Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to understand why St. Aloysius Gonzaga would be selected as the Saint of the Week.

Gonzaga, born in a palace and raised to be a soldier and politician, instead opted for a life dedicated to the Lord and ultimately died to disease caring for others, Corpus Christi Catholic Church reported in its bulletin.

Gonzaga followed the wishes of his mother who wanted him to be a priest, the church bulletin reported. He had an experience of God and had promised himself he would be a saint.  

Seven years after beginning his journey in the Lord, he made another major decision. While studying philosophy at the University of Alcala de Henares. He read about the lives of Jesuit missionaries and decided to walk in their footsteps. His devotion was so great that the superior father asked him to reduce his hours of prayer and nature of his penances, the church bulletin reported.

He redirected his energy to helping others when an epidemic struck Rome. He volunteered at a local hospital where he ultimately become infected and died at the age of 23, the bulletin reported.