Joseph Cafasso taught and guided young priests in Turin as a spiritual director. He devoted himself to prisoners and the condemned and was the mentor and supporter of John Bosco.
Life
Saint Joseph Cafasso was born in 1811 in Castelnuovo d'Asti in northern Italy. As a priest he taught young clergy at the Convitto, a pastoral institute in Turin, guiding them in moral theology and in hearing confessions, and he later became its director.
He visited prisoners often, consoling them and hearing their confessions, and he walked with condemned men to the place of execution, which earned him the name 'priest of the gallows.' He was the spiritual director and supporter of Saint John Bosco, who came from the same town. He died in 1860 and was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947.
Spirituality
Saint Joseph Cafasso's spirituality is bringing God's mercy to the most abandoned. He never gave up hope even at a condemned man's last moment, and through quiet teaching and guidance he formed many faithful priests. He believed no one is too far away for God's mercy to reach.
Reflection
Saint Joseph Cafasso stayed beside people the world had given up on. What small mercy could I show today to someone near me who is being ignored?