Saint Joseph Allamano recounted that there was a young man in the seminary who was so attentive that he knew how to use even his five free minutes wisely. That’s why they called him “Mr. 5 Minutes.” More than one person thought he was the very person who was “Mr. 5 Minutes.”
Time is one of the most precious gifts we receive. We cannot hold onto it, slow it down, or save it for later use. We can only choose how to live it. Among the spiritual figures who grasped this truth in a profound and concrete way, Saint Joseph Allamano stands out as a quiet master: a man who transformed every hour of his life into prayer, service, and mission. His relationship with time was not an abstract concept but a concrete, lived experience, evident in the rhythm of his days.
Born in 1851 in Castelnuovo d’Asti and formed under the guidance of saints such as Joseph Cafasso and John Bosco, Allamano was immersed from a young age in an atmosphere of discipline, simplicity, and dedication. Yet, what distinguished him was not merely what he did, but how he lived the time allotted to him. His life was not spectacular; it was full; full of meaning, order, attentiveness, and love.
Time that knew no Idleness
Those who knew him say he was never idle. Not because he was restless or anxious, but because he understood that time is a sacred gift, one not to be wasted. Every spare moment was an opportunity for him, to pray, to listen, to plan, to serve. He was never in a rush, yet he never stood still. He wasted no time, yet he did not isolate himself. His secret was a rare balance: he was a calm, industrious worker.
Time as Prayer
For Allamano, time was not divided into “things of God” and “things of the world.” Everything was inhabited by God. Therefore, prayer was not a duty, but a breath of fresh air. He prayed in the morning, at night, in his spare moments, and as he walked the corridors of the Consolata Shrine.
His visits to the Blessed Sacrament were frequent, long, and silent. He did not seek emotional highs; he sought presence. “Contemplation in action”, Saint Joseph Allamano would say; thus, everything was done for God, even in the smallest gestures. This phrase encapsulates his entire view of time: it is not the quantity of activity that matters, but the quality of presence.
Time as Mission
His most famous motto; “First saints then missionaries”, is a true philosophy of time. It means: first build yourself up, then build the world. First tend to your heart, then to your work. First put down roots, then set out. It is not an invitation to slowness, but to depth. Allamano knew that time spent on self-improvement is not time taken away from the mission; it is the time that makes the mission possible.
When he founded the Consolata Missionaries, he did not merely pass on rules and structures. He imparted a rhythm: a way of experiencing time that united contemplation and action, silence and work, interiority and service.
Time as a Gift to Others
One of Allamano’s most striking characteristics was his availability. Despite his immense responsibilities: managing the Shrine, training priests, and leading missionary institutes, he always found time to listen. Anyone who knocked on his door was welcome.
He was never in a rush and showed no impatience; his presence was gentle and welcoming. He gave of his time freely rather than holding it back. Many said that just a few minutes with him were enough to feel understood, encouraged, and comforted. He was a man who knew how to transform time into relationships.
Time as Responsibility
Allamano detested wasting time. He could not tolerate superficiality, lack of focus, or improvisation. He used to say, “do good, do it well, and do it quietly”; this requires concentration, attention, and responsibility. For him, time was a matter of responsibility, towards God, others, the mission, and oneself.
Time was not a tyrant, but a teacher. It was not a burden, but an opportunity. In an era like ours, where time always seems scarce and haste and distraction have become habits, Allamano offers us a simple yet revolutionary lesson:
- There is no point in rushing.
- We need to live better.
- We need to choose what matters.
- We need to incarnate time, give it a soul.
His life reminds us that time is not something we lack, but something we can transform. Each day, each hour, and each gesture can become a mission, a prayer, a gift. Like him, we can learn to experience time as an opportunity to learn, share, receive, and honor. For time, when lived well, becomes eternity.
By Sr. Julia Muya, mc
Bibliographic references
Consolata Missions Institute, Biennium on the Person, Fact Sheet 14, February 2021,
All for the Gospel Fr. F. Pavese and Sr. A. Mantineo, pg 39, pg 43, pg 48.
One Hundred Years in Mission DG 2013
Portrait of a Saint, Fr. P. Pasqualetti.
Letter from the Father Founder, 11/1/1913, sisters who left for Kenya
