January 2nd - St. Caspar del Bufalo

January 2nd - St. Caspar del Bufalo
(also known as Gaspare)

Born in Rome, 1786; died in Rome on December 28, 1837; beatified in 1904;
canonized in 1954 by Pope Pius XII; feast day formerly December 28. Saint
Caspar was the son of a cook. He was educated at the Collegio Romano and
ordained in 1808. After Napoleon Bonaparte captured Rome, Caspar was
banished to Corsica for five years with the other clergy who refused to
swear allegiance to Napoleon and renounce allegiance to Pope Pius VIII. On
his return in 1814, he became a general missioner engaged in pastoral work
because of the decline in religion due to the absence of priests and the
sacraments for five years.

While conducting a mission at Giano (near Spoleto), he conceived the idea of
founding a congregation for mission work. He began immediately to realize
this concept even in the face of considerable difficulties. Starting with a
house at Giano and the help of Cardinal Cristaldi, in 1815, he received
formal approval for the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood from Pope
Pius VII. The pope gave him the house in Giano and the adjoining church of
San Felice. In addition to the house at Giano, Caspar founded houses at
Albano in 1819, and, despite tremendous problems, six in the Kingdom of
Naples. Caspar's dream was to have a house in every diocese and to
evangelize the world. In time, the congregation did spread all over Italy.

Caspar encountered difficulties under Pope Leo XII; but these were cleared
up and, in 1824, the houses of the congregation were opened to young clergy
who wished to be trained specially as missioners. Their training included
the encouragement of devotion to Jesus and Mary. "A missioner," Caspar said,
"must be ready for anything: like soldiers and sailors, they must never
surrender." Therefore, he required not only devotion in his recruits, but
also intense study of foreign languages, theology, and scripture.

He was also active in charitable works for the needy of all backgrounds,
including the establishment of institutions. Saint Caspar's missionary
methods were dramatic in a high degree: the contemporary Saint Vincent
Strambi said of his preaching that it was 'like a spiritual earthquake.'
Indeed, some of the methods his missioners used were dramatic: they
flagellated themselves in the public square, which always resulted in many
conversions. On the last day forbidden firearms, obscene books, and anything
else offensive would be burned publicly. A cross would be raised in
memoriam, a solemn Te Deum sung, and then the missioners would leave
quietly.

He died in the cholera epidemic of 1836, during which he had given his last
mission in Rome at the Chiesa Nuova. Feeling his strength failing, he
returned to Albano and prepared for death. He asked to be left alone as much
as possible, so that he might pray uninterruptedly. After the feast of Saint
Francis Xavier, he went to Rome to die. On December 19, the doctor forbade
him to say Mass; he received the last sacraments on December 28 and died
that same day. He is buried at Santa Maria in Trivio. Miracles were recorded
during his life and after his death (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney,
Farmer, Walsh).

This Version taken from:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm


Quote:
People who keep themselves low in their own estimation and love to be
considered of little account and despised by others please God in the
highest degree.
-St. Thomas a Kempis

Bible Quote
13. And they brought to him young children, that he might touch them. And
the disciples rebuked them that brought them. 14. Whom when Jesus saw, he
was much displeased, and saith to them: Suffer the little children to come
unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15. Amen I
say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little
child, shall not enter into it. (Mark 10:13-15)


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Litany of January Saints

Note: The following is a follow-up to an original concept submitted by Jacob
Michael as a follow-up to his article Assisting in the Restoration. Need a
little extra devotional prayer to add to your daily Rosary? Need some
impetus to prepare for this coming Lent early next month? What follows is a
litany to all of the saints whose feast days are celebrated in the month of
January. Many of these saints are little-known and often are not, for that
reason, invoked in our prayers.

If you add this short litany to your daily Rosary, you will have
the benefit of invoking the prayers of some of these lesser-known saints for
January.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, King of glory, to whom the noblest of kings bowed their knees
to Thee, have mercy on us
O Most Holy Name of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us.
St. Gaspar del Bufalo, Holy Confessor *
St. Genevieve, Holy Virgin *
St. Priscus, Holy Martyr* Pope St. Telesphorus, Holy Martyr *
St. Balthasar, Holy King *
St. Gaspar, Holy King *
St. Melchior, Holy King *
St. Lucian of Antioch, Holy Martyr *
St. Apollinaris, Holy Bishop and Confessor *
St. Severin, Holy Bishop *
St. Adrian of Canterbury, Holy Abbott *
St. William of Bourges, Holy Bishop *
St. Nicanor, Holy Deacon *
St. John Camillus Bonus, Holy Bishop *
O Most Holy Family, *
Pope St. Hyginus, Holy Martyr *
St. Paulinus, Holy Bishop *
St. Theodosius, Holy Abbot *
St. Arcadius, Holy Martyr *
St. Benedict Biscup, Holy Abbot *
St. Aelred, Holy Abbot *
St. John the Baptist, Baptizer of the Lord *
St. Hilary of Poitiers, Holy Bishop and Doctor of the Church *
St. Felix, Holy Priest and Martyr *
St. Sava, Holy Bishop and Patron of the Serbs *
St. Paul the First Hermit of the Church *
St. Maurus, First Disciple of St. Benedict *
St. Ida (Ita), Holy Virgin *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of Prompt Succor *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of Refuge *
Pope St. Marcellus, Holy Martyr *
St. Antony, Holy Abbot *
St. Peter, Holy First Keeper of the Keys *
St. Prisca, Holy Virgin and Martyr *
St. Volusian, Holy Bishop *
St. Marius, Holy Martyr, Husband and Father *
St. Martha, Holy Martyr, Wife and Mother *
St. Audifax, Holy Martyr, Son of Marius and Martha *
St. Abachum, Holy Martyr, Son of Marius and Martha *
St. Canute, Holy King of Denmark *
St. Wulstan, Holy Bishop *
Pope St. Fabian, Holy Martyr *
St. Sebastian, Holy Martyr and Patron of Athletes *
St. Agnes, Holy Virgin and Martyr, Patron of the Children of Mary *
St. Vincent of Saragossa, Holy Deacon and Martyr *
St. Anastasius, Holy Monk and Martyr *
St. Raymond of Penafort, Holy Priest and Patron of Canon Lawyers *
St. Emerentiana, Holy Virgin, Martyr, and sister of St. Agnes *
St. Ildefonsus, Holy Bishop *
St. Timothy, Holy Bishop, Disciple and Martyr, Patron against stomach
disorders *
St. Paul, Holy Apostle of the Gentiles and Martyr *
St. Polycarp, Holy Bishop and Martyr *
St. Paula, Holy Widow and assistant to St. Jerome *
St. John Chrysostom, Holy Bishop and Doctor of the Church *
St. Angela Merici, Holy Virgin *
St. Peter Nolasco, Holy Religious Founder Of the Order of Our Lady of Ransom
*
St. Agnes, Obedient and pure holy lamb to the Lamb of God *
St. Francis de Sales, Holy Bishop and Doctor of the Church, and Patron of
the Catholic Press *
St. Gildas the Wise, Holy Abbot *
St. Martina, Holy Virgin and Martyr *
St. Bathildis, Holy Widow *
St. John Bosco, Holy Confessor, Priest and Religious Founder, and Patron of
Editors *
All you holy saints and angels, pray for us.
* pray for us




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