Benjie Tells His Tale
The Story of Gaspar Del Buffalo
St. Maria DeMattias
Foundress of
The Adorers
of the
Blood of Christ
BAA !!
That means HI.
I feel right honored to be talking to you.
It isn’t every day a lamb gets to talk
to people like you.
I’ve been asked to tell you
about a great Missionary:
GASPAR DEL BUFFALO!
Now that does present a problem-
being he was only a city boy!
He was born in Rome,
you know on Jan 6, 1786;
and grew up right across the street
from the Gesu Church.
There’s something that saves the day though…
Every time Gaspar went into that Church
he saw the figure of a Lamb
high in the ceiling over the Sanctuary.
The picture of a Lamb
is in most Churches in Italy.
I’m right proud of that fact!
It’s quite an honor to have
one of my race symbolize
the GREAT SON OF GOD.
I don’t understand all of the imagery,
but it has something to do with
meekness,
obedience,
dying,
RISING.
We lambs are always taught
not to stray or run away.
It means trouble.
When Gaspar was little
he had to learn that to, you see,
after hearing how St. Francis Xavier,
his favorite saint,
went to the far east
win pagans to Christ,
he decided to pack up a lunch,
roll some clothes into a bundle
and head off in the direction of the sun.
He didn’t get far…not even out of Rome…
when he was found and brought back home
Though he never ran away again,
St. Francis Xavier was always his model
and inspiration for his vocation.
He made him the Patron of his Congregation.
Gaspar grew up the idea of being a priest.
I once asked what that mean,
and was told:
like being a shepherd or something.
But he didn’t pasture lambs!?!
He did herd lots of people
into churches though.
I also saw him welcome lots of men
into his nocturnal oratory.
Come to think of it,
I guess being a priest is a lot
like being a shepherd.
Gaspar was a good one,
believe me.
When he was a seminarian,
he used to come down to the forum
to talk to the men who take care of us sheep.
After a day in the hills near Rome,
our shepherds always brought us
into the outskirts of the city,
and away from the wolves.
I liked Gaspar,
and I always had my eyes
on the lookout for him.
And do you know what??
Our shepherds were kinder to us—
and to each other—
after listening to him talk.
This is July 31, 1808
a good hot Roman summer day.
I was lying in the shade of this pillar, sleeping.
Well, why not?
I don’t believe in all the
hustle & bustle of the people
who just passed by.
Opening one eye,
I spotted my friend, Gaspar.
He was dressed in a long white robe,
and wore a mantle-like piece over it.
Very pretty!!
People were congratulating him…
and kissing his hand.
Then he blessed them.
I heard his mother and dad pray
that he would be a
good priest forever.
Things have changed in Italy.
There are lots of soldiers
(Napoleon’ troops)
in the streets.
Their leaders are cruel,
like WOLVES.
People run from them.
Some are killed.
I expected Gaspar to be out there
protecting the people.
But someone said that he
and most of the priests
were herded into jails.
Now the wolves are occupying Rome
and our shepherds hide us in caves
in the fields.
I’ve been listening to our shepherds
and just found out that Gaspar
has been in prison
for almost four years already.
I hope he doesn’t get sick and die.
The only advantage I can think of
to this jail business
is that
NO LAMB CHOPS
are served!
This is San Felici and it is pretty run down.
We’ve been staying here in the winter
since there’s an old abandoned monastery here
that we can use for shelter.
This morning a couple of men came up here,
and do you know what????
one was GASPAR!
I hope he sticks around.
He’s so kind.
Gaspar did stay,
and a few other really nice men
are living here with him.
They’ve cleaned up the place
and it looks fine.
Today they are all celebrating.
I swiped this page from the calendar
so you could see what day it is.
August 15, 1815
foundation date of the
SOCIETY OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD.
What does ‘re-form’ mean?
I hear these men talking a lot about
re-forming the society and the church!
It can’t mean to re-build
because they also talk about re-forming
the clergy…
and these men are all priests themselves.
These ‘re’ words can really mix up a
little lamb like me.
But they seem very popular with people:
re-search
re-play
re-birth.
Gaspar is called
THE APOSTLE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD.
I wonder why he loves that title so much?
There is so much violence everywhere…
so much blood flowing from victims.
Come to think of it:
Jesus was a victim of violence too;
a willing victim.
He shed His Blood to prove His love.
Yes, the Precious Blood is a good sign today:
a sign of consolation to the suffering;
a promise of Eternal Life.
Now if even a Lamb can understand this-
why don’t people get the point?
Gaspar likes to talk about
THE LAMB WHO WAS PIERCED FOR SIN.
(I’ve seen pictures of Him..
His blood dripping in a chalice..)
I don’t like to think of death
and that’s why I don’t like the bandits.
They must love lamb chops..
they’re always stealing from our fold.
Gaspar’s not afraid of anyone.
He walks through the fields
and up into the hills all alone.
Then he stays and talks to the bandits
for hours.There’s always a difference after
Gaspar visits them.
Lots of them have left their dens
and gone back home
to live better lives.
Gaspar always makes me think of a
Good Shepherd…
Always looking for the poor…
the weak…
the sick sheep.
He healed lots of people. I saw him!
He also looks for the straying…
the sheep in trouble.
Lots of the shepherds have been going
to his Missions…
and I tag along whenever I can.
Once when I was nestled snugly
in between some shepherd children
listening to Gaspar,
it began to lightning and thunder…
and then how it rained!!
(I wished I had my umbrella).
Gaspar just kept on talking about how much
God loves and cares for us.
The people were fascinated.
Some did run home though,
and got drenched.
Most of them stayed right there and…
(Oh, I know you won’t believe this…)
but NO ONE GOT WET!!!
Now what do you think of that?
Another time I pretended to be sick
so I would be takne along.
You can”t leave a sick lamb in the fields,
you know.
My shepherd Scooped me up and away we went.
Gaspar talked a long time and I had a nap.
Then all of a sudden I woke up
and saw a big bonfire.
People were throwing in Books
(bad ones, I guess)
Knives and clubs and whiskey bottles…
a lot of other things
used at superstitious rites (whatever that is).
I’m sorry I slept,
because now I can’t tell
how all this got started.
I do know though,
that before the people left,
there were kisses and hugs
and laughter and singing-
like everyone loved everyone else.
It was nice!
Once Gaspar went to the hill of Acuto
to give a mission.
I think everyone in town came
to one function or another.
There were processions, singing,
sermons, Masses.
Gaspar helped the men in town
make a large wooden cross.
On the last day,
they put it up in the town square.
On that day, Gaspar promised the people
that god had wonderful things planned
for Acuto and
would send them SOMEONE SPECIAL some day.
Twelve years later,
in 1834,
Someone Special did come
and you know who SHE is !!!
That same yare, 1822,
Gaspar went to another hill town,
Vallecorsa,
to preach a mission.
You folks are smarter than I,
and you know about his meeting with
Maria De Mattias.
Frankly I’m glad the met,
otherwise she would have gone
to some cloister,
and what a pity that would have been
for the women in Italy…
and come to think of it…
for you folks…
and for God’s people all over the world.
Now Maria understood us lambs
and loved us ever since she was a little girl.
I’d like to be telling her story…
but the Big Ram told me to stick to GASPAR
Anyway..
This missionary had always wanted to find
someone to start a group of
ADORERS OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
(I like to think of them as SHEPHERDESSES).
He, Gaspar that is, was mighty glad
to meet Maria,
and he could tell right off
that she was the one
chosen by God for this work.
Gaspar was too busy himself to keep in touch
so he asked Merlini to direct Maria
and her Congregation.
Oh, Oh!
I’m getting ahead of myself—or behind.
I haven’t told you about Merlini Yet, Have I?
He should have entered the story a long time ago
(at least 9 pages back)
because he was one of the first men
to join Gaspar at San Felice.
He helped with the missions…
built churches and monastaries
guided Maria De Mattias and the first Adorers.
You name it-and this fine missionary did it.
Gaspar couldn’t have gotten along without him.
While we’re speaking of Gaspar’s companions,
I’d better say a word about ALBERTINI too.
He was Gaspar’s friend, director and
inspiration.
Albertini started the
Confraternity of the Precious Blood
and encouraged Gaspar
to found the Precious Blood Fathers and Brothers…
and with Maria, the Sister Adorers too.
Imagine, they drew up plans for these sister
while they were in prison!
On thing Gaspar loved as much as giving Missions
was taking care of his seminarians.
He reminded me of a Mother Ewe
with her little lambs.
He game hours to preparing these boys
for their consecration to God
and service of the Church.
He strengthened them,
taught them how to avoid dangers
and how to cope with difficulties.
Yes, Gaspar was a …
if not a Mother Ewe,
certainly a very good Father Ram.
One thing I find hard to understand,
is the difficulty Gaspar had
with three Supreme Shepherds.
Pious VII and Leo XII
didn’t like the title of his congregation
but Gaspar spoke his piece,
and convinced them.
Pious VIII had heard some ugly things
about Gaspar and was hard on him,
but later he learned the truth,
and loved him.
It hurts to be neglected,
ignored and mistreated
by a shepherd,
especially if you love him,
and don’t know why he dislikes you.
I’m glad these Popes learned to appreciate
Gaspar in the long run.
I think he’s tops myself-
even though he was a city boy.
Another Pope had a bright idea-
that was Gregory XVI.
He wanted to give Gaspar an honor
so he thought of sending him to BRAZIL
as INTERNUNCIO.
Though Gaspar never got there,
Brazil is still proud of him.
They really count on Gaspar’s Protection.
Gaspar had a secret love
(or at least for a time it was secret)
and it concerned a very beautiful lady.
Sometimes she’s pictured alone,
but frequently she holds her son in her lap.
Once Gaspar asked an artis
to put a chalice in the boy’s hand.
He is such a little fellow, but
he hangs on real tight to that chalice.
Gaspar put that picture up in almost
every church he visited,
and it has a special place
in all the Priests’ houses.
I think he called her
Our Lady of the Precious Blood
or
Madonna of the Chalice…
(or maybe it was Queen)
Whatever……she’s beautiful!
Did any of you ever hear about the Plague
which hit Rome in 1837?
It was BAD!
People were dying in the streets.
While most Romans were fleeing the city,
Gaspar went there,
to nurse the sick
and bury the dead.
He was that kind of shepherd.
He just had to be
where his flock needed him most.
After hearing all about this great Missionary,
I’ll bet you would like to meet him
personally.
Well, that would be great,
except for a problem.
He is in Heaven
beyond the pearly gates
into the eternal pastures…
so you will have to wait a while.
You see,
he wore himself out early
trying to bring as many sheep,
I mean,
souls as he could to Jesus Crucified.
He died in Rome on Dec. 29, 1837…
just seven days before his 52nd birthday.