The feast day of St. Gaspar del Bufalo is celebrated on October 21. He is the founder of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood.
St. Gaspar was born in Rome on Jan. 6, 1786. He was well educated in the faith by his pious mother. At the age of two, he almost died. It was through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier that he was cured of his illness.
At the age of 18, he organized a program to minister to the marginalized in the society. He offered religious instruction to the poor in the area and became the catechist of orphans and poor children. At the age of 22 he was ordained a priest.
Because St. Gaspar refused to take an oath of allegiance to Napoleon, he was exiled and imprisoned. His response was the following:
“I would rather die or suffer evil than to take such an oath.
I cannot, I must not, I will not!”
St. Gaspar spent five years in jail for refusing to take the oath. While imprisoned he envisioned a religious community dedicated to the precious blood of Christ. After his release, he founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood in Giano.
When a cholera epidemic broke out in Rome St. Gaspar ministered to the victims even though he was in ill health himself.
St. Gaspar died Dec. 28, 1837.
We must let it be known how the Blood of Christ cleanses the souls and sanctifies them, particularly by means of the sacraments.
Quote of St. Gaspar del Bufalo
October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary