VALFRÈ, SEBASTIANO, blessed. – Oratorian, apostle of Turin, b. at Verduno (Alba) on 9 March 1629, d. at Turin on 30 January 1710.
Born into a humble family, he successfully completed his studies, despite hardship and privation, at Alba, Bra, and Turin; in the latter city he provided for his subsistence 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 received the priesthood from the bishop of Alba. In 1656 he obtained a doctorate in theology. Between 1653 and 1671 he held the office of prefect of the Oratory for more than 15 non-consecutive years, and between 1671 and 1710 that of provost of the Congregation for 20 years, bringing both institutions to notable prosperity. In 1689 he humbly declined the archbishopric of Turin. A perfect imitator of S. Filippo Neri, he spent his entire long priestly life in the apostolate: he was an indefatigable missionary and popular catechist; a confessor, spiritual director, and highly sought-after adviser on account of his learning and prudence (bishops, priests, and almost the entire ducal Court had recourse to him, and Duke Vittorio Amedeo II himself had him as confessor [1676-90] and adviser); and a helper of all those in need who came to him or whom he visited in prisons, hospitals, or their hovels. He took particular care of the destitute Waldensian prisoners (1685-86) and visited their Luserna valley in 1687, obtaining numerous conversions. His work in assisting the wounded and the troops during the military campaigns of 1690-96 and 1703-1708 was likewise noteworthy, especially during the long months of the siege of Turin (1705-1706); to him is owed the initiative for the vow to Maria S.ma which Vittorio Amedeo II fulfilled by erecting the Basilica of Superga. To the Duke, who visited him during his final illness, he frankly recommended that he «relieve the sufferings of his afflicted peoples, so oppressed by the long wars» and «always maintain a good understanding with the Supreme Pontiff». His writings and correspondence remain unpublished, with the exception of a few pamphlets published by the Blessed or printed in the last century, among which are remembered the Lettere inedite, published by G. Calenzio (Turin 1869, 29 complete and 8 fragmentary), and the Studi di ascetica (ibid. 1911). In the Archive of the Oratory of Turin, 21 vols. of the Blessed’s writings are still preserved.
He was beatified on 31 August 1834 by Gregory XVI (Acta Gregorii papae XVI, I, 1, Rome 1901, pp. 441-44), and his body rests in the church of S. Filippo in Turin. Feast on 30 January.