospital or to give catechetical instruction. Although Aloysius was well established in the virtues, it was now time for him to manifest them and let them shine forth.

Aloysius got the opportunity to show how detached he really was. After barely two years in the novitiate he received word that his father had died. To Aloysius' comfort the Marquis had died cradled in the arms of the Church, having received the Last Rites from the hands of Father Francis Gonzaga, a family relative. A drastic change had overshadowed the Marquis. Gout had bedridden him almost permanently before his death as his health failed drastically. The Marquis, however, filled his time with more pious practices and gathered the family around him at night to recite prayers or read the Psalms.

Aloysius died on the Octave of Corpus Christi, just as he had said.

He had asked for the ebony crucifix that Aloysius had had in his room, and he would hold it weeping and pressing it to his heart. Physicians were called in, but to no avail, and he died a holy death. Aloysius, at the request of his superiors, wrote a letter to his mother and brothers, comforting them in their grief and assuring them that through the mercy of God, Don Ferrante was enjoying the bliss of Heaven.

For the rest of Aloysius' novitiate he was tried and tested in every virtue. Never could his superiors get the slightest inclination of Aloysius wavering in any way. He proved himself remarkable in obedience, humility, and docility to his superiors. One thing, however, that Aloysius' superiors did find fault with was that they felt that his posture was too bent. Aloysius had grown so accustomed to a bowed head that he actually had physical difficulty holding his head erect. To correct this his superiors built a special collar to help reform his malady. They also curbed his austerities.

Aloysius was perfectly obedient in limiting his austerities, practicing them only as his superiors would allow. He knew that, in religious life, he was no longer his own person, but under the direct authority of God through appointed superiors. Aloysius' superiors felt that although such austerities were a means of detachment from sensual temptations, prudence should always be used to determine how much is too much. Austerity should never weaken our health or retard us from our purpose in the service of God.

A few months after entering, Aloysius along with some of the other novices, traveled to the Gesu in Rome. There the novices were sent to perform some menial tasks while living under the example of the professed members.

Aloysius spent most of his mornings serving six or seven Masses; at noon he would help the cook serve the midday meal. Then he would spend his time caring for the patients in the hospital.

After his "two-year scrutiny," as the novitiate is sometimes called, Aloysius was prepared to take his first vows. With these vows came a greater emphasis on pursuing virtue in preparation for the priesthood. To aid this preparation, Aloysius would undergo more intense studies in philosophy and theology. After some time, Aloysius was accepted into minor orders while he continued his studies. During this time he continued to minister to the afflicted patients at the hospital.

He was known to request the most vile and gruesome cases. Although he never complained, Aloysius was seen to grow slightly pale but would struggle and overcome his squeamishness. He joyfully attended these patients, overcoming his natural repulsion and so eagerly attended to them that tbey never suspected how much effort it took him. Whether it was cleaning and dressing wounds or changing the bed linens, Aloysius offered each patient meticulous care. While his studies took up much of his time, he did the most menial housekeeping jobs of the house in a recollected and modest disposition.

All there signs of holiness made it appear that he was ripe for Heaven and so it seemed that he was. One day while in prayer, Aloysius was given a revelation by God that his death was drawing near. Knowing this, he desired with all his heart to die in Rome as a sign of his love for the Church. As if to answer this desire, suddenly one of the Jesuits, Father Medici, requested that Aloysius be sent to Rome because he thought that his example in religious life would greatly affect the other students there.

After obtaining the proper permission, Aloysius traveled from Milan, where he had been stationed after recovering from a bout of illness, to the Roman College. Along the way the traveling party made several stops where Aloysius gave some lectures and addresses to the young Jesuits in individual houses. They finally reached Rome on May 14, 1590.

Aloysius was overjoyed, knowing that this would be the final stage of his earthly journey. He was assigned a quiet, out of the way room where he could pursue his studies on the love of God and neighbor. Aloysius spent much of his extra time with the younger members of the Society, encouraging and assisting them in studies and the pursuit of virtue. He was a source of great edification to all and was respected and loved as a saint by both his superiors and students.

Famine and Plague

Between 1590 and 1591 a famine and pestilence broke out in all of Italy. Rome was not spared the tragedy. Both Pope Sixtus V and Pope Urban VII died of the fever that was sweeping through the land. Those in need flocked to the Church in their desperation. The Roman College was called upon to lend assistants to the overflowing hospitals. At first, Aloysius was only allowed to beg for the needs of the sick. Later, as the plague spread and those who attended the sick were themselves beginning to fall victim to it, Aloysius begged his superior's permission to wait upon the sick as well. Aloysius went with some companions, under the leadership of Father Nicholas Frabrini, the rector of the Roman College, to the hospital of Saint Sixtus.

The sight at the hospital was horrible. The bodies were lying in corners or stretched along the corridore in the last throes of death. Aloysius and his companions lead, or in most cases carried, the sick to all the available beds. The Jesuits washed the sick, gave them food and medicine, and then prepared them for confession all the while encouraging them to bear their suffering with resignation. Aloysius' zeal for both souls and bodies knew no bounds. He always took care of the worst cases without any consideration or care for his own welfare.

Aloysius' Death

It was inevitable that those who tended the sick would themselves eventually succumb to the fever. Aloysius' superiors exhorted him to be mindful of his own health, but Aloysius felt that, in such a time of need, the call to serve was a duty from God, and He would take care of the rest. As Aloysius' companions were each struck down by the plague, his superiors were forced to forbid Aloysius to continue. They did, however, permit him to visit another hospital where the lese serious cases were brought in order to silence his urgent pleas.

On his way to the hospital, however, Aloysius came upon a man who was badly stricken by the disease and had been abandoned. Aloysius, without hesitation, heaved the man upon his shoulders and carried him to the hospital. It was here, perhaps, that Aloysius contracted the disease. When Aloysius discovered that he was on his way to Heaven, he thanked God with overwhelming joy. After seven days, the fever had brought Aloysius, seemingly, to the point of death. Surrounded by his companions and having received Holy Communion and Extreme Unction, he made a brief address to those around him.

Saint Aloysius was canonizated in 1776, by Pope Benedict XIII. He was later named patron of youth and students.

In labored speech he exhorted them to be obedient as he had been obedient and fervent in their pursuit of virtue. Aloysius, however, was not to die yet. God still had plans for him to be a source of edification to those around him. While lingering between life and death, he spent his time in constant prayer and when he was alone, he would get out of bed and kneel at his bedside. When he heard someone coming he would quietly climb back into his bed. He displayed exemplary virtue and inspired all those who witnessed it in his last days.

As Aloysius' health continued to decline he could no longer get out of bed. When the doctors predicted that he could not live more than a week, his companions increased their visits and begged him to carry their personal requests to Heaven for them. He received the confidences of each petition. Aloysius spent his last days contemplating the God Whom he so longed for and was about to meet, face to face.

The day before Aloysius' death, June 20, the infirmarian observed that Aloysius was looking better. Aloysius persisted in his assertion that this was to be his last day on earth and repeated this claim to the priest who came to visit him. He passed the day in great tranquility and recollection; but at times he would request to receive Holy Communion. The infirmarian, not realizing the urgency, delayed. That evening Father Lambertini came to visit Aloysius who begged that he bring the Rector and Viaticum. Father promised to do so and then recited Litany of the Blessed Sacrament with Aloysius.

That night again surrounded by his companions, Aloysius with great devotion received Viaticum from Father Rector's hands. Afterwards he settled back down for his last thanksgiving on earth. As the evening Angelus bell sounded, Father Rector sent the brothers and priests from the room to retire for the night, leaving only two fathers to stay and keep watch with Aloysius. To the priests who were attending him, Aloysius looked as if he were in no immediate danger; periodically one would go to the bedside and ask if he needed anything. The reply was always, "Keep watch over me, l'm dying." A little later Aloysius begged to be turned on his left side instead of his right.

The infirmarian fearing immediate death told Aloysius to bear with this last suffering, as already Aloysius' face had become pale and was covered with a cold sweat giving signs that the end was near. The prayers for the dying were begun. A lighted candle was placed in Aloysius' hand; he gripped it tightly as ne listened intently to the prayers. With his other hand he pressed a small crucifix to his breast. Aloysius breathed a heavy sigh and, just as he had done from his childhood, he whispered the Holy Name of Jesus and gave his soul to God. It was the twenty-first of June, within the Octave of Corpus Christi. Aloysius was twentythree years old.

The marble altarpiece of Saint Aloysius in the Jesuits' church of "Casa Professa", Palermo.

When they laid out his body, the infirmarian discovered two deep wounds on Aloysius' left side. He had lain in one position for so long that the linens had sunk into his flesh, causing extreme sores. Aloysius never complained; he had not even hinted at his discomfort. It was because of this pain that he had requested to be turned on his left side, but unrelieved of it and, like Our Lord on the Cross, he died quietly with joyful surrender. Aloysius was granted the privilege of being buried in a coffin, a luxury usually reserved only to priests in the Jesuit Order at that time.

As he lived, so did he die, a holy life ending with a holy death. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Passion of Our Lord strengthened him during the last hours of his sufferings. His life had been one of mortification and penance. He was leaving no riches behind; rather he was taking them with him finto Eternity. Living a life without regrets, Saint Aloysius never let himself be contaminated by the corruption of court life. He kept himself untarnished by focusing his energies on accumulating spiritual treasures, rather than momentary pleasures and wealth.

The other nobles his age thought he was foolish, rejecting a sizeable inheritance in exchange for the obscure life of a religious, wearing himself out, working to help others rather than himself. He was the rich young man who this time " left all to gain All." And his treasures will never fade but extend into Eternity. In 1776, Pope Benedict XIII decreed Aloysius a saint. He was later named patron of youth and students throughout the world. He is a model of purity, for he was surrounded by immorality in the courts, yet calling upon the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary he remained untouched through their intercession.