Saint Joseph Cafasso was born in 1811 in d'Asti, Italy with a deformed spine to a wealthy peasant family. His name means whom the Lord adds. His uncle is on his way to sainthood: Blessed Joseph Allamano. He was ordained in 1833 and was a professor of moral theology at the college in Turin. He had many ministries in his lifetime. He was made the superior of the college from 1846 to 1860. He then became the retreat house director. In 1848 he became the pastor of Saint Francis Church and was a renowned confessor and helped to promote the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He was friends with Saint John Bosco and they first met when Joseph was 12 years old. Saint John wrote a biography of our saint today. He also worked to reform prisons, ministered to condemned prisoners, and to improve the conditions in Turin. Saint Joseph died on June 23, 1860 in Turin of pneumonia, a stomach hemorrhage, and complications of his congenital medical problems. His will bequeathed everything to aid the ministry of Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo. Saint John Bosco gave the homily at his funeral. He was canonized in 1947 and is the patron of prisoners and prisons.
"We are born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more."
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