St. Gaspar

[Shin]

St. Gaspar is the founder of the priestly society, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. He lived through the time of Popes Pius VII and VIII, Leo XII, and Gregory XVI, the time of the suppression of the Papal States, and the trails caused by the diabolical Napoleon.

St. Gaspar and his brothers would preach on the streets to promote devotion to the Precious Blood.

In his youth he was cured of a grave illness of his eyes by the intercession of St. Francis Xavier.

He has left many letters behind.

'Wherever I manage to fix my gaze, I do not recall, but I would see only Blood… The wounds on his feet, on his hands…his head crowned with thorns…his Divine Heart opened.'

St. Gaspar del Bufalo

'In hac mansione, there are seven reasons for devotion to most holy Mary (in the application of the seven pillars)
1. The most beloved creature
2. The Mother of Jesus Christ
3. The creature that has the most merits etc.
4. The creature who is given to us as Mother
5. The creature who is terrifying to the demon
6. The creature who is highly venerated in the order of providence
7. The offices that she exercises for us, that of Advocate, of Shepherdess etc.'

St. Gaspar del Bufalo

'The letters in the name: Maria
M - mercy
A - (amor) Love of God
R - remission of sins
I - illumination of the mind
A - acquisition of grace and glory'

St. Gaspar del Bufalo

'The abuse shown toward the price of our Redemption nowadays and the urgency to render continual compensation to the Divine Redeemer for all the ingratitude shown by people, demands that the devotees and lovers of Jesus should occupy themselves in promoting perpetual adoration of the divine Precious Blood of our Savior. Twelve churches, located in different sections of the city, would exercise in succession a month dedicated to the mysteries of our Redemption, would offer that sacred cult of compensation that is so desired in order to placate the Lord who has been abused by our sins.'

St. Gaspar del Bufalo

[CyrilSebastian]

              Since Gaspar was born on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, he was baptized that same day
             and given the name Gaspar Melchior Balthazar, the traditional names of the Magi who visited the Child Jesus.

[CyrilSebastian]

                 Gaspar spent his summer vacations as a youth visiting hospitals and bringing meals to the hungry.

[Shin]

'Often tell Jesus that you love him very much, and that you wish to die for love of him. Behold our love, Jesus; behold our life, Jesus; behold our all, Jesus. Let us accompany Jesus in all his ways. When we are alone, let it be with Jesus in the solitude of Bethlehem when we are traveling, let us think that we are with Jesus in Palestine or on the way to Calvary; when we are lashed by biting criticisms, behold us scourged with Jesus; when we are fixed to the cross, behold we are crucified with Jesus.'

St. Gaspar del Bufalo

[CyrilSebastian]

St. Gaspar was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in the diocese of Rome in 1808.

[CyrilSebastian]

Between 1821 and 1823 six new mission houses were opened.   
Gaspar and his companions went out and preached the merits of the Precious Blood.

[CyrilSebastian]

Gaspar's mother Annuziata dedicated him to St. Francis de Sales.

[eschator83]

St Gaspar del Bufalo was exiled to Corsica for five years during the occupation of Rome by Napolean's army, but received formal approval for his Congregation of Missioners of the most Precious Blood from Pope Pius VII in 1815.