Joseph Cafasso
Italian priest and social reformer (1811-1860)
Feast: 23 June (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Giuseppe Cafasso was born at Castelnuovo d'Asti, the same village as St John Bosco, on 15 January 1811, the third of four children; his younger sister was the mother of Blessed Giuseppe Allamano. He studied at Chieri and was ordained in 1833.
He devoted himself to the spiritual and intellectual formation of future priests and to reconciling poor prisoners and the condemned to God. He died on 23 June 1860, after a life offered wholly to the Lord and spent for others.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A formator of priests who reconciled prisoners and the condemned to God.
Connected on this site
- John Bosco Saint“Guided by St Joseph Cafasso, he was ordained priest on 5 June 1841.” — this site's research
- Giuseppe Allamano Blessed“Giuseppe Allamano was born at Castelnuovo Don Bosco, in Piedmont, on 21 January 1851; his mother was the younger sister of St Joseph Cafasso.” — this site's research
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Giuseppe Cafasso
- Wikidata Q1373633 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Joseph Cafasso (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.