Memorial
of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious
(II Kings
19:9b-11.14-21.31-35a.36; Matthew 7:6.12-14)
The gospel
message seems to challenge us today as much as ever in the past. Many people, including Catholic Christians,
have succumbed to the dominant sexual license of the time. Young couples share bed outside of marriage, often
enough without knowing well their partners.
This is not the “narrow gate” to which Jesus refers in the
gospel.
Today we
celebrate St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the patron of youth. Aloysius was from nobility but early in life decided
not to be ensnared in the intrigues of courtly life. He became a Jesuit and died from the bubonic
plague after caring for its victims. He was only twenty-three years old.
We are not
being kill-joys when we admonish youth to live chaste lives. Actually, we are preparing them for greater
joys. They will have discipline over
their desires. They will come to
appreciate other persons as individuals with a full range of capacities. And they will be set on the road to eternal
life.
