Ministry

SAINT GASPAR DEL BUFALO

Gaspar del Bufalo was born in Rome on January 6, 1786. Being still young he dedicated himself to the teaching of the children of the needy and to the service of poor peasants. He became a priest on July 31, 1808. Because of his loyalty to the Church, he was held in jail for five years by Emperor Napoleon. At the fall of Napoleon Pope Pius VII requested him and a group of priests to dedicate themselves to the renewal of the Christian faithful through the preaching of the Word of God. He was filled with a deep devotion to the blood of Christ and in 1815 he founded the Society of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. His preaching bore fruit of Christian renewal and reconciliation among peoples even in those areas plagued by banditry. With his advice, he inspired and encouraged Maria de Mattias to found the Society of the Sister of the Blood of Christ.