Today, June 23, is the memorial of Saint Joseph Cafasso.
Patron saint of prisoners.
Joseph was born in 1811 with a deformed spine, which explained his short height and crippled condition. The young Joseph felt called to the priesthood and so pursued God’s calling with much fervor.
He gained fame for being a confessor, a spiritual director, and a promoter of the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He became a friend and adviser of St. John Bosco, who was much encouraged by Joseph. Later, John would write the biography of Joseph.
He guided individuals who ended up founding their own religious congregations such as Venerable Marchesa Giulia, Blessed Francesco Faa di Bruno, and Blessed Clemente Marchisio. He was also the uncle of Blessed Joseph Allamano.
Joseph famously worked for the reform of prisons and prisoners, actively improving prison conditions in Turin, Italy. He was so effective in ministering to condemned prisoners that he successfully converted many of them.
He once escorted 60 newly converted condemned prisoners who were going to be hanged. Since many of the prisoners were hanged immediately after confessing and receiving absolution, Joseph referred to them as “hanged saints.”
Joseph died of pneumonia, which went with a stomach hemorrhage and congenital complications in 1860. Pope Pius XI beatified him in 1925. Venerable Pope Pius XII canonized him in 1947.