Stand In The Gap With Us And Saint Joseph Cafasso

Stand In The Gap With Us And Saint Joseph Cafasso 6/17/2024.  Even as a young man, Joseph loved to attend Mass and was known for his humility and fervor in prayer. After his ordination, he was assigned to a seminary in Turin.

It was often said that no one who knew Cafasso as a child ever could recall him having sinned, seeing him as a model individual.

He is known as the "Priest of the Gallows" due to his extensive work with those prisoners who were condemned to death.

There he worked especially against the spirit of Jansenism—an excessive preoccupation with sin and damnation. He used the works of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Alphonsus Liguori to moderate the rigorism popular at the seminary.

In his childhood Cafasso felt called to become a priest and so commenced his ecclesial studies in Turin and Chieri in order to achieve his dream.

Joseph recommended membership in the Secular Franciscan Order to priests. He urged devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and encouraged daily Communion. In addition to his teaching duties, Joseph was an excellent preacher, confessor, and retreat master. Noted for his work with condemned prisoners, he helped many of them die at peace with God.

In addition to his teaching duties, Joseph was an excellent preacher, confessor, and retreat master. Noted for his work with condemned prisoners, he helped many of them die at peace with God.

He was a sought after confessor and spiritual adviser, and ministered to prisoners – working to improve their terrible conditions. He met Don Bosco in 1827 and the two of them became great friends.