St. Gaspar in Vila Viçosa

The Community of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood of Vila Viçosa, formed by Fr. António Panea and Fr. Luís Filipe, celebrated the Solemnity of St. Gaspar del Bufalo with a Eucharist concelebrated by several priests, a deacon, acolytes, and with the presence of many people from the Christian community. After the Eucharistic service, there was fellowship and fraternal communion.

Here is a transcript of the homily given by the president of the celebration, Fr. António Panea:

«"From childhood, whether through his own discoveries, or because God works in people's hearts, or simply out of a childish whim, Gaspar felt called to mission. As a joke, he ran away with a friend intending to go to Turkey to evangelize.".

But his missionary vocation was fulfilled in his own country, in the Italian regions, in his own city (Rome). This missionary dimension, or this way of understanding and perceiving the mission (in his own country and not so much outside the country), took shape at several important moments in his life. Three missionary experiences that would forge his identity as a missionary:

– A young man full of hope and restlessness: at the age of 20 he was chosen to be the director of the Hospice of Santa Galla, although he had begun his apostolic work there at the age of 18, at a time when Rome was devastated. And how did he achieve this? By inviting other young people to help him selflessly. He held meetings with peasants in the Imperial Forum of Rome, doing something for others from his Christian perspective… Catechesis, prayer, spiritual exercises…

– The experience of imprisonment and exile: his experience of imprisonment for his fidelity to the Gospel would profoundly mark his life and the Congregation. He refused to swear allegiance to Napoleon and was exiled and imprisoned in Bologna. His famous statement, “I cannot, I must not, I will not…” is well-known; he was about 23 years old. This experience would physically mark his life, leaving him with weakened health. But spiritually, the experience of persecution would help him in his mission, especially in his efforts to evangelize bandits (brigantis) and cities terrorized by violence. He did not found the first mission houses in pleasant and peaceful places in Italy, but rather went to places where no one else wanted to go: Acuto, Sonnino, Vallecorsa, cities that lived under the terror of bandits or the guards who pursued them. He went there and sent the first missionaries, despite the calumnies he received from everyone, including a sector of the Church.

– Reading a book, the crucifix: Christ crucified would be his main book; it wasn't a mere decoration, but the living Jesus… So much so that, even suffering from pneumonia months before his death, he went out into the streets of Rome to care for the sick and dying of cholera. Months later (December), he died at the age of 51.

Two centuries later, Pope St. John Paul II urged the sons of St. Gaspar to be equally intrepid in their decisions and actions, to go where others cannot or do not want to go, and to undertake missions that seem to have little chance of success.“I ask you to continue your efforts in building the civilization of life, committing yourselves to the protection of all human life, from the unborn to the elderly and the sick, and promoting the dignity of every human person, especially the weakest and those deprived of their right to participate in the resources of the earth. I urge you to carry out a mission of reconciliation, working to rebuild societies wounded by civil conflicts, uniting even the victims and perpetrators of violence in a spirit of forgiveness, so that they may know that 'the blood of Christ is, in fact, the greatest reason for hope, in fact, it is the foundation of the absolute certainty that, according to the divine plan, life will triumph.'’”.

“The future face of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood”"It must be the face of the crucified Lord, who shed his blood for the life of the world. Surely, it is a face of sorrow, because..."“To restore the face of the Father to humanity, Jesus had to assume not only the face of humanity, but also the face of sin.“.

Pope St. John Paul II would tell us in September 2001: “Together with Saint Gaspar and with you, I kneel to adore this infinitely precious fountain that flowed from the wounded side of Christ.“"Trusting that Pope Pius VI's request was an order from Christ, your founder, Saint Gaspar, did not hesitate to obey, even though he received criticism for being too innovative."»