_-_statue_of_Saint_Gaspar_del_Bufalo.jpg)
Saint Gaspard del Bufalo
Prêtre,
refusa de prêter le serment de fidélité à Napoleon (✝ 1836)
Ce jeune chanoine
de Rome refusa de prêter serment de fidélité à Napoléon Ier qui l'exigeait des
prêtres des Etats Pontificaux. Il dut se cacher pour ne pas être emprisonné. La
tourmente napoléonienne passée, il revint et fut un prédicateur extraordinaire,
prêchant dans toute l'Italie Centrale. Pour être aidé dans ce labeur
apostolique, il fonda l'Institut des Prêtres du Précieux Sang, ce qui permit de
faire reconnaître canoniquement la sainteté de sa vie.
À Rome, en 1837, saint Gaspar del Bufalo, prêtre, qui combattit
avec vigueur pour la liberté de l’Église et fut mis cinq fois en prison, et
même là il ne cessa de ramener les pécheurs sur le droit chemin, surtout par la
dévotion au précieux Sang du Christ, en l’honneur duquel il institua deux
Congrégations de Missionnaires et de Sœurs.
Martyrologe
romain
Saint Gaspard (Gaspare) del
Bufalo
Prêtre et fondateur des « Missionnaires du Précieux
Sang »
Gaspare
del Bufalo naît à Rome le 6 janvier 1786 de Antonio et Annunziata Quartieroni.
Dès les
premières années de sa vie, il est attiré par la prière et la pénitence, il
tente de fuir de la maison familiale pour aller évangéliser les païens, rêvant
de mourir martyr. Il est particulièrement intéressé par saint François Xavier
et il se sent, pendant un certain temps, appelé par les jésuites ; il
fréquente l'église du Gesù qui se situe près de chez lui.
Ayant
terminé ses études au Collège romain, en 1798 il prit l'habitude de donner aux
œuvres pour organiser l'aide spirituelle et assistance matérielle pour les
nécessiteux. Il fut à l'origine de la renaissance de l'opéra de sainte Galla et
en fut élu directeur en 1806.
Ordonné
prêtre le 31 Juillet 1808, il intensifia l'apostolat parmi les classes
populaires et fonda le premier oratoire de S.
Maria in Pincis, pour l'évangélisation des charretiers et les paysans de la
province romaine, qui ont leurs dépôts de foin dans le Forum Romain.
L'Église,
à cette époque, vit des moments difficiles : dans la nuit du 5 au 6 juillet
1809, le pape Pie VII (Barnaba Chiaramonti, 1800-1823) est fait prisonnier et
déporté.
Le 13
juin 1810, Gaspard refuse le serment de fidélité à Napoléon et est condamnée à
l'exil, puis à la prison.
De retour
à Rome en 1814, après la chute de Napoléon, il met sa force et sa vie à servir
le pape. Pie VII lui donne l'ordre de se consacrer aux missions populaires pour
la restauration de la religion et la morale. Comme moyen de promouvoir
l'efficacité de la conversion des pécheurs, pour éliminer l'esprit d'impiété et
irréligion, il choisi la dévotion au Très
Précieux Sang de Jésus et en devient un ardent apôtre.
Le 15
août 1815, il fonde la Congrégation des « Missionnaires du Précieux Sang »,
qui auront des hommes de grande sainteté comme le serviteur de Dieu Jean
Merlini, Jean Mastai Ferretti, le futur Pie IX.
En 1834,
il aide à la fondation des « Sœurs Adoratrices du Sang du Christ », avec
sainte Maria De Mattias. Il combattit les sociétés secrètes, en particulier la
maçonnerie, en dépit des menaces et des attaques sur sa propre vie, il ne cessa
de prêcher ouvertement contre ces sectes, terrain fertile pour la laïcité
athée.
Mais un
autre fléau se propageait sur les états pontificaux, comme aussi dans d'autres
régions: le brigandage. Léon XII (Annibale Sermattei Della Genga, 1823-1829),
sur les conseils du Card. Belisario Cristaldi, leur envoya Gaspard, avec pour
seules armes le crucifix et la miséricorde évangélique, qui réussi à réduire le
terrible fléau sur la périphérie de Rome et à rétablir la paix et la sécurité parmi
la population.
Il meurt
à Rome le 28 décembre 1837. St Vincent Pallotti vit son âme monter au ciel sous
la forme d'une étoile et Jésus venir le chercher.
Son corps
repose à Rome en l'église de Santa Maria in Trivio, qui se trouve près de la
fontaine de Trévi.
Gaspare del Bufalo a été béatifié, le 18 décembre 1904, par saint Pie X (Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, 1903-1914) et canonisé, le 12 juin 1954, par le vénérable Pie XII (Eugenio Pacelli,
1939-1958).
©Evangelizo.org ©Evangelizo.org 2001-2016
Saint Gaspard del BUFALO
Nom: BUFALO
Prénom: Gaspard del
Pays: Italie
Naissance: 06.01.1786 à
Rome
Mort: 28.12.1837
Etat: Prêtre - Fondateur
Note: Prêtre le 31.07.1807. Prédicateur de
missions populaires (sur désir de Pie VII) pour lesquelles il fonde l'Institut
des Prêtres du Précieux Sang (1814) et inspire la fondation des Sœurs de
l'Adoration du Précieux Sang par Sainte Marie
de Mattias 2 pour
l'éducation des jeunes filles.
Béatification: 18.12.1904 à Rome par Pie X
Canonisation: 12.06.1954 à Rome par Pie XII
Fête: 28 décembre
Réf. dans l’Osservatore Romano:
Réf. dans la Documentation Catholique:
1954 col.847-855
Saint Gaspard Del Bufalo est le fondateur des Missionnaires du Précieux Sang, il fut toute sa
vie un ardent apôtre de cette dévotion. C'est cette congrégation qui a propagé
le Chapelet du Précieux Sang.
Né à Rome le 6 Janvier
1786, Ses parents se nomment Antonio et Annunziata Quartieroni. Dès les
premières années de sa vie, il est attiré par la prière et la pénitence, il
tente de fuir de la maison familiale pour aller évangéliser les païens, rêvant
de mourir martyr. Il est particulièrement intéressé par saint François Xavier
et il se sent pendant un certain temps appelé par les jésuites, il fréquente
l'église du Gésu qui se situe près de chez lui. Ayant terminé ses études au
Collège romain, en 1798 il prit l'habitude donner aux œuvres pour organiser
l'aide spirituelle et assistance matérielle pour les nécessiteux. Il fut à
l'origine de la renaissance de l'opéra de Saint Galla et en fut élu directeur
en 1806.Ordonné prêtre le 31 Juillet 1808, il intensifia l'apostolat parmi les
classes populaires et fonda le premier oratoire de S. Maria in Pincis, pour
l'évangélisation des charretiers et les paysans de la province romaine, qui ont
leurs dépôts de foin dans le Forum Romain. L'Eglise, à cette époque, vit des
moments difficiles : dans la nuit du 5 au 6 Juillet 1809, Pie VII est fait
prisonnier et déporté. Le 13 Juin 1810, Gaspard refuse le serment de fidélité à
Napoléon et est condamnée à l'exil, puis à la prison. De retour à Rome en 1814,
après la chute de Napoléon, il met sa force et sa vie à servir le pape. Pie VII
lui donne l'ordre de se consacrer aux missions populaires pour la restauration
de la religion et la morale. Comme moyen de promouvoir l'efficacité de la
conversion des pécheurs, pour éliminer l'esprit d'impiété et irréligion, il
choisi la dévotion au Très Précieux Sang de Jésus et en devient un ardent
apôtre. Le 15 août 1815, il fonde la Congrégation des Missionnaires du Précieux
Sang, qui auront des hommes de grande sainteté comme le Serviteur de Dieu Jean
Merlini, Jean Mastai Ferretti, le futur Pie IX. En 1834, il aide à la fondation
des Sœurs Adoratrices du Sang du Christ, avec sainte Maria De Mattias, Il
combattit les sociétés secrètes, en particulier la maçonnerie, en dépit des
menaces et des attaques sur sa propre vie, il ne cessa de prêcher ouvertement
contre ces sectes, terrain fertile pour la laïcité athée. Mais un autre fléau
se propageait sur les états pontificaux, comme d'ailleurs aussi d'autres
régions: le brigandage. Léon XII, sur les conseils du Cardinal Belisario
Cristaldi, leur envoya Gaspard, avec pour seules armes le crucifix et la
miséricorde évangélique, il réussi à réduire le terrible fléau sur la
périphérie de Rome et à rétablir la paix et la sécurité parmi la population. Il
mourut à Rome le 28 Décembre 1837. Saint Vincent Pallotti vit son âme monté au
ciel sous la forme d'une étoile et Jésus venir le chercher.
Canonisation
et fête
Béatifié par Saint Pie X 18 décembre 1904.
Canonisé par le pape Pie XII le 12 juin
1954.
Son corps repose à Rome en l'église de
Santa Maria in Trivio, qui se trouve près de la fontaine de Trévi.
Sa fête est fixée le 28 décembre.
Sanctuaire de Saint
Gaspar del Bufalo, chapelle de l'Assomption,
St.
Gaspare del Bufalo
Founder of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood (C.P.P.S.); b. at Rome on the feast of the Epiphany, 1786; d. 28 December, 1837.
His parents were Antonio del Bufalo, chief cook of the
princely family of Altieri, and his wife Annunziata
Quartieroni. Because of his delicate health, his pious mother had him confirmed
at the tender age of one and a half years (1787). As he was suffering from an
incurable malady of the eyes, which threatened to leave him blind, prayers were offered to St. Francis Xavier for his recovery. In 1787, he was miraculously cured, wherefore he cherished in later life a
special devotion to the great
Apostle of India, and selected him as the special patron of the congregation which he founded. From his
earliest years he had a great horror of even venial sins and showed deep piety, a spirit of mortification, remarkable control over his evil inclinations (especially his innate
irascibility and strong self-will), and also heroic love for the poor and the miserable. Having entered the
Collegium Romanum at the age of twelve he received in 1800 first tonsure, and one year later the four minor orders. As catechetical instructor at St. Mark's, his zeal won for him the name "The Little Apostle
of Rome", and when but nineteen years old, he was appointed president of
the newly instituted catechetical school of Santa Maria del Pianto.
After his ordination (31 July, 1808), he obtained a canonry at St. Mark's, and soon instituted with
Gaetano Bonani a nocturnal oratory. He assisted Francesco Albertini in founding
the Archconfraternity of the Most
Precious Blood, and
worked with great zeal in the poorer districts of Rome, preaching frequently in the market-places. In
1810 he was summoned before General Miollis to swear allegiance to Napoleon. But neither threats nor promises could induce
him to do so, because Pius VII had forbidden it. The words with which he announced
his final decision have become famous: "Non posso, non debbo, non
voglio" (I cannot, I ought not; I will not). In consequence he suffered
banishment, and later on imprisonment in the foul dungeons of Imola and Rocca (1810-1814). After Napoleon's fall he returned to Rome, intending to enter the re-established Jesuit Order. But obeying
his spiritual adviser, Albertini, he founded a
congregation of secular priests to give missions
and spread devotion to the Most Precious Blood. Through Cardinal Cristaldi he obtained the pope's sanction and, as a mother-house, the former convent of San Felice in Giano. Of this he took solemn possession, 11 August, 1815. The Bull of beatification says, "Through Umbria, Aemilia, Picenum, Tuscany, Campania, Samnium, in short all the provinces
ot Middle Italy he wandered, giving missions".
The very titles accorded to him by his contemporaries speak volumes: "II
Santo", "Apostle of Rome", "Il martello dei Carbonari"
(Hammer of Italian Freemasonry).
How arduous some of
his missions were may be gleaned
from the fact that he frequently preached five times daily, sometimes even
oftener. At Sanseverino fifty priests were not sufficient to hear confessions after his sermons. Though idolized by the people, he was not
without enemies. His activity in converting the "briganti", who came
in crowds and laid their guns at his feet after he had preached to them in
their mountain hiding-places, excited the ire of the officials who profited
from brigandage through bribes and in other ways. These enemies almost
induced Leo XII to suspend del Bufalo. But after a personal conference,
the pope dismissed him, remarking to his courtiers,
"Del Bufalo is an angel". His enemies next tried to remove him
from his post by procuring his promotion as "internuncio
to Brazil". In vain, however, for his humility triumphed. A last attempt under Pius VIII (1830) met with temporary success. Del Bufalo
was deprived of faculties
for a short time, and his congregation threatened
with extinction. But his wonderful humility again manifested itself, and, though himself
misjudged and his life-work menaced by the very authority that should have
supported him, he showed no signs of resentment, forgave his enenies, and
excused his unmerited condemnation. The storm soon passed, Gaspare was restored
to honour, and resumed his work with renewed zeal.
In 1836 his
strength began to fail. Although fatally ill, he hastened to Rome, where the cholera was raging, to administer
to the spiritual wants of the plague-stricken. It proved too much for him, and
he succumbed in the midst of his labours on 28 Dec., 1837. He was beatified by Pius X on 29 Aug., 1904. He
was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954.
Müller, Ulrich. "St. Gaspare del Bufalo." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6.
New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 28 Dec. 2016 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06390b.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New
Advent by Joseph P. Thomas.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat.
September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Saint Gaspare Bufalo
Also known as
- Apostle of Rome
- Caspar Bufalo
- Caspar del Bufalo
- Gaspare del Bufalo
- Hammer of Italian Freemasonry
- Kasper del Bufalo
- Martello dei Carbonari
- 2 January
- formerly 21 October
- 28
December on some calendars, and all of them before 1962
Profile
Son of Antonio del Bufalo,
a chef
to Prince
Altieri, and Annunziata Quartieroni. As an infant
he suffered from an eye
condition that threatened to blind
him; he was cured
in 1788
following prayers
for the intervention of Saint
Francis
Xavier. Studied
at the Collegium Romanum from age twelve, and considered
becoming a Jesuit.
President of the newly instituted catechetical
school
of Santa Maria del
Pianto at age 19. Ordained
on 31
July 1808.
On 23
October 1808
he, with his friends Father
Bonanni, Father
Santelli and Father
Gonnelli, founded the nocturnal Oratory
of Saint Mary in
Vinci, Italy.
On 8
December 1808
he helped Father
Albertini found the Confraternity
of the Precious Blood in San Nicola Arcella, Italy.
Following Rome‘s
fall to the French
in 1809,
the Papal
States were suppressed on 17
May, Pope
Pius VII was
deported on 6
July, and priests
were ordered to take an oath of loyalty to Napoleon. Gaspare refused, and on 13
June 1810
was exiled
for five years with many other priests
first to Piacenza,
Italy,
and then Bologna,
Italy.
On 13
September 1811
he refused a second time to take the oath; he was lodged
in San Giovanni prison,
then the prison
of Imola,
Italy
and then the fortress in Imola.
A third refusal led to his transfer to the fortress in Lugo,
Italy
on 16
May 1813.
Following a fourth refusal, on 10
December 1813,
he was sentenced to exile
in Corsica.
While waiting for transport in Florence,
Italy
he received an invitation to join the Evangelical Workers, a group of priests
who preach
home
missions. Though it was questionable at the time that he could help
them, Gaspare enthusiastically joined. Less than a month later, Murat restored
liberty to all priests
who had been arrested
or exiled
for refusing to take the oath. In February 1814,
Gaspare returned to Rome,
Italy
after four years of captivity,
and in December he began preaching
missions.
In July of 1815,
Gaspare renounced his position as canon
of Saint Mark’s in order to concentrate on missions.
He helped formally start the Missioners
of the Precious Blood (C.P.P.S.) in 1815
at Giano dell’Umbria, Italy,
a congregation devoted to preaching
and to bring the sacraments back to war-torn Italy;
it was under the patronage
of Francis
Xavier. Many houses were established in the next few years, and on 27
December 1817
Gaspare was elected First
Promotor and Missionary of the Missioners. Many opposed his good work, and
spoke against him to Pope
Leo
XII and Pope
Pius VIII,
but after they spoke to him personally, both approved of his work.
In 1821
Pope
Pius VII
assigned Gaspare to clean up provinces overrun with highway bandits, and to
open six mission houses in the area; Gaspare spent the next five years in the
pulpit, call for reform. In February 1826
he was chosen papal
nuncio to Brazil.
Gaspare begged to be released from the assignment so he could continue to preach,
but was forced to spend eight months in the position. He then returned to his
Congregation’s motherhouse of San Felice in October 1826,
and resumed preaching
and tending to the Missionaries‘s houses for his last ten years.
Born
- 28
December 1837
of cholera
- buried
at Santa Maria in Trivio, Italy
ST. GASPAR:
Founder of the Society of the Precious Blood
St. Gaspar
founded the Society of the Precious Blood in Giano, Italy, on August 15, 1815.
Here, in the 10th century abbey of San Felice, our founder opened the gates of
an ardent devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ.
The preamble of the
C.P.P.S. constitution captures this new beginning:
Impelled by the love
of Christ, manifested especially in the shedding of his Blood, and sensitive to
the needs of the Church, St. Gaspar del Bufalo founded a priestly institute. He
attracted from the diocesan clergy a group of like-minded priests and unity
them by a bond of charity only, instead of vows. Living together in mission
houses, they were a source of continual renewal for the priests and the people,
mainly by preaching missions and retreats.
In this nucleus the
Society of the Precious Blood had its origin and from it derives its spirit.
Gaspar was born in
Rome on January 6, 1786. His father, Antonio, was a servant in the family of a
prince. He was a pious man of firm faith who was a staunch defender of the Holy
Father. Gaspar's mother, Annunziata, was one of those quiet and saintly women
who seem to model her life and faith after the holy women of the Scriptures.
She realized early in Gaspar's life that God had great things in store for him.
She raised her son in virtue and holiness, readying the soil for God to plant
within Gaspar a deep and abiding devotion to the Blood of Christ.
Early in his life,
Gaspar showed a great concern for the poor and sick. Perhaps because he came
from family of meager means and because he himself had been a sickly child
(almost dying at the age of two, only to be cured through the intercession of
St. Francis Xavier), Gaspar's compassion for the poor and outcasts consumed
him. He spent his summer vacations as a youth visiting hospitals and bringing
meals to the hungry.
When he was
eighteen, Gaspar exhibited one of his greatest gifts: organizing for action on
behalf of the `people on the fringe'. Together with some of his classmates,
Gaspar ministered to the marginalized: offering religious instruction to the
peasants from rural areas who came to Rome to sell their hay; providing
catechism for orphans and children of the poor; and setting up a night shelter
for the homeless.
Gaspar was ordained
July 31, 1808. Less than a year later, on May 17, 1809, Napoleon suppressed the
papal states. Pope Pius VII was arrested and transported to Savona. On June 13,
1810, Gaspar was brought before the magistrate to take the oath of allegiance
to the emperor. In words that echo the Gospel of John when Jesus said "the
truth will set you free", Gaspar told the magistrate: "I would rather
die or suffer evil than to take such an oath. I cannot. I must not. I will
not."
For the courage of
his conviction, Gaspar was sentenced to prison. But even though his body was
incarcerated, the truth had set his spirit free. Although the conditions of the
prison caused his health to deteriorate, his mind and heart continued to
expand. A dream was about to be born.
During his exile,
Gaspar's compassion deepened. Though he had been about works of mercy for most
of his life, in the silence of his cell this work was clearly defined by the
Precious Blood of Christ. In the solitude of exile, the vision became clear: to
continue the works of mercy and the evangelization in the context of community.
He would join forces with other men and women united in the bond of charity to
touch others with the redeeming grace of the blood of Jesus.
Napoleon was
defeated in January 1814 and Gaspar was free to return to Rome to begin his
mission as apostle of the Precious Blood. He had spent four years in exile and
imprisonment, but his enthusiasm had not waned. He came back to a city,
however, that was in chaos. In the aftermath of Napoleons occupation, the Church
in Rome was experiencing great trial. So the pope appointed Gaspar to preach
missions throughout the city and the surrounding countryside for the spiritual
renewal of the people. In response to the Holy Father's request, Gaspar drew
upon the rich resources of two of his mentors, Frs. Albertini and Bonnani, to
begin the society of apostolic life.
It was Gaspar's
vision to wed the spirituality of the Precious Blood with the concept of a
community for the apostolic works of mercy. This sacred union gave birth to the
Society of the Precious Blood that would "proclaim peace through the blood
of the cross."
St. Gaspar brought
devotion to the Blood of Christ out of the sanctuary and into the streets. His
preaching was rooted in the saving act of Christ on the cross and so he carried
the crucifix close to his heart. Indeed, the mission cross became the symbol of
the newly formed community.
Gaspar's words and
witness became the wings to lift the burden of sin from the hearts of his
listeners. He called people to reconciliation; to restore the right
relationship with God and others. The power of Gaspar's presence and preaching
was found most dramatically in his work with the bandits.
The year was 1821
and at that time there was a severe problem in the papal states. The bandits
had control over many of the towns in the coastal provinces. It was a time of
great lawlessness and many towns were out of the control of the civil
authorities. One town, Sonnino, was so bad that the government had given up
completely and had become so desperate that they decided to destroy the whole
town. The people were suppose to move out, although they were to be compensated
for their loss of property, and the plan was to level the town. A number of
houses were demolished before the people's outcry forced the authorities to
stop. Sonnino was just one of many problem places.
At that time there
was a Cardinal Cristaldi who was a great admirer of St. Gaspar. He was also the
papal treasurer and advisor to Pope Pius VII. He had a plan which he presented
to the pope to deal with the bandits. His plan was to fight the immorality and
savagery of the bandits, not with weapons, because that had been tried and
failed, but with spiritual forces. He suggested that St. Gaspar and his new
band of missionaries go into the towns and provinces where the bandits lived
and establish mission houses. There they were to preach the Word, establish
churches and chapels, and see to the continued instruction of the people.
And that is what the
young missionary society did. Between 1821 and 1823 six new mission houses were
opened. Each house was to have five missionaries and each team was to conduct 12
missions a year. In that way every town would hear the message of redemption
and reconciliation during a two year cycle. From these houses St. Gaspar and
his companions went out and preach the merits of the Precious Blood. They
called the people to repentance and to return to faithfulness. They would
preach on the street corners at night. They instructed the children. Armed with
only the crucifix, they went into the hills to seek out the bandits to win them
over. Crazy—but it worked. In two years the bandit problem was under control.
Gaspar was well
loved by those who had encountered his ministry and was very popular in his
native city. To this day he remains a popular hero in Rome and devotions to the
saint are very popular. However, Gaspar and his young society encountered
substantial opposition within the political workings of the Church. One major
objection to the new society was that its name, The Society of the Precious
Blood, was considered unecclesiastical. Gaspar was accused of disregarding Canon
Law and the mission cross and chain that the members wore was completely
untraditional. This opposition began under the reign of Pope Pius VII (around
1820) who had been a strong support of the society at its founding in 1815.
This opposition
became so strong that the successor to Pius VII, Leo XII was positively adverse
to the community. It is noted that this was at a time when Gaspar was being
more and more open in his criticism of abuses in the Church and the government
of the Papal States. St. Gaspar felt that this opposition was more of a
personal attack on himself and so he offered to step down as moderator of the
community so that things could be smoothed over. Fortunately, this was not
needed as the situation with Leo XII was resolved after a meeting between the
two of them.
This was not the end
of Gaspar's difficulties. The enemies of Gaspar merely changed their tactics to
trying to have him removed from Rome. First they tried to have him made a
bishop. This Gaspar begged to be excused from. Then they tried to have him
removed from Rome by having him named Inter Nuntius to Brazil. It was a very
difficult time for Gaspar until his refusal was accepted. Finally Leo XII
appointed Gaspar to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, which
required his residence in Rome.
After Leo XII died
in 1828 the enemies of the community went to work on his successor, Pius VIII.
Pius VIII believed all the old accusations and treated Gaspar very severely in
a private audience. He removed all the privileges for the community from him,
including all the financial help that had been assigned for mission work. It is
a testament to Gaspar's conviction that the community was inspired by divine
will, that this was not the end of the community. Instead, Gaspar withdrew to
one of the houses and drew up a document giving legal proof of the legitimate
existence granted to the community by Pius VII. The opposition continued
throughout the life of Gaspar and the Rule was not approved until after his
death.
Gaspar died on December
28, 1837. The medical report called him a "victim of charity" because
even though he was in ill health himself, he ministered to the victims of the
cholera epidemic that broke out in Rome. Gaspar was beatified in 1904 and
canonized a saint on June 12, 1954.
Sources:
"St. Gaspar—the
Man, the Mission, the Dream". Joe Nassal, CPPS; Pathfinder, Vol. 2, No. 2,
November, 1989.
"Society
Celebrates 175 Years of Service". Tom Conway, CPPS; CPPS Tomorrow, Vol. 6,
No. 1, September, 1990.
History of the
Society of the Precious Blood. Isidore Oberhauser, CPPS; 1929.
Blessed Gaspar del
Bufalo. Anonymous; Messenger Press, Carthegena, OH, 1933.
Scriptures
for Reflection—
Matthew 5:3-16
Matthew 25: 31-46
Luke 10: 1-20
Questions
for Reflection—
Gaspar was a man
with a heart that brimmed with love for the poor and sick. He saw Christ in
those with needs. How does my life of discipleship respond to those in need?
Who are the needy in my parish or community and what is my response to them?
Gaspar was a
Missionary and formed a missionary society that wed the devotion to the
Precious Blood to the apostolic life. How am I called to be missionary? What
mission has God given to me?
Gaspar was a man of
firm convictions who suffered imprisonment and exile for his loyalty to the
papacy. He was attacked personally because of his persistence in believing in
his mission to found a religious community dedicated to the Precious Blood.
What would I be willing to sacrifice for my faith and beliefs?
Provided Courtesy of:
Eternal Word Television Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, AL 35210
St. Gaspar del Bufalo, Apostle of the Precious Blood. Volume I.
Download
By:
Beniamino Conti, C.PP.S.
Volume
One focuses on devotion to the Blood of Christ in the Life and Apostolate of
Saint Gaspar. This book traces the spiritual journey of St Gaspar as he allowed
the fire of Christ’s love, expressed so profoundly in the mystery of the
Precious Blood, to transform him into a living fire of love, the preeminent
apostle of the Blood of Christ.
Translator's Introduction
This
book traces the spiritual journey of St. Gaspar as he allowed the fire of
Christ’s love, expressed so profoundly in the mystery of the Precious Blood, to
transform him into a living fire of love, the preeminent apostle of the Blood
of Christ.
In
his letters St. Gaspar sometimes uses the metaphor of to describe the divine
love and in several places he quotes the words of Jesus: ‘I have come to cast
fire on the earth’ (Lk 12: 49). The fire Jesus has come to cast on the earth
is, in Gaspar’s understanding, the fire of his love for us. Gaspar came to see
the spirituality of the Blood of Christ as being a particularly suitable means
for describing this burning love of Jesus. The Precious Blood was the great
symbol that he used to draw people to a greater awareness of that love. Gaspar
himself was aflame with that love throughout his ministry. In the words of Don
Beniamino, St. Gaspar . . . appeared as a fire of love for the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus, completely intent on kindling a great blaze of that love in the
Church for the benefit of souls and for the praise, honor, glory, and power of
Him who sits on the throne and of the Lamb that was slain (Rv 5: 13). (Cf. page
79 of this volume.)
This
volume contains the first and larger of the two parts of Fr. Conti’s original,
published in 1970 and reissued in 1978 and 2002. (The second part, dealing with
Gaspar’s preaching on the Precious Blood, will be published as a future volume
of this series.) As Don Beniamino notes in his own introduction, in the first
section of the book we follow the development of the devotion to the Precious
Blood in Gaspar’s life as well as the ways in which he sought to spread the
devotion in his apostolic life.
Throughout
the book Don Beniamino provides us with a rich selection of citations from the
writings of Gaspar as well as the first-person witness of those who knew him
well, like his protégé John Merlini, his spiritual director Biagio Valentini,
and his friends Saints Vincenzo Strambi and Vincenzo Pallotti. (Unfortunately
we have little written witness to the spiritual friendship between Gaspar and
his mentor Don Francesco Albertini, who introduced the devotion to the Precious
Blood to the young Canon del Bufalo.) All of these and other references are
amply documented in the endnotes and provide us with primary sources for
understanding Gaspar’s spiritual development and apostolic zeal.
Fr.
Conti, a member of the Italian Province, has had a lifelong dedication to
research on the life of St. Gaspar and has been prolific in his publications.
Among the many works to his credit, is the editing of the latest edition of the
letters of St. Gaspar as well as four volumes of the early regulations of the
Congregation and four volumes of the miscellaneous spiritual writings of
Gaspar.
It
would be appropriate to make a few remarks on the translation. First, where
necessary I have inserted English translations of Italian and Latin words and
phrases, using the model of the Modern Language Association and enclosing the
English translation within single quotes following the foreign language. In
translating the quotations from the Scriptures I have generally followed the
Douay-Rheims version, since most quotations are from the Latin Vulgate and the
Douay is a translation of the Vulgate. I have also supplied chapter and verse
references for the quotations; these are generally not found in the original
texts.
For
translations of the letters of Gaspar as well as several other Italian sources
I have relied on the invaluable work of the late Fr. Raymond Cera, C.PP.S., who
translated nearly all of the close to four thousand extant letters into
English. English translations of the letters as well as of the depositions of
Merlini, Valentini, and Pallotti (also the work of Fr. Cera) are currently
available only in digital form and and have only been published in a looseleaf,
photocopied edition.
Where
English translations of source material exist I have given those references in
addition to the references to the original Italian or Latin documents. Many of
the citations come from sources that have not been translated. I have not
provided English translations for these citations, believing that anyone
wishing to pursue such a reference in an endnote would have some knowledge of
the language in question.
In
matters of capitalization and punctuation of quoted documents, I have adhered
to the original text even if this does not conform to current form and style in
English. For example, in many original texts we find words capitalized that
would not be capitalized in modern English. Speaking of capitalization, modern
Italian would usually capitalize the “Del” in Del Bufalo, although Gaspar
himself used the lowercase form, “del.” This is the reason why both forms are
found in contemporary Italian texts.
I
would like to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Pauline Vokits, who
formatted the text for printing, proofread the text with great diligence, and
offered many helpful suggestions. Jean Giesige also read the translation and
offered useful comments and is responsible for the new cover design for C.PP.S.
Resources which debuts with this volume. The image of St. Gaspar on the cover
is used with permission of Fr. Jeffrey Finley, C.PP.S., who commissioned the
painting of the icon.
Translating
this book has been a rewarding task and has given me the opportunity to become
much better acquainted with Gaspar through the words of Fr. Conti who knows him
so well. I hope that this work will be read by many, especially by members and
Companions of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, so that all of us might
come to know better this great Apostle of the Precious Blood. May we, too, be transformed
by the fire of that divine love that Jesus came to bring to our world.
Jerome Stack, C.PP.S.
July 1, 2008
Feast of the Most Precious Blood
Today, October 21, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Gaspar del
Bufalo (1786-1837), apostle of the devotion to the Precious Blood, and
founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
Saint Gaspar was born in Rome on January 6, 1786. His father and mother,
who served royalty, were both firmly rooted in the faith, pious, and instructed
their son with diligence. His mother, for her part, recognized Gaspar’s call to
the Lord, and prepared him through instruction and witness for his service to
the world, raising him with virtue and faith.
Early in his life, Gaspar showed a great concern for the poor and sick.
He had been quite ill as a child, nearly dying at the age of two and only cured
through the intercession of Saint Francis Xavier. Because of this, and the deep
respect he had for all human live, Gaspar spent his summers and breaks from
education serving the poor, finding and bringing them food, and ministering to
those in the hospital. At age 18, together with some of his classmates, Gaspar
organized a program to minister to the marginalized of society, offering
religious instruction to the peasants from rural areas who came to Rome to sell
their hay. Through this program, he provided catechism for orphans and the
children of the poor, and established night shelters for those with no place to
call home.
Gaspar was ordained a priest at age 22. Shortly thereafter, he was
exiled and imprisoned for refusing to take an oath of allegiance to Napoleon.
The emperor had taken control of the Papal States and was forcing all the
clergy of Rome to take the oath. Gaspar famously responded: "I would
rather die or suffer evil than to take such an oath. I cannot, I must not, I will
not."
His adamant proclamation led to imprisonment, and during his five years
in jail, he began to envision a new religious community that would be dedicated
to the precious blood of Christ. Despite his failing health, his spirit
expanded and upon release, he founded the Congregation of Missionaries of the
Most Precious Blood in Giano. He wanted his missionaries to be people who were
dedicated to preaching God's word through missions and retreats. Further, his
community would rely on and emphasize devotion to the Precious Blood, in order
to be a source of on-going renewal for the people of God and for the world.
Prior to Gaspar's time, devotion to the Precious Blood had been restricted
to a select few. Many Church leaders took offense to his preaching of this
devotion, preferring it should receive the extreme reverence reserved for the
name of God in the Old Testament. Gaspar, however, longed to make the devotion "one
that was broad and social enough to challenge all mankind."
He wrote: "In every era the Lord has inspired certain devotions
to stem the tide of iniquity. We also see that in times past the Church was
attacked in this or that doctrine. Today the war is being waged against
religion as such and against Christ Crucified. We need, therefore, to
reemphasize the glories of the Cross and of our Crucified Redeemer, to reopen
the fountains of mercy just when the devil would make us the victim of wrath.
Now, more than ever, it is opportune to tell people at what price our souls
were redeemed. We must let it be known how the Blood of Christ cleanses the
souls and sanctifies them, particularly by means of the sacraments. We must
arouse them from their insensibility by reminding them that His Blood is
offered up every morning upon the altars and that instead of blasphemy and
insult, we should give it adoration and praise."
For the remainder of his life—a life beset by controversy in that he was
accused of heresy many times for spreading devotion to the Precious Blood, each
time successfully defending himself—Saint Gaspar worked diligently to serve the
poor by expanding his congregation. he died on December 28, 1837. The medical
report referred to him a "victim of charity" because even though he
was in ill health himself, he ministered to the victims of the cholera epidemic
that broke out in Rome. His body lies in the Church of Santa Maria, where it
remains enshrined for the veneration of the faithful.
Loving God, you made St. Gaspar del Bufalo a priest and outstanding
apostle of the Precious Blood of your Son. Through his intercession grant that
we may experience the abundant fruits of the price of our redemption. We ask
this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
_-_stained_glass%2C_nave%2C_Saint_Gaspar_del_Bufalo_preaching_a_mission.jpg)
Saint Henry Catholic Church (St. Henry, Ohio)
San Gaspare Del Bufalo Sacerdote, Fondatore
Roma, 6 gennaio 1786 - 28 dicembre 1837
Nato a
Roma il 6 gennaio 1786 fin da piccolissimo fu dedito alla preghiera e alla
penitenza. Suo padre era cuoco del principe Altieri, sua madre si occupava
della famiglia e gli assicurò una buona educazione cristiana. Ordinato
sacerdote il 31 luglio 1808 si specializzò nell'evangelizzazione dei
«barozzari», carrettieri e contadini della campagna romana. Condannato all'esilio per aver rifiutato il giuramento di fedeltà a
Napoleone, passò quattro anni in carcere tra Bologna, Imola e la Corsica. Tornato a Roma, dopo la caduta
dell'imperatore francese Papa Pio VII gli affidò l'incarico di girare l'Italia
predicando e dedicandosi soprattutto alle missioni popolari. Devotissimo al
Prezioso sangue di Gesù, il 15 agosto 1815 fondò la Congregazione dei
missionari del preziosissimo sangue. Gli appartenenti a quest'ordine si
dedicano alla predicazione e all'insegnamento. Nel 1834, insieme a Maria de
Mattia diede vita al ramo femminile della Congregazione: «Le suore
dell'adorazione del preziosissimo sangue». Morì a Roma il 28 dicembre 1837. È
stato canonizzato da Pio XII il 12 giugno 1954. (Avvenire)
Etimologia:
Gaspare = amabile maestro, dal persiano
Martirologio
Romano: A Roma, san Gaspare del Bufalo, sacerdote, che lottò strenuamente per
la libertà della chiesa e, anche in carcere, non smise mai la sua opera di
conversione dei peccatori alla retta via, in particolare attraverso la
devozione al Preziosissimo Sangue di Cristo, in cui onore intitolò le
Congregazioni dei Missionari e delle Suore da lui fondate.
Nato a Roma il giorno dell’Epifania del 1786, sua madre volle per lui i nomi
dei Re Magi: Gaspare, Baldassarre, Melchiorre. La sua famiglia era stata un
tempo benestante, ma poi era decaduta. Suo padre Antonio era cuoco dei Principi
Altieri, mentre sua madre, Annunziata Quartieroni, si prendeva cura della
famiglia. Votato alla vita religiosa fin dalla fanciullezza, tentando persino
di fuggire di casa per evangelizzare i pagani, Gaspare del Bufalo frequentò il
Collegio Romano, che a quel tempo, essendo stata soppressa la Compagnia di
Gesù, era diretta dal clero secolare. Vestì la talare nel 1798 e prese a
dedicarsi all’assistenza spirituale e materiale dei bisognosi, contribuendo in
maniera decisiva alla rinascita dell’Opera di San Galla, della quale venne eletto
direttore nel 1806. Ricevette l’ordinazione sacerdotale il 31 luglio 1808 e
decise di intensificare l’apostolato fra le classi popolari fondando il primo
oratorio in Santa Maria in Pincis, specializzandosi nell’evangelizzazione dei
«barozzari», ovvero carrettieri e contadini della campagna romana.
Niente fedeltà all’Imperatore
Nella notte fra il 5 e il 6 luglio 1809, Pio VII (1742-1823) venne arrestato e
deportato per volontà di Napoleone Bonaparte. Il 13 giugno del 1810 Don Gaspare rifiutò il
giuramento di fedeltà all’Imperatore francese. «Non debbo, non posso, non
voglio» disse; per tale ragione fu condannato all’esilio a Piacenza e in
seguito venne incarcerato per quattro anni, peregrinando nelle prigioni di
Bologna, Imola, Lugo (Ravenna). Tornato a Roma nei primi mesi del 1814,
dopo la caduta di Napoleone, mise tutta la sua vita al servizio del Papa, il
quale lo esortò a dedicarsi alle missioni popolari per la restaurazione
religiosa e morale d’Italia; fu così che il santo lasciò Roma e si gettò con
ardente zelo sulla strada che lo impegnò fino alla fine della sua vita. Dirà
Giovanni Paolo II ai partecipanti al capitolo generale della Congregazione dei
Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue il 14 settembre 2001:
«Quando san Gaspare del Bufalo fondò la vostra Congregazione nel 1815, il mio
predecessore, Papa Pio VII, gli chiese di andare laddove nessun altro sarebbe
andato e di intraprendere missioni che sembravano poco promettenti. Per esempio
gli chiese di inviare missionari a evangelizzare i banditi che a quel tempo
imperversavano così tanto nella zona fra Roma e Napoli. Fiducioso nel
fatto che la richiesta del Papa fosse un ordine di Cristo, il vostro Fondatore
non esitò a obbedire […] Gettando le sue reti nelle acque profonde e pericolose
fece una pesca sorprendente».
La devozione al Sangue di Cristo
Come mezzo efficace per promuovere la conversione dei peccatori, per debellare
lo spirito di empietà e di irreligione, scelse la devozione al Sangue
Preziosissimo di Gesú e ne divenne ardente apostolo. Si attuò così la
predizione del 1810 fatta dalla religiosa Suor Agnese del Verbo Incarnato,
morta in concetto di santità, predizione che confidò al suo Direttore
spirituale, Don Francesco Albertini (1770-1819), poi Direttore di Don Gaspare,
nonché suo compagno di prigionia: durante il drammatico tempo persecutorio nei
confronti della Chiesa sarebbe sorto uno sacerdote molto zelante, il quale
avrebbe scosso migliaia di persone dall’indifferenza mediante la devozione al
Prezioso Sangue di Cristo, tale presbitero sarebbe divenuto «La tromba del
divin Sangue».
I Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue
Il 15 agosto 1815 Don Gaspare fondò la Congregazione dei Missionari del
Preziosissimo Sangue, alla quale aderirono uomini di grande spiritualità e
santità, come il Venerabile Don Giovanni Merlini (1795-1873), il futuro Beato
Pio IX (1792-1878), Don Biagio Valentini (1792-1847). Il 4 marzo 1834 venne
fondato l’Istituto delle Suore Adoratrici del Preziosissimo Sangue, grazie alla
collaborazione di Santa Maria De Mattias (1805-1866). Figlia di una famiglia
benestante, nel 1822, all’età di 17 anni, incontrò San Gaspare mentre questi
predicava a Vallecorsa (Frosinone). Il ramo femminile si dedicò all’istruzione
e alla catechesi della gioventù e delle madri. Le due famiglie religiose
trovarono bacino fecondo nella Pia Unione del Preziosissimo Sangue, oggi Unio
Sanguis Christi, che, insieme a Don Francesco Albertini, Don Gaspare aveva già
istituito nel 1808 a vantaggio dei fedeli sia in Italia che all’estero.
Manifestazioni soprannaturali
Segnato da fatiche e sofferenze non comuni, San Gaspare venne benedetto da Dio
con frequenti manifestazioni soprannaturali. Un giorno, per esempio, per
confortarlo dalle tribolazioni, mentre celebrava la Santa Messa, subito dopo la
consacrazione, gli apparve il Cielo dal quale scendeva una catena d’oro, che
passando nel calice, legava la sua anima per condurla alla gloria di Dio. Da
quel giorno il sacerdote soffrì ancor più, ma, contemporaneamente, si
intensificò la sua abnegazione per condurre alle anime i benefici del Sangue di
Gesù, e i frutti furono copiosi. Al suo passaggio si accendeva la Fede, si
intensificava la pietà cristiana, si convertivano le anime, gli odi si
raffreddavano, il malcostume si mutava in moralità cristiana. San Vincenzo
Strambi (1745-1824), che lo affiancò in alcune missioni di apostolato, lo
definí «terremoto spirituale», mentre le folle lo acclamavano «angelo di pace».
Lotta alla massoneria
Con straordinario coraggio affrontò la lotta accanita che gli mossero le
società segrete, in particolare la Massoneria. Ma nonostante le minacce e gli
attentati alla sua vita, non cessò mai di predicare a viso aperto contro tali
sette anticlericali, fucine di rabbioso laicismo ateo. San Gaspare fu in grado
di convertire intere logge massoniche e fu implacabile nel mettere in guardia
il popolo dalla propaganda satanica di questi gruppi liberali e proprio per
questo era noto come «martello dei settari». Ma l’Italia non era infestata
soltanto dalla Massoneria, c’era anche la piaga del brigantaggio, vera e
propria criminalità organizzata e presente anche nello Stato Pontificio. Pio
VII, Pio VIII (1761-1830), Pio IX avevano tentato di estirpare la malapianta,
ma senza successo. Leone XII (1760-1829), allora, dietro consiglio del Cardinale
Belisario Cristaldi (1764-1831), affidò la rischiosa impresa a Don Gaspare,
che, con le sole armi del crocifisso, della preghiera e della misericordia
evangelica, riuscí a ridurre la malavita nei dintorni di Roma, portando pace e
sicurezza fra gli abitanti.
Un Santo per tutti
Quando morí a Roma, il 28 dicembre 1837 in una stanza del Palazzo Orsini, San
Vincenzo Pallotti (1795-1850) vide la sua anima salire in alto, in forma di
stella luminosa, mentre Gesú le andava incontro. La fama della sua santità si
diffuse immediatamente, anche fuori dai confini italiani e in particolare in
Francia, grazie sia alla guarigione di Françoise de Maistre, figlia del
governatore di Nizza e nipote di Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821), sia all’opera
di Louis-Gaston de Ségur (1820-1881), che fu suo grande estimatore, sia a
quella di San Pierre-Julien Eymard (1811-1868), fondatore dei Sacerdoti e delle
Ancelle del Santissimo Sacramento. Beatificato da San Pio X il 18 dicembre 1904, sarà canonizzato da
Pio XII il 12 giugno 1954 in piazza San Pietro. Il suo corpo riposa a Roma
nella chiesa di Santa Maria in Trivio, affidata nel 1854 dal Beato Pio IX ai
Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue.
Autore: Cristina Siccardi
Nato a Roma il 6 gennaio 1786 da Antonio ed Annunziata Quartieroni,
fin dai primi anni si fece notare per una vita dedita alla preghiera e alla
penitenza.
Completati gli studi presso il Collegio Romano, nel 1798 indossò l'abito talare
e si diede ad organizzare opere di assistenza spirituale e materiale a favore
dei bisognosi. Si deve a lui la rinascita dell'Opera di S. Galla, della quale
fu eletto direttore nel 1806. Ordinato sacerdote il 31 luglio 1808, intensificò
l'apostolato fra le classi popolari fondando il primo oratorio in S. Maria in
Pincis e specializzandosi nella evangelizzazione dei " barozzari ",
carrettieri e contadini della campagna romana, che avevano i loro depositi di
fieno nel Foro Romano, chiamato allora Campo Vaccino.
Per la Chiesa, intanto, correvano tempi duri: nella notte dal 5 al 6 luglio
1809 Pio VII fu fatto prigioniero e deportato. Il 13 giugno 1810 Gaspare
rifiutò il giuramento di fedeltà a Napoleone e venne condannato all'esilio e
poi al carcere, che sostenne con animo sereno per quattro anni. Tornato a Roma
nei primi mesi del 1814, dopo la caduta di Napoleone, mise le sue forze e la
sua vita al servizio del papa. Pio VII gli diede l'ordine di dedicarsi alle
missioni popolari per la restaurazione religiosa e morale.
Quale mezzo efficacissimo per promuovere la conversione dei peccatori, per
debellare lo spirito di empietà e di irreligione, scelse la devozione al Sangue
Preziosissimo di Gesú e ne divenne ardentissimo apostolo.
il 15 agosto 1815 fondò la Congregazione dei Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue,
a cui si iscrissero uomini di grande santità, come il ven. servo di Dio d.
Giovanni Merlini, Giovanni Mastai Ferretti, il futuro Pio IX .
Nel 1834, inoltre diede inizio all'Istituto delle Suore Adoratrici del
Preziosissimo Sangue, coadiuvato dalla beata Maria De Mattias, che egli stesso
aveva chiamato a tale missione.
Sostenne con straordinario coraggio la lotta accanita che gli mossero le
società segrete, in particolare la massoneria. Ma nonostante le loro minacce e
gli attentati alla sua stessa vita, non cessò mai di predicare apertamente
contro tali sette, fucine di rabbioso laicismo ateo; convertí intere logge
massoniche e non si stancò di mettere in guardia il popolo contro la loro
propaganda satanica.
Ma un'altra piaga vessava lo Stato Pontificio, come, del resto, anche altre
regioni: il brigantaggio. Leone XII, dietro consiglio del card. Belisario
Cristaldi, inviò in mezzo a loro Gaspare, che con le sole armi del crocifisso e
della misericordia evangelica, riuscí a ridurre la terribile piaga nei dintorni
di Roma ed a riportare pace e sicurezza tra le popolazioni.
Morí a Roma il 28 dicembre 1837.
Fu beatificato da s. Pio X il 18 dicembre 1904 e canonizzato da Pio XII il 12
giugno 1954 in piazza S. Pietro. Il suo corpo riposa a Roma nella chiesa di S.
Maria in Trivio.
Patrono della città di Sonnino (LT), patria del Brigantaggio, che Gaspare salvò
dalla completa distruzione.
La sua data di culto per la Chiesa Universale è il 28 dicembre, mentre la sua
Congregazione lo ricorda in data 21 ottobre.
Per saperne di più:
Autore: Candido Paglia
