San José Cafasso: 8 facts that maybe you didn’t know

On June 23, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Joseph Cafasso, an Italian priest who lived between 1811 and 1860, and who was also a close friend of Saint John Bosco.

In that sense, to learn more about this 19th century saint, we present below some information about his life:

1. He was born in the same town as Saint John Bosco

In addition to friendship, something that also unites Saint John Bosco and Saint Joseph Cafasso is that they were both born in Castelnuovo, a town located in the Italian province of Asti. The founder of the Salesians was born in 1815 and Cafasso on January 15, 1811.

2. In the town they called him “the little saint”

As a child, at home and in the town of Castelnuovo they called him “the little saint”, for his pious spirit and kindness.

3. He is the uncle of a blessed and founder

His sister Mariana is the mother of Blessed José Allamano, the founder of the Missionaries of the Consolata.

4. He was a priest trainer

Four months after being ordained a priest, in 1833, the saint entered the Ecclesiastical Residence of Saint Francis of Assisi, in Turin, of which he would later be rector and where he would train priests “in the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and in theology.” moral and pastoral of the great bishop Saint Alphonsus Mary of Ligorio”, as the Salesians highlight.

5. He was spiritual director of Don Bosco

The saint was confessor and spiritual director of Saint John Bosco, who affirmed that there were three virtues of Saint Joseph Cafasso: calm, acuity and prudence. Furthermore, during his funeral, the founder of the Salesians called him “teacher of the clergy, a safe counselor, comforter of the dying and a great friend.”

6. He dedicated several hours a day to confession

In its catechism of June 30, 2010, Benedict XVI stated that Saint Joseph Cafasso dedicated many hours to the sacrament of Reconciliation, as he was convinced that in this ministry the teaching transmitted to priests was verified. Bishops, priests, religious, eminent lay people and simple people sought the saint, and he “knew how to dedicate the necessary time to all of them.”

7. In Italy he is the patron saint of prisons and those sentenced to death

Saint Joseph Cafasso was chaplain of the Turin prison, where he learned of the precarious circumstances in which prisoners lived in the 19th century. He was always the good shepherd and provided special human and spiritual care to those condemned to die. The Salesians indicate that he “accompanied 57 condemned to death to the scaffold, after having confessed and administered the Eucharist.”

On April 9, 1948, Pius XII proclaimed him patron of Italian prisons.

8. God granted his wish to die on a Saturday

Saint Joseph Cafasso was known for his beautiful phrases, one of which is: “How beautiful to die on a Saturday, the day of the Virgin, to be taken by Her to Heaven.” And so it happened. On Saturday, June 23, 1860, saint was summoned by God into his presence.