Happy Friday! The first full week of Lent Madness 2022 is nearly complete. Today we head back up to Confusion Corner as Aloysius Gonzaga tips off against Thomas of Villanova. If you're not a college basketball fan, this matchup may well seem rather confusing. Then again, if you're not a college basketball fan, the whole idea of a bracket competition may have initially been confusing.
Yesterday, Columbanus revved his way past Drogo 53% to 47% to secure a spot in the Saintly Sixteen against Madeleine Sophie Barat.
Enjoy your weekend. We realize that Lent Madness Withdrawal (LMW) is a real thing and we assure you of our...thoughts and prayers. But we'll be back at it first thing Monday morning as Perpetua takes on Cecilia. Go vote!
Aloysius Gonzaga
Aloysius Gonzaga, one of the great saints of the Jesuit order, was born to nobility in 1568. As was common among boys of his station, he was placed by his father on a path toward the life of a soldier; as early as age four, he began practicing the “art of arms,” learning how to fire miniature guns, bear a pike at the shoulder in military parades, and even how to set off a canon. Yet through it all, Aloysius Gonzaga’s piety was “precocious”—and fervent.
Aloysius found his tenacious faith amid the violence of the Italian Renaissance and the violent trajectory of his father’s chosen life for him. During his childhood, he witnessed the murder of two of his brothers. In his youth, he found a spiritual quickening. At a young age, he became ill with kidney disease, which would trouble him throughout his short life. During this illness, he fell in love with the lives of the saints and developed a discipline of prayer; after reading a book about Jesuit missionaries in India, he felt a call to religious life. By fourteen, he began thinking in earnest about forgoing his noble privileges to join the Jesuits. His mother agreed; his war-mongering father refused. But Aloysius showed bulldogged persistence; by 1584, his father relented, and the next year, Aloysius renounced his privileges and inheritances and became a Jesuit. Upon arriving at his cell, he said, quoting the psalms, that “this is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.”
Aloysius’s health continued to cause problems. He made his final vows in 1587 and began preparations for ordination, but by 1590 he had a vision in which the Archangel Gabriel told him he would die within a year. In 1591, plague broke out in Rome, and Aloysius volunteered to care for the stricken. He worked to overcome his revulsion for the grotesque symptoms of the plague, throwing himself into his work. In time, he was removed for his health but reinstated because of his continued persistence to care for the ill. While assigned to a hospital without plague, he carried a man from his sickbed, only for that man to show the dreaded boils days later. Aloysius caught the plague and grew ill, dying only a few days after his twenty-third birthday, the name of Jesus on his lips. A Carmelite mystic, Maria Magdalena de Pazzi, described Aloysius Gonzaga as radiant in glory because of his “interior works,” a hidden martyr for his great love of God.
Collect for Aloysius Gonzaga
O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Aloysius Gonzaga, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thomas of Villanova
Tomás Garcia y Martinez was born in Spain in 1488 to a comfortable family. Both his parents were known for their charity to the poor and needy in their village. Thomas followed his parents’ examples of charity—sometimes to the extreme. He was often seen walking naked around town because he had given his clothes to the poor
Thomas was educated at the University of Alcalá and continued there as a popular professor of arts and philosophy. His love for God and care of the poor eventually led him to join the Augustinian religious order in 1516 and be ordained to the priesthood in 1518.
Known in academic circles for his absentmindedness, he was known among the people as the father of the poor. He wore the same robes he received in his novitiate his entire life, mending tears and worn places himself. He first refused the archbishopric of Granada, then was pressured into accepting the episcopacy in Valencia, a diocese that had not had a resident bishop for more than a century. He received a substantial amount of money from the cathedral to furnish his episcopal residence. He instead gave all the money to a local hospital. He explained that he knew God would be better served in that way. “After all,” he commented, “what does a poor friar like myself want with furniture?”
Poor people lined up each day at Thomas’s door, and each day he gave them bread, wine, money, and prayer. Many of Thomas’s fellow clergy criticized him, saying that people were taking advantage of him. Thomas replied, “If there are people who refuse to work, that is for the governor and the police to deal with. My duty is to assist and relieve those who come to my door.”
Thomas was an eloquent preacher, and his sermons encouraged the wealthy to accumulate charitable acts rather than monetary wealth. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V is rumored to have said that Thomas’s sermons could move stones to life. Thomas’s sermons also attacked the luxurious life of priests and bishops and the violence of bullfighting—no small criticism in Spain.
At the end of his life, Thomas willed all the money he possessed to be distributed to the poor. In 1555, mass was being celebrated in his presence as he was dying, and after he received communion, he breathed his last, reciting the words: “Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”
Collect for Thomas of Villanova
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of your people, we thank you for your servant Thomas, who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock; and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life, we may by your grace grow into the stature of the fullness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
134 comments on “Aloysius Gonzaga vs. Thomas of Villanova”
Aloysius is a timely saint. All the healthcare workers caring for those with COVID. Come on, everyone. Aloysius is a saint for today
Tomás for helping everyone who came to his door.
Thanks again to the Celebrity Bloggers who did such a wonderful job promoting these Saints. Their names are mentioned frequently (an acquaintance teaches at "Gonzaga HS") but the details of their lives remain obscure.
I shudder to think of a young man dying so young, and being so brave to offer up his life during the Plague. But I really love the story of Tomas being so insistent on giving to the poor. It's a wonderful model and so difficult in our current age, where prosperity has led to "conspicuous consumption," the vice of luxury, and the idolatry of opulence. To paraphrase Edward Gorey, Villanova "betrayed no qualms / when giving alms" so I have to vote for him, while still offering up thanks for Aloysius and all the saints in our bracket. 😀
Tough choice again, but I voted for Thomas because of that quote, "My duty is to assist those who come to my door."
In Lent Madness as in life, Gonzaga all the way!
Thomas of Villanova gets my vote today.
I admire both these saints but cast my vote for Thomas of Villanova in honor of my own beloved Bishop Thomas Brown of Maine.
I also would like to die with the words "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit" on my lips. Running naked through town,however, not so much.
heeheehee--Aloysius may have "set off a canon--" by making faces at him during mass?--or was it a cannon?
We are college basketball fans and it was great to learn about these two saints. Not being Catholic I always wondered how these colleges got their names. Now I know! Thanks
Thomas sets an example that we can live out today. When we give alms in any way it is not up to us to judge how our gift is used; we have done God's will and that is all we need to be concerned with.
A real tough one for me until I read, "If there are people who refuse to work, that is for the governor and the police to deal with. My duty is to assist and relieve those who come to my door.” Thomas then really resonated with me.
Same here!
Two saints I have not met before, and how lovely to make their acquaintance. I admire Aloysius very much for overcoming both his upbringing and his natural revulsion for the symptoms of the plague, but cast my vote for the absent minded professor, reluctant bishop, and animals rights campaigner, who preached a fiery sermon.
Thomas is very impressive, but I have been the recipient of 2 kidney transplants, so Aloysius got my vote.
To give one’s life for care of the sick, Gonzaga has my vote. But Villanova is no less in giving everything to the poor, needy whether deserving or not. This was a challenging vote.
In a time of pandemic, though Thomas accomplished more, I have to vote for Aloysius.
I went with Thomas of Villanova. Not influenced at all by my mother having taught at St. Thomas of Villanova in Rosemont, PA. Nor by growing up in Bryn Mawr, 2 towns over from Villanova. Nor by being a graduate of St. Joe’s and a Big 5 fan. All in all, though, it was a tough decision. Both are worthy.
Hello from a fellow PA person (don't recall if you mentioned if you're still living in state, but anyhow...)!
Your comment had me suddenly wondering WHICH St. Thomas that our St. Thomas (village/township) here in Franklin County was named for... sadly not our Tomas of today!
(And, apparently, official records of the town's incorporation were destroyed when the Confederates burned Chambersburg but the story goes that it got its name, "honoring Thomas Campbell, who had laid out the village. The name 'Saint Thomas' was reportedly a joke concerning Thomas Campbell's tendency to swear." So definitely not one of our guys!)
Good story! Thank you. One learns all sorts of things during Lent Madness. We live in Rhode Island now. Been here for 32 years.
Since Gonzaga will win March Madness, got to go with the other guy. I wonder if Villanova U has a day when the students parade in the er, never mind.
Maybe streaking was big there back in the mid-70s?
Forcing me to choose between my favorite college basketball teams under the guise of Saints was very clever. However, as in real life, Villanova is my favorite!
This was tough. As a chaplain at a psych hospital I leaned toward Aloysius; as a deacon I leaned toward Thomas for his ministry to the poor.
But Aloysius' service to those with "grotesque symptoms" won me over. Some of the patients I worked with were also those shunned by society.
Couldn’t help myself. Old rivalries run deep. My father went to LaSalle in Philly (Big Five Basketball fans will understand) and my mother’s name is Aloisia. I just judged a Saint by its cover. Forgive me.
Thomas replied, “If there are people who refuse to work, that is for the governor and the police to deal with. My duty is to assist and relieve those who come to my door.”
THAT was the clincher for me. Because otherwise it would've been hard to choose since there are ways I connect with both of their beautiful, faithful stories.
But as someone with various chronic illnesses in need of a good bit of assistance and having been at the receiving end of judgement and assumptions and being told (directly or indirectly) that I'm basically not worthy of help, his line hit me like an oasis in a desert.
Wow, I really picked the underdog. I voted for Gonzaga because he did not get a fair deal in life. He was ill for much of his life but still tried to devote himself to others. He deserves this recognition. Villanova, while being very generous (to a fault..) seemed to be a bit too dedicated to a life of poverty. But, both men lived exemplary lives.
Are you sure you can’t find a saint from Kansas for March/Lent Madness? Rooting for KU this year since my beloved K-State (of the purple and white) has gone down as has Lydia (purveyor of the purple.) Will miss them both in the next few weeks
My first thought was "who will Michigan State be able to beat?" And then I realized that is the other March madness. Love Lent Madness.
Thomas "...attacked the luxurious life of priests and bishops and the violence of bullfighting—no small criticism in Spain."
Had to go with the guy on the side of the poor and the animals.
Like Gonzaga, I’ve “set off a canon” or two!
Still cannot vote. Anyone else still having a problem?
Caring for the ill and dying with no regard for his own well being. Gonzaga it is.
Also, no issues with voting today. I wonder if it's because I'm not using my laptop?
A challenging choice for today; St. Al, the 'hidden martyr' or Tommy of V. David Sibley, you did a credible job with your support and collect, but Thomas eventually got my vote. Fortunate are they who are raised by parents whose example of holiness and charity give direction to the lives of their children! His works and humility mesh so well with my Vincentian calling to minister to the needy in all circumstances.
Another tough choice. I had a originally planned to vote for Gonzaga (as a Jesuit university alum), but Thomas won my heart as a man who lived what he preached. He cared for the poor, taught philosophy and took a stand against bullfighting…what more could you ask for???!!