Blessed Sebastian Valfrè

Bl. Sebastian Valfrè (1629-1710)

Priest of the Turin Oratory

Saturday 30th January

Third Centenary of his Entrance into Heaven

In the year that we look forward to the beatification of John Henry Newman, we celebrate the third centenary of the first of St Philip’s sons to be raised to the altars, Bl. Sebastian Valfrè of the Turin Congregation. This city produced many other saints, many of whom drew their inspration from Bl Sebastian and the Oratory; St John Bosco, St Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, St Joseph Cafasso, St Leonard Murialdo and Bl Frederic Albert.

The early history of the Congregation of the Oratory in Turin is one of turmoil and difficulty. It was founded in 1649 by Fr Pietro Antonio Defera, who was joined by Fr Ottavio Cambiani. They spent their time visiting the poor, those in hospital and prison, preaching simply and directly, and looking after their church with generous hearts and fervent spirits. A group of six young men were about to join this tiny community when Fr Defera died at the age of 34, leaving Fr Cambiani alone to shore up the delicate foundation, without the promised new recruits. He spent his solitary days at the altar, in the confessional and the pulpit, offering the Mass solemnly with beautiful music, and just being around for the convenience of the people of Turin. This was the Congregation that the young subdeacon Bl Sebastian joined in 1651, and in time others joined this small group. For several years the Congregation numbered only three or four, yet these few dedicated men helped large numbers of people to live humble and devout lives in the midst of the world following the inspiration of St Philip.

Bl Sebastian was born on 9th March 1629 to a humble and poor family, and he remained poor throughout his life in the poor Congregation at Turin. At the Oratory he wished simply to serve the people of God in whatever capacity he was given; whether in pastoral work, house administration, scholarly pursuits (he was awarded a doctorate in 1656), or sweeping the stairs. He would as happily go the death beds of the poor or the Royal family of Savoy, often taking with him a volume of philosophy or theology to read if the death agony was long.

Most of life was spent wandering around the streets and squares simply being available, speaking of God’s love for all men and our the love that we should have for each other. It is no coincidence that the Feast of the Sacred Heart was first celebrated for the first time at Turin by Bl Sebastian in 1694. The holy Shroud of Turin had special place in his devotions, so much so that he spent some time repairing the precious relic, stiching whilst shedding abundant tears. He said of it,

     The Cross received the living Jesus and gave Him back to us dead;                           the Shroud received the dead Jesus and restored Him to us alive.

He died at the age of 80 on the morning of 30th January 1710. His little room was filled with scholarly papers and packages of clothes for the poor. A few days before he had directed a retreat for the monks of Sancta Croce and then gone straight to the prisons to visit those condemned to death. From this duty he rushed back to the Oratory church for Benediction, remaining on his knees through the time of adoration, and then straight to the pious exercises of the Oratorian community in their cold house. The next morning, although he was running a fever, he celebrated Mass and heard a number of confessions, and then at last exhausted he took to his bed.  Even here he continued his work of administering the tenderness of God by receiving the many friends and penitents who wished his blessing. He was beatified on 15th July 1834 by Gregory XVI.

The Congregation of the Oratory exists to promote the holiness and sanctification of laypeople, as well as its own members. Historically at Turin this has been done through the usual variety of pious parish associations; SVP, Apostleship of Prayer, Youth Groups, etc. Since 1986 the Oratory at Turin has no longer had parish status owing to shifts in population, and there is some dispute as to property ownership, but still the Congregation is able to provide ways of sanctification for the people of the city who are attracted by the spirit of St Philip, showing the many ways in which hearts can be won for God. The community continues in the spirit of Bl Sebastian and St Philip to live humbly and without the notice of the world to make the things of God attractive.

Please pray that, at the intercession of Bl Sebastian, the Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip will be established at the Holy Name in Manchester.

The website of the Turin Oratory, with several interesting video presentations,  can be found here  http://www.sanfilippotorino.it/

and one dedcated to the Beatus here  www.studibeatovalfre.org