The morning call., 1891-05-31
ST. ALOYSIUS.
His Tercentenary to Be Cele.
brated Next Month.
How the Festival Will Be Observed at ST.,
Ignatius Church-The Frescoes to Be
Unveiled-The Saints Life.

The three hundredth anniversary OF the
death of st. Aloysius, or, as Catholic writer's
express it. the tercentenary OF his birthday
in heaven, will be celebrated over the whole
Catholic world on Sunday, the Dist pr0y.
The church intends to make 1t grand oeca-
sion. Rome will put on her holiday attire !,
st. Peters will ring with the praises of the
saint, and the most solemn ceremonies of
the ritual will announce that it is festival
of no ordinary moment in religious realms.
If the Jesuit Fathers can help it the eel
ebration in this city will be but little be-
hind that at the Holy See. so far as the
strictly religious ceremonies are concerned.
and the event will be made memorable by
the uncOvering of the rich frescoes and
other improvements which st. Ignatius
Church has been undergoing for twelve
month.
Provided the improvements are finished
In time, the fathers intend carrying out
all of the commemorative exercises provided.
for by the Papal bull of January l. 1891.
These include novena and a iridium, re-
spectively a nine days and "a three days
preparation for the feast. Bat so much re-
mains to be done (there being no fewer
than ten trades at work ON the handsome
dispensed with in order that the church
may be shown in its full grandeur on the
celebration OF the tercentenary.
HOW THE DAY WILL BE OBSERVED.
The service of the day will consist OF
solemn Pontitical mass with his Grace Arch
bishop RiOrdan as celebrant, an Grafton by
the Right Rev. Bishop Healy of Portland, Me-,
and solemn POntifical Vespers. At both the
morning and evening services the music
Will be rendered by an augmented choir and
orchestral accompaniment.
The JeSuitS all over the world are partic-
ularly interested in the celebration OF this
feast, as st. Aloysius was a member OF their
order. The saint, who came of noble blood,
was born at the castle OF Castlgllone, on
March 9, 1868. His mother was Martha,
the daughter Of Baron Santena, Lord of
Chierl and ruler of several independent
fiefS, and of Anna della Revere of the noble
house of UrbDo. His father was Ferdinand
GOnZaga, Marquis of CastigliOne, a clival-
Tous knight, whose whole life was spent
amid the dangers of the battlefield.
Both parents were remarkable for their
piety and, as was but natural, the child
grew up in virtue, and at an early age
eyinced strong desire for the religious
life. At the age of 9 he was sent to Florence,
where he studied the Italian and Latin Ian
guages. Two years later he was brought
home to the Castle of st. Sebastian, at
Mantua, and continued his studies there UNI
der the direction of Father Bresciani.
THE SAINTS LIFE.
In 1881 Aloysius aud his brother were, at
the invitation of Philip III of Spain, taken
by their parents to that monarch's court to
attend certain festivities, and, on arriving
there, were made pages of honor to the
young Prince 1t was at this time that
AlOysius determined upon his vocation. He
had finished his classical and literary
studies, and now. taking step higher, de-
voted himself TO logic, philosophy aud the
olOgy. Two years later he was so proficient
in these sciences that. while visiting Alcala
he took up the argument in theological
thesis and excited the greatest astOnishment
by the prOfundity of his learning coupled
with his extreme youth.
1t was at this time that AlOysius made
known his desire to embrace the religious
life. His mother was moved to tears Of Joy
at the confession, but the Marquis became
enlaged and endeavored by every means in
his power TO dissuade him from his choice
and lead him to adopt the profession of a
soldier. But neither promises nor threats
could induce the young saint to change his
mind, and finally the Marquis sOftened to-
ward him, and IN his seventeenth year Alloy
sus entered the house of the Society Of
Jesus at Rome Two years later, Noyem-
Der %, 1887, he took the vows of the society
and entered upon his scholastic life. He
died before receiving orders on June d.
1891, and in consequence of his pety, learn
ing, humility and yoIthfulness, 4as ever
since been esteemed as the special patron of
youth, and particularly of students.