Michael Rua

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Portrait of Father Michael Rua
Michael Rua SDB

The blessed Michael Rua SDB (born June 9, 1837 in Turin ; † April 6, 1910 ibid) was the second Superior General of the Salesians of Don Bosco founded by St. Don Bosco .

Life

In the autumn of 1845 the half-orphan, who had lost his father, a factory worker, at the age of eight, met Don Bosco for the first time and has since attended the oratory in Valdocco . Since 1850 he wanted to study theology, encouraged by Don Bosco, and therefore learned Latin. From 1852 he lived in the boarding school of the oratorio. From 1853 to 1860 he studied philosophy and theology. On October 3, 1853, he received his clerical habit in the Rosary Chapel in Becchi .

Since 1854 he was one of Don Bosco's students and collaborators who wanted to found an apostolic community with him and took private vows on March 25, 1855, in the presence of Don Bosco . Therefore he is considered the first "Salesian". From then on he studied theology. In 1858 he accompanied Don Bosco on his first trip to Rome. At the age of 22 he became - now a subdeacon - spiritual director of the “Society of St. Francis de Sales ”.

On July 29, 1860 he was ordained a priest. In 1863 Don Bosco sent him to Mirabello Monferrato (Piedmont) as director of the first Salesian branch outside of Turin , but was called back to Turin two years later as Prefect of the Congregation. His job was to maintain discipline in the Salesian institutions and to maintain finances. From 1869 to 1875 he was also responsible for the spiritual training of the next generation of the order. He also managed the " Letture Cattoliche " and accompanied Don Bosco on numerous trips.

In 1875 Don Bosco appointed him general director of the Don Bosco sisters .

Don Rua with Don Bosco , 1885 in Barcelona

After Pope Leo XIII. had asked the founder of the order in 1884 to arrange his successor, in 1885 he wanted his pupil Don Rua to be his successor and had this through Pope Leo XIII. determine. After Don Bosco's death in 1888 he was confirmed by the Pope as Superior General of the Community.

Under his guidance the Salesians spread throughout the world. The congregation grew from fewer than 800 Salesians in six provinces and 57 houses in 10 countries, to over 4,000 Salesians in 34 provinces, and over 340 houses in more than 30 countries. In 1908 he traveled to the Holy Land .

In 1895 the order magazine Bollettino Salesiano was published in German under his direction , in which he advertised for orders. In 1897 he founded a school for German-speaking late - career workers . Religious branches followed in Muri (Canton Aargau) and Sierck and Thionville , the latter also for pastoral care for the Italians living there. Since 1903 the religious community worked in Vienna, where Don Rua also traveled. As superior general, he also visited Cologne .

beatification

Rua was founded on October 29, 1972 by Paul VI. beatified and honored:

“ The Salesian family had its origins in Don Bosco and persistence in Don Rua. He made a school out of the example of the saint, a spirit out of his rule, a model of life out of his holiness. He made a river out of the spring. "

His body is venerated in the crypt of Turin’s Maria-Hilf-Basilica ; the day of remembrance is on October 29th.

Fonts (selection)

  • Lettere circolari di D. Bosco e di D. Rua ed altri loro scritti ai Salesiani , Turin 1896;
  • Lettere circolari di don Michele Rua ai Salesiani , Turin 1910;
  • Circolare sulla poverta: 31 gennaio 1907 , Turin 1961;
  • Lettere circolari di don Michele Rua ai Salesiani , Turin 1965;

literature

Web links

Commons : Michele Rua  - collection of images, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Johannes Bosco Superior General of the Salesians Don Bosco
1888–1910 		Paul Albera
personal data
SURNAME Rua, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Superior General of the Salesians of Don Bosco
DATE OF BIRTH June 9, 1837
PLACE OF BIRTH Turin
DATE OF DEATH April 6, 1910
Place of death Turin