Not Grand, But Great: Legacy Through the Little Things

True legacy grows: not through grand gestures, but through faithful, personal investment in others.

Here’s one story that demonstrates this, but first a little context. The Salesians are a religious congregation inspired by the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and founded by St. John Bosco in the late 19th century. They are dedicated to the education and evangelization of youth, especially the poor and marginalized, and have left a rich and enduring spiritual heritage.

Yet one man—deeply honored by the Salesians as a founder in spirit—never lived to see the congregation take shape. That man is St. Joseph Cafasso. Today, we celebrate his feast day.

For 20 years, Joseph Cafasso served as John Bosco’s spiritual director. It was Cafasso who introduced him to the gentle strength of Salesian spirituality, and it was his deep love for the poor and forgotten that profoundly inspired Bosco’s mission.

Cafasso himself was known as a powerful confessor, in the mold of St. John Vianney, drawing countless souls to the mercy and grace of God. As Don Bosco later reflected on his mentor’s life, he recalled story after story of how Cafasso would reach out to the marginalized—prisoners, the poor, and the abandoned (particularly among men facing exicution)—and lead them back to the heart of the Gospel.

What’s striking is that Joseph Cafasso never saw the Salesians come to life. He helped sow the seeds of a mission that would only bear fruit after his death. His story is a poignant reminder that our legacy is often not something we see fulfilled in our own lifetime. The people we impact may only blossom long after we’re gone—but that doesn’t make the impact any less real.

What I find most compelling about Cafasso’s leadership is how deeply relational it was. He prioritized living out his vocation one person at a time. That’s often how true legacy grows: not through grand gestures, but through faithful, personal investment in others.

Cafasso’s influence on Don Bosco followed three vital movements of formation:

1. Attraction – Joseph lived in such a compelling and holy way that even as a teenager, John Bosco was drawn to his example and wanted to emulate him.
2. Accompaniment – He invited Bosco into his life, allowing him to observe, to ask questions, and to be shaped by his pastoral wisdom.
3. Sending – Though Bosco’s gifts and calling were different, Cafasso recognized that and sent him out, entrusting him with the spiritual DNA that would animate the Salesian charism.

For leaders today, this pattern is worth reflecting on:

1. Be Formed – Let your own life be so rooted in the mission that others are drawn to it naturally.
2. Be Accessible – Create space for others to walk alongside you. Culture is built on relationship, and relationship takes time.
3. Be Willing to Release – Great legacy isn’t found in maintaining control, but in empowering others to carry the mission forward in their own way.

Cafasso’s life may have ended before the Salesians began, but the mission lives because he invested in one life—faithfully, humbly, and intentionally.