Saint Gaspare Bufalo

Biography

Saint Gaspare Bufalo, also known as the Apostle of Rome, was born on 6 January 1786 in Rome, Italy. He was the son of Antonio del Bufalo, a chef to Prince Altieri, and Annunziata Quartieroni. As an infant, Gaspare suffered from an eye condition that threatened to blind him, but he was miraculously cured in 1788 after prayers for the intervention of Saint Francis Xavier. Gaspare's deep faith led him to study at the Collegium Romanum from the age of twelve, and he even considered becoming a Jesuit. At the age of 19, he became the president of the newly instituted catechetical school of Santa Maria del Pianto. On 31 July 1808, Gaspare was ordained as a priest. Following his ordination, Gaspare, along with his friends Father Bonanni, Father Santelli, and Father Gonnelli, founded the nocturnal Oratory of Saint Mary in Vinci, Italy, on 23 October 1808. Just a few weeks later, on 8 December 1808, he also helped Father Albertini establish the Confraternity of the Precious Blood in San Nicola Arcella, Italy. However, the political situation in Rome took a tumultuous turn when the French invaded and took control of the Papal States. On 17 May 1809, the Papal States were suppressed, and Pope Pius VII was deported on 6 July. Priests were ordered to take an oath of loyalty to Napoleon, but Gaspare refused, leading to his exile on 13 June 1810. Gaspare, along with many other priests, was first sent to Piacenza, Italy, and then to Bologna. Even in exile, Gaspare remained steadfast in his refusal to take the oath, resulting in his imprisonment in various locations such as San Giovanni prison, Imola, and the fortress in Lugo. However, while waiting for his transport to exile in Corsica, Gaspare received an invitation to join the Evangelical Workers, a group of priests who preached home missions. He enthusiastically joined this group, but soon after, Ferdinand 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 after four years of captivity and began preaching missions in December of the same year. Gaspare's profound dedication to preaching and spreading the sacraments in war-torn Italy led him to renounce his position as canon of Saint Mark's in July 1815. He actively helped start the Missioners of the Precious Blood (C.P.P.S.) in Giano dell'Umbria, Italy, a congregation devoted to preaching and bringing the sacraments back to the people of Italy. Gaspare was elected as the First Promotor and Missionary of the Missioners on 27 December 1817. Despite facing opposition and criticism from many, Gaspare's work received the approval of both Pope Leo XII and Pope Pius VIII after they personally spoke to him. In 1821, Pope Pius VII assigned Gaspare to clean up provinces overrun with highway bandits and to establish six mission houses in the area. Gaspare spent the next five years actively preaching and calling for reform. In February 1826, Gaspare was chosen as the papal nuncio to Brazil, but he passionately begged to be released from the assignment so he could continue preaching. Unfortunately, he was forced to spend eight months in this position. He returned to his Congregation's motherhouse of San Felice in October 1826, where he resumed preaching and tending to the Missioners' houses for the remaining ten years of his life. Saint Gaspare Bufalo died on 28 December 1837 of cholera and was buried at Santa Maria in Trivio, Italy. He was venerated on 19 March 1891 by Pope Leo XIII with the decree of heroic virtues. Pope Saint Pius X beatified him on 18 December 1904, and Pope Pius XII canonized him on 12 June 1954. Although not associated with a specific patronage, Saint Gaspare Bufalo is remembered for his unwavering dedication to preaching, spreading the sacraments, and promoting the mission of the Church.