VALFRÉ, SEBASTIANO, Blessed. - Oratorian, apostle of Turin, b. at Verduno (Alba) on 9 March 1629, d. at Turin on 30 January 1710.
Born of humble parentage, he completed his studies with success despite hardships and privations at Alba, Bra and Turin; in the latter city he supported himself by working as a copyist. On 26 May 1651 he was admitted to the Oratory of Turin, founded two years earlier, and on 24 February 1652 he was ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Alba. In 1656 he earned his doctorate in theology. Between 1653 and 1671, though not consecutively, he served for more than fifteen years as Prefect of the Oratory, and from 1671 to 1710, for twenty years, as Preposito of the Congregation, bringing both to notable prosperity. In 1689 he declined the archbishopric of Turin out of humility. A perfect imitator of St Philip Neri, he devoted his long priestly life entirely to apostolic work: he was an untiring missionary and popular catechist; a much sought-after confessor, spiritual director and counsellor for his learning and prudence (bishops, priests and nearly the entire ducal court resorted to him, and Duke Vittorio Amedeo II himself had him as his confessor [1676–90] and counsellor); he aided all the needy who came to him or whom he visited in prisons, hospitals or their hovels. He took special care of the wretched Waldensian prisoners (1685–86) and in 1687 visited their Luserna valley, obtaining numerous conversions. Notable too was his work in aiding the wounded and troops during the military campaigns of 1690–96 and 1703–1708, especially during the long months of the siege of Turin (1705–1706); he was responsible for the initiative of the vow to the Most Holy Mary that Vittorio Amedeo II fulfilled by erecting the Basilica of Superga. When the Duke visited him in his final illness, he frankly urged him «to relieve the sufferings of his afflicted people, so sorely tried by the long wars» and «always to keep on good terms with the Supreme Pontiff». His writings and correspondence are all unpublished, except for a few pamphlets issued by the Blessed or printed in the last century, among which are to be noted: the Lettere inedite, published by G. Calenzio (Turin 1869, 29 complete and 8 fragmentary), and the Sunti di ascetica (ibid. 1911). In the Archive of the Oratory of Turin there are still preserved 21 volumes of the Blessed’s writings.
He was beatified on 31 August 1834 by Gregory XVI (Acta Gregorii papae XVI, I, I, Rome 1901, pp. 441–44) and his body rests in the church of S. Filippo in Turin. Feast day: 30 January.