Our St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. Plaque (1568-1591) depicts an Italian aristocrat who joined the Jesuits (Society of Jesus). He is now the patron saint of Catholic youth, young students, AIDS patients, and AIDS caregivers. This bronze plaque is an especially fitting gift for a confirmation, first communion, a birthday, and St. Aloysius Gonzaga’s feast day on June 21st.
A Solid Bronze Wall Plaque
Measuring 7.9 x 6.3 inches)- this plaque will hang with ease on any wall in home or office. A master bronzesmith designed and realized this solid bronze plaque in Germany. This is a most fitting gift for that special “Aloysius” (or Alois, Luis, Al) in your life!
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. – Patron Saint of AIDS Patients
St. Aloysius (Italian: Luigi – in German, Aloisius) is depicted on this plaque as a young Jesuit seminarian (scholastic) at his desk. In the top left corner of the plaque is depicted the flagellation of Christ. Because of his own intense devotional life, St. Aloysius strove to identify with the sufferings of Christ through self-flagellation. St. Aloysius is often seen in other depictions with a flagellum on his study desk (along with a crucifix, flowers, book, crown and skull). While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a result of caring for the victims of an epidemic. St. Aloysius tended plague victims in the 1591 outbreak in Rome. He became infected and died of plague on June 21, 1591 in Rome. His relics are entombed under the side altar of Saint Ignatius Church in Rome. Jesuits and many others venerate him now as the patron saint of Jesuit seminarians, AIDS patients, AIDS caregivers, Catholic youth, and, of course, Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington (which has a great basketball team – the “Zags” – always fun to watch during “March Madness”!).
