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Gonzaga Gonza
SaintResearchedPost-1588
Feast: 3 June (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
—
unknown
Died
27 May 1886
verified
Beatified
6 June 1920
verified
Canonised
18 October 1964
verified
Who they were
Gonzaga Gonza, a court page baptised on 17 November 1885, was faithful in his religious duties and outstanding in charity.
On the way to execution his chains, which could not be loosened, slowed him down, and the executioners speared him again and again. He died on 27 May 1886, in his eighteenth year. He is one of the 22 martyrs of Uganda, St Charles Lwanga, St Matthias Mulumba Kalemba and companions, put to death under King Mwanga.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A young page speared on the road to execution.
Sources
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Gonzaga Gonza
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - beatification of 6 June 1920
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - canonisation of 18 October 1964
- Wikidata Q13122956 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.