Joseph Cafasso was born on 15 January, 1811 and was an Italian Roman Catholic priest who was a significant social reformer in Turin. Cafasso had been born with a deformed spine which contributed to his short stature and frail constitution.

He felt the call to become a priest in his childhood and so commenced his ecclesial studies in Turin and Chieri. He met Don Bosco in 1827 and the two became close friends. It was through Joseph's encouragement that Bosco decided to work with boys and that became his vocation.

At some point Cafasso became a professed member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. In his role as a teacher he never neglected his duties as a priest and often aided those students in poor circumstances to complete their studies.

He was once asked whether his constant work ever wore him out and he said: "Our rest will be in Heaven".

Cafasso used to celebrate Mass every day at 4:30 am and was known for spending long hours in the confessional and chapel. He worked against the spirit of Jansenism which he found to be influential amongst the students. Likewise, he fought against state intrusion in the affairs of the church as well.

Cafasso was known as the "Priest of the Gallows" due to his extensive work with those prisoners who were condemned to death. There was an occasion when this small and weak priest seized an enormous inmate's beard and told him he would not let him go until the man confessed. The inmate did so and wept as he confessed, and he left the confessional, giving praise to God. There was also another occasion in which he escorted 60 converted inmates who were condemned to be hanged. Most of them were hanged straight after confessing and receiving absolution and so Cafasso referred to them as "hanged saints".

During his final days, Cafasso was suffering from pneumonia coupled with a stomach haemorrhage and complications from congenital medical issues. He died on June 23 1860, at Turin and was canonized in 1947.

Pius XII - on 9 April 1948 - declared him to be the patron saint of all Italian prisons and prisoners. In his apostolic exhortation 'Menti Nostrae' - on 23 September 1950 - the pontiff further offered him as an example to all priests involved as confessors and spiritual directors.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Agrippina
2. Saint James of Toul
3. Saint Peter of Juilly
4. Saint Thomas Garnet
5. Saint Ethelreda

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