Aloyius Gonzaga

St. Aloyius Gonzaga lived during the sixteenth century, the son of a nobleman, a child of great devotion and piety. It was the intention of his parents that he become a solider, but Aloysius understood his call to be that of serving Christ in the priesthood. As a teen he entered the Jesuits, and lived in Rome. A few years after his ordination the Black Plague broke out in Rome. Aloyius worked in a Jesuit hospital caring for the sick and the dying; before contracting the disease himself. Aloysius is known to be a patron saint of youth and youth workers.

I had commented to a brother priest yesterday that I have another excellent server who is able to set the Sacramentary for Mass, and anticipates everything that happens next. Now this is a bright young man, but his family is at Mass without fail. They will sit in the same bench as their grandparents. So we have three generations going to church together. I think that this connection to church, faith, and prayer have been a real springboard for this child, and his siblings, in doing their best in everything they do.

When we consider people like Aloysius, and holy men and women who might not have a "St" before their names, we often recognize that it is through their faith life they often have a broader vision of life and humanity. To be sure they are not always charity workers or professional helpers, but they do justice and peace type things towards those around them.

The concept we talk about a lot in Stewardship is that of taking responsibility. Families that walk in the ways of faith convey that very notion to all in that household. That very good habit becomes a relational skill that they use towards the world around them. Our own Baptism and Confirmation sends us out in to the world to proclaim Good News. St. Paul this weekend recalls for us the importance of greeting each other with a holy kiss.

To be sure we might not want to go around kissing everyone, but simply to greet each other with reverence and respect is a beginning of sharing God's blessings with each other. And like in the notion of Stewardship, we engage in ministry when we are able to marry the needs of the community around us, with our gifts.

A person of faith passes on their faith, and makes one another aware of the Kingdom of God. Then we begin to see our offspring do marvelous things, because they experienced an environment of doing good things because they are important to do. And thus we build up the Body of Christ.