Even as a young man,
Joseph loved to attend Mass and was known for his humility and fervor in
prayer. After his ordination he was assigned to a seminary in Turin. There he
worked especially against the spirit of Jansenism, an excessive preoccupation
with sin and damnation. Joseph used the works of St. Francis de Sales and St.
Alphonsus Liguori to moderate the rigorism popular at the seminary.
Joseph recommended
membership in the Secular Franciscan Order to priests. He urged devotion to the
Blessed Sacrament and encouraged daily Communion. In addition to his teaching
duties, Joseph was an excellent preacher, confessor and retreat master. Noted
for his work with condemned prisoners, Joseph helped many of them die at peace
with God.
St. John Bosco was one
of Joseph’s pupils. Joseph urged John Bosco to establish the Salesians to work
with the youth of Turin. Joseph was canonized in 1947.
COMMENT:
Devotion to the Eucharist gave energy to all Joseph's other activities. Long prayer before the Blessed Sacrament has been characteristic of many Catholics who have lived out the gospel well, St. Francis, Bishop Sheen, Cardinal Bernardin and Blessed Mother Teresa among them.
Devotion to the Eucharist gave energy to all Joseph's other activities. Long prayer before the Blessed Sacrament has been characteristic of many Catholics who have lived out the gospel well, St. Francis, Bishop Sheen, Cardinal Bernardin and Blessed Mother Teresa among them.
“O admirable heights and sublime lowliness! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under the little form of bread! Look, brothers, at the humility of God and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves, as well, that you may be exalted by Him. Therefore, hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves so that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally” (Saint Francis, Letter to the Entire Order).
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