Saint Joseph Cafasso (1811–1860) was an Italian priest and spiritual guide whose life exemplified heroic virtue, profound humility, and a zealous devotion to the salvation of souls, particularly the most neglected and forgotten: the condemned prisoners of Turin. He is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and is often remembered as the Priest of the Gallows and a model of interior holiness and priestly ministry.
Early Life and Formation
Joseph Cafasso was born on January 15, 1811, in Castelnuovo d’Asti in the Piedmont region of Italy, the same town where Saint John Bosco would be born a few years later. From a young age, Joseph exhibited a deep devotion to God and a love for the Church. He was of frail health and small stature but had a keen mind and strong spirit.
He entered the seminary at Chieri and was ordained a priest in 1833. He then pursued advanced theological and moral studies at the ecclesiastical institute founded by Don Luigi Guala in Turin, known as the Convitto Ecclesiastico, which sought to form young priests in the spirit of the Counter-Reformation—rooted in the teachings of Saint Alphonsus Liguori and imbued with devotion to the Sacred Heart and reverence for the Sacraments.
A Spiritual Father and Formator of Priests
Cafasso would eventually succeed Guala as director of the Convitto. In this role, he exercised great influence in shaping the character and spirituality of priests in northern Italy. He emphasized:
- Faithfulness to duty, even in small things
- Interior life and prayer
- Sound doctrine, especially in moral theology
- Compassion for sinners
He taught that holiness was not reserved for the cloister or the extraordinary but was to be lived in the ordinary ministry of the parish priest. He was a living example of the maxim: “A priest belongs on the altar and in the confessional.”
Apostolate Among Prisoners
Perhaps his most famous ministry was his tireless pastoral care for prisoners, particularly those condemned to death. He was often seen entering the prisons of Turin, bringing hope, confession, and the consolation of the Sacraments to the most hardened criminals. His approach was not one of moralism but of mercy rooted in truth. He brought many to repentance and a holy death.
For this, he became known as the “Priest of the Gallows”, having accompanied over sixty men to their execution after reconciling them with God. His compassion did not excuse sin but sought the conversion of the sinner. He would spend hours with each man, praying with them, hearing their confession, and preparing them to die in a state of grace.
Relationship with Saint John Bosco
Saint Joseph Cafasso was also the spiritual director and confessor of Saint John Bosco, who held him in the highest esteem. Don Bosco wrote a biography of Cafasso, calling him “a pearl of priests.” It was Cafasso who guided Bosco through his theological studies and supported his early work with troubled youth, laying the spiritual foundation for what would become the Salesian Congregation.
Death and Canonization
Saint Joseph Cafasso died on June 23, 1860, at the age of 49, in Turin. His holiness was so widely recognized that calls for his canonization began soon after his death. He was beatified in 1925 and canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 22, 1947.
Pope Pius XII later named him patron of Italian prison chaplains, praising him as “a master of moral theology” and “a model of priestly virtue.”
Legacy and Spiritual Message
Saint Joseph Cafasso stands as:
- A model confessor and spiritual director
- A patron for prison ministry and those working for the conversion of hardened sinners
- A guide for priests, particularly in times of moral confusion
His life teaches that holiness is found in fidelity to the duties of one’s state, in pastoral charity, and in a deep union with Christ through prayer and the Sacraments.