Subj : June 23rd - Saint Giuseppe Cafasso To : All From : rich Date : Tue Jun 22 2021 10:29:04 From: rich June 23rd - Saint Giuseppe Cafasso Also known as Joseph Cafasso, Priest of the Gallows Memorials 23 June 23 January on some calendars Born at Castelnuova d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy, in 1811; died 1860; beatified in 1925; canonized in 1947; feast day formerly January 23. Joseph Cafasso was born in 1811, in northern Italy, near the city of Turin. Four years later, in 1815, one of his most famous students was born in the same town, St. John Bosco. We celebrate his feast on January 31. Joseph had loving parents who were willing to sacrifice for his education. He went to Turin to study to become a priest. Joseph met John Bosco in 1827 when Bosco was twelve. He talked to Seminarian Cafasso at the church and ran all the way home. "Mom, Mom," John called, "I met him, I met him!" "Who?" his mother asked. "Joseph Cafasso, mother. He's a saint, I tell you." Mrs. Bosco smiled and nodded gently. In 1833, Joseph was ordained a priest. He began his priestly work and went to an excellent school of theology for priests. When Father Cafasso graduated, he became a theology professor. He taught many young priests over the years. They could tell that he really loved them. Father Cafasso became known as the priest who believed in the gentle and loving mercy of God. Because he was so kind himself, he gave people courage and hope. He guided many priests, religious and lay people. He helped John Bosco begin his great priestly ministry with boys. He also guided Father Bosco in starting his religious order known as the Salesians. Father Cafasso directed other founders, too. There were many social needs in Father Cafasso's time. One of the most urgent was the prison system. Prison conditions were disgusting. But what most moved Father Cafasso was the custom of hanging in public prisoners sentenced to death. Father Cafasso went to them and heard their confessions. He stayed with them, telling them of God's love and mercy until they died. He helped over sixty convicted men. All repented and died in the peace of Jesus. Father Cafasso called them his "hanged saints." Father Cafasso also became the pastor of St. Francis Church in 1848. No one could ever measure his great influence on people and works in the Church. Father Cafasso died on June 23,1860. His devoted friend, St. John Bosco, preached the homily at his funeral. Pope Pius XII proclaimed him a saint in 1947. In the spring of 1860 Don Cafasso foretold that death would take him during the year. He drew up a spiritual testament, enlarging on the means of preparation for a good death that he had so often expounded to retreatants at St. Ignatius's, namely, a godly and upright life, detachment from the world, and love for Christ crucified. And he made a will disposing of his property, the residuary legatee of which was the rector of the Little House of Divine Providence at Turin, the foundation of St. Joseph Cottolengo. Among the other legatees was St. John Bosco, who received a sum of money and some land and buildings adjoining the Salesian oratory at Turin. Don Bosco was at this time having difficulties with the civil governor of Piedmont, which was a cause of worry to Don Cafasso and adversely affected his health. After hearing confessions on June 11 he retired to bed, worn out and ill. Pneumonia developed, and he died on Saturday, June 23, 1860, at the hour of the morning angelus. Enormous crowds attended the funeral, at St. Francis's and the parish church of the Holy Martyrs, where, as was fitting, St. John Bosco preached. Thirty-five years later the cause of Don Cafasso was introduced in the diocesan court of Turin; and in 1947 he was canonized. This is a case where the life of a saint has been written by a saint: Biografia del sacerdote Giuseppe Cafasso, by Don Bosco, but the standard biography is Vita del Ven. G. Cafasso, in two volumes, by Luigi Nicolis di Robilant. Adequate for all ordinary purposes is Cardinal Salotti's La Perla del Clero Italiano (1947); but it is rather verbose for English taste. There is also Canon Colombero's Vita del Servo di Dio Don Giuseppe Cafasso. See also books on St. John Bosco. There still seems to be nothing in English about St. Joseph Cafasso except a short reference in Hughes's Maria Mazzarello; but there is a German life by D. W. Mut (Munich, 1925). We can never be too kind and understanding with people. If we should be tempted to take others for granted, or just look after ourselves, we can pray to St. Joseph Cafasso. He will help us to become "big-hearted" like he was. Saint Quote: "We are born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more." --Joseph Cafasso Reading A single word from him =E2=80=93 a look, a smile, his very presence =E2=80= =93 sufficed to dispel melancholy, drive away temptation and produce holy resolution in the soul. =E2=80=93Saint John Bosco, writing about Saint Joseph Bible Quote: But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men abundantly and upbraideth not. And it shall be given him.=C2 [James 1:5] <><><><> Who is this man who in the world is called an ecclesiastic, a priest? Who is this personage whom some bless and others curse? Who is he whom the whole world talks about and criticizes, and who is the subject of discussion by all pens and all tongues? What is the significance of that name which resounds in every corner of the world? What is a priest? In order to define clearly what he is, I shall avail myself of the distinctions that Saint Bernard made concerning ecclesiastics and shall consider him in his nature, in his person, in his habits. Quid in natura, quis in persona, qualis in moribus! In his nature he is a man like others. In his person, his dignity is above that of all other men in the world. In his conduct and habits, he should be a man totally different from all others as he is by his dignity and office. These are the three points which I propose for your consideration. =E2=80=93Saint Joseph Cafasso --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .