ST GIUSEPPE ALLAMANO, PRIEST - 16 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

 Saints celebrated on the 16th February

WELCOME!

SAINT GIUSEPPE ALLAMANO, PRIEST 

In 1880 a young priest, Father Giuseppe Allamano, was appointed Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation at the age of 29. Although his father had died when he was only three years old, his early years had been privileged with the example of at least two future saints: one being his uncle, later to become Saint Joseph Cafasso, and the other being Don Bosco, later to become Saint John Bosco. The latter was his teacher and spiritual director.

Father Giuseppe had benefited from these early influences and, by the time he was installed as Rector of Our Lady of Consolation Shrine in Turin, he had a number of years’ experience of directing seminarians and newly ordained priests of the diocese. He was a dynamic Rector of the Shrine and enhanced its reputation and influence, but his achievements were not limited to that holy place.

CONSOLATA MISSIONARIES

Father Giuseppe was led by his intense devotion to Our Lady and his zeal for evangelisation to found the two religious missionary congregations that we know as the Consolata Fathers and Brothers (1901) and the Consolata Sisters (1910). They were soon active in Africa and now are spread across the world. Father Giuseppe, better known to us today as Saint Joseph Allamano, died [on February 16,] 1926 and was beatified in 1990 by Pope St John Paul II... [and canonised in October 2024 by Pope Francis.]

THE CONSOLATA ICON

Saint Joseph Allamano spent many hours in prayer at the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Turin. The holy icon was a source of inspiration for him, and his prayer led him beyond the ancient representation, to the reality of Our Lady’s loving concern for the needy, the sick, the forlorn, the lost… a loving concern as alive today as it has been through the ages.

This article was published in the “Little Way Association” magazine, hard copy, issue no. 94. The title "Blessed" in the original text was changed to "Saint" following Fr Giuseppe's canonisation.

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Giuseppe may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.